lead welding experience

[stuartw]

Hello,
I've recently done some lead welding and wanted some advice on the best way of getting more experience in this field within the portsmouth/southampton area.
Thanks.

 

[WHPES]

Contact the roofing contractors who do old town buildings, churches and country houses. The freezing weather has taken its toll on old flat lead roofs and box guttering so there is plenty of work out there at the moment (well there is for me so I assume its nationwide......). You might have to start out as a bit of a gopher but if you get in there will be opportunities. Do you have any "on site" experience?

 

[cjg]

he may not have BUT them pikeys!!!!!!!! they pro"s loads of pratice!!!! lol

 

[stuartw]

I do general maintenance as my day job, but Ive had no actual "on site" experience with lead, thats what im trying to get. Cheers for the advice

 

[WHPES]

If you can get experience in lead roofing (I mean proper flat lead roofing with lead rolls and formed hips etc not just flashings) and you can form box guttering you will get plenty of work (however work is seasonal as new work is done in the drier summer months). Many towns are full of Victorian and Georgian buildings with flat lead roofs and box guttering. It is even done on some new buildings too!

There is a lot of theory you need to learn and there are standards for bay lengths and widths etc. There is a Calder guide to good leadworking with much of this in you can download from the Calder website.

 

[plumbster3456]

one thing I have never been good at was lead but i am good at lead welding.
Lead is very hard to do properly so you will definetly need lots of experience before doing any maintenance on the buildings you maintain.
to put lead work into perspective there was a guy at the firm i served my time with who everyone thought was great at lead he was supposed to be really really good he left to go to an actual lead specialist firm He lasted 1 day and was told not to come back nicely of course

 

[AWheating]

i did leadwork full time for 2 years as an apprentice, i loved the summers but i hated the winters, trying to use a hammer and cold chisel with three pairs of gloves on was difficult at times to say the least. I try to avoid it now, but do sometimes burn up slates for vertical flues and svp when needed.

 

[justlead1]

Lead work/welding on site, is when ever possible fabricated out of position, due to the fire hazard associated with this practice. Hot works permits are often required and the contents followed. In order to get experience and confidence, local roofing firms often require general flashing making up. Things like back gutters, front aprons, lead slates etc. I would approach a few in your area in order to get started.

 

[Reg Man]

The LDA (Lead Development Association) give some good advice and produce a great manual.