Oakum is a loosely twisted rope-like material made from oiled jute or hemp fibers. Traditionally manufactured in prisons or workhouses by disassembling old rope lengths and rubbing the strands with pine tar or oil, oakum was a staple in boat building and pipe assembly for many years. In some situations using oakum to seal a cast-iron pipe joint is still a viable option.

Step 1: Remove lead and oakum remnants from the joint to be packed. Clean and dry the joint thoroughly.

Step 2: Loosely roll the oakum to form a workable length. Do not stretch the material. Keep it thick and pliable.

Step 3: Insert the smaller pipe into the hub. The bottom of the pipe should fit snugly against the bottom of the hub. Pack the joint with 2 ounces of oakum for every 1 inch of hub diameter.

Oakum can be used to seal a cast-iron pipe joint.

Step 4: Use a packing iron, dull chisel or wide, flat screwdriver to pack the oakum evenly into the pipe joint. “Yarn” the oakum into the joint by bunching it into small folds as it is pressed into the hub.

Step 5: Tamp the oakum into place with a hammer and packing tool. Leave 1 inch of space between the oakum and the top edge of the hub.

Step 6: Heat the end of the packing tool and run it along the top of the oakum to singe away any frayed ends.

Step 7: For a traditional seal, use 12 ounces of lead for each inch of the pipe’s diameter. For example, use 3 pounds of lead for a 4-inch pipe. Heat the lead until it no longer sticks to the ladle. Prevent molten lead from exploding during the pour by dripping a small amount of oil onto the packed oakum before proceeding.

Step 8: In one continuous motion, pour the molten lead into the pipe joint. Once complete, the lead should be level with the hub’s top edge. Soil pipe sealant or a plastic lead substitute may be used in place of lead for sealing the oakum joint. Pack the sealant firmly atop the oakum and smooth the sealant around the edges of the hub to ensure that moisture cannot seep into the joint.

Step 9: For leaded applications, allow the lead to cool completely, then tamp the lead seal down into the hub, tapping the inside edge down first and the outside edge last.

— Have a home improvement question for the Fix-It Chick? Email it to Linda Cottin at features@ljworld.com.