Re: MtMan-List: Tinning/"Oakum"

[Roger Lahti <lahtirog@gte.net>]

David,
Interesting question. It is my 'belief' that whatever oakum is made of, it is the
original product versus a by-product. It  may very well be the same material as
tow,( i.e. hemp), only treated with extra materials to make it suitable for another
purpose,  whether that be to dam the flow of plumbers lead or caulk the seams
between ship planking. I mean to try it when tinning a copper pot but have not had
time to find a suitable quantity. The steel wool that I have used in the past works
but it picks up quit a bit of the tinning agent which is thus lost or hard to
recover. I remain....

YMOS
Capt. Lahti'

David Card wrote:

> Question for John or anyone else...  I read somewhere that oakum is a leftover
> from making hemp fabric - like tow is to linen.  Is this the same stuff?
>
> > The old recipes and instructions I've seen call for using wads & swabs made of
> > "oakum" -- it should still be available from a plumbing supply house -- if not
> > try marine suppliers to wooden boat builders.
> >
> > John...