My Method:-
Centralise the pipe in the joint. (use small wooden wedges to help if you like but take them out after the Gaskin is in place).
Put Gaskin in (Hemp/Tarred Hemp, twisted, dry).
Use a Yarning tool or something similar to drive it down to the base tightly. Make sure it does not pass into the pipe.
That stops the molten Lead from running into the pipe but it is also the most important part of the joint. In theory, the joint should not leak after the Gaskin is in place and tight.
Next comes the molten Lead.
I use an old ladle like the one above. It is cast iron. You will need something like it or something to withstand the heat. Lead melts at 621 F (328 C). That's damn hot. Your molten lead will be hotter as you need to be able to pour and fill the joint before it sets again. There is nothing worse than it setting half way through a pour. Heat travels, especially from something so hot, so you need to think of the handle conducting heat too. You don't want your plastic handled pan full of molten lead suddenly deciding it has had enough. I always get the Lead to a kind of pale Golden looking stage, that way I know it's hot enough. That's my rule of thumb though, I don't know what anyone else does.
Be careful to make sure the joint material at the base is dry (no water/moisture), molten metal and water don't get on well!
Wear face/eye protection. If you pour molten metal onto water, the water will instantly turn to steam (physics) and as a rule of thumb one cubic inch of water = 1 cubic foot of steam (very rough but not far out for the purpose of explanations like this), That will throw the lead out as a molten lead spray/spit that tends to stick to skin due to it having lost some heat on the way to you. It will still be well into the hundreds of degrees when it lands. Sorry to be graphic but if you've not done this before there are things you need to consider and safety is the most important. Do a risk assessment. No people beneath you, nothing to trip over, no mithering customers, you need to concentrate.
Yours will be easier than in that video as the joints will be mostly vertical. You only really need to wrap branches or offsets on the horizontal.
Pour in one confident smooth run until full.
Once the lead is set, caulk that using a Caulking tool. Just to tighten it up and drive it down a bit below the surface. Not too much as you do not want to crack the cast.
Once cool, mix putty and paint (messy but sticky and superb stuff), fill the top of the joint to a nice angle and strike it off smooth. Then once you've finished, give it a run round with a paint brush (with paint on) it will still be soft so go easy so as not to make marks in it.
Move on up!
I would advise you get an old timer to spend the day with you first time. Even if they only come in the role of an adviser. If you found one with a pan and ladle you'd be laughing.
They appeared to use glass rope in that video. I'm not sure how that would behave as I have never used it. I know it will stand high temperatures but I don't know how high.
Hope that helps. Sorry for war and peace!
