CHAPTER XL (Part 1)

CHAPTER XL PLUMBERS' TOOLS. The plumber is known by his tools and by their condition, as is his constant companion, the carpenter. The shop fixtures, such as benches, casting-table, melt- ing-pot, stoves, etc., and the shop tools, such as vices, stocks and dies, screwing machines, lead-burning machines, lathes, mandrels, etc., are provided by employers. The plumber is required to provide his own kit of handicraft tools — they are his personal property ; many of them he makes with his own hands, others he purchases out of his savings, but all demand from him constant care to maintain their condition clean, sound, and fit for work — the ciurpet wrapper, for carrying tools to the jobs ; the tool-chest, to hold the tools carefully ready for service. The plumber's irons are required of various sizes : the larger to suit heavy roof-work and cistern lining, and smaller handy sizes for joint-making. These should be kept free from scale and ^'°- sei-PlumWs ^ solder-iron. dirt always. The hatchet-shaped copper bit, fixed in an iron holder, with wooden handle, should be tinned bright on edge. When tinning, let the bit be as cool as possible, using whatever flux you intend to use in actual work. The straight copper bit must be heavier than a tinplate worker's bit — not less than four and a half pounds of copper. 471 472 DOMESTIC SANITARY DRAINAGE AND PLUMBING. The 8older-pot with iron handle, shaped to stand steady, and not of a kind to let solder spill out easily in use. The splash-sticks are best made of iron. Fio. 866.— Solder.jwt. Fio. 866.— Plumber's ladle. The ladles of sizes suited to the work in hand, selected for handiness, and flattened undenieath to keep them steady when set down. The solder-wiping cloths, made of ticking or fustian, are -^^ best sewn together. They should not be too 1^ thin. J| The shave-hooks are wanted in two sizes Jl straight and two others shaped and bent, for ^1 shaving in awkward comers where straight Fio ^67 — ^^^^^ cannot work. Shave-hooks should be Shave-hook, kept very carefully. The gaiige-hook is required for shaving edges parallel The plumber's hammer may be left to choice ; but it should be a good one, of fair weight to T deliver a blow in driving hooks. The dummies must be made in various forms to beat the dents and dinges out of bends and traps. The handles are generally f-inch iron pipe, and the heads cast on the tinned end of the tube in ^Fio.^868^— gg^j^j moulds. Some dummies have cane hcmdles. The bossing mallet, with hardwood cone or egg-shaped head. plumbers' tools. 473 Fig. 369.— Chase wedge. Fig. 370. —Mallet. The chase wedges. The common mallet. The dressers should be made of hornbeam, with well-set- back handles, for dressing into angles. f Fig. 371.— Tampin. Pig. 372.— Dresser. The conical boxwood tampins, or tumpins, for opening pipe-ends. The flapper, like a square trowel, is made of sheet lead, about 12 inches by 6 inches, formed into a handle for striking bumps out of sheet lead in laying. The plane, for edging sheet lead. The square is made of iron, and marked as a rule in inches cmd eighths. The mandrels, made slightly taper, of soft wood, about six to ten feet long, for turning soil-pipes on, are generally supplied by employers. The straight-edge should be made of well-seasoned wood, quite true, for marking straight lines and testing edges. The plumber's knife, strong, for cutting lead and trimming. The plumber's rasp, for preparing edges for jointing, should not be coarse in grain. The long-handled drawing knife, for cutting long cuts in sheets of lead for roof-work. 474 DOMESTIC SANITARY DRAINAGE AND PLUMBING. The tumscrew should always be well chosen, strong, not too wide in the point, for taking down mahogany and other casings neatly. A small one also is useful The screw-wrench, for couplings and nuts of boilers, cannot be too well made. The iron bolt or tommy, for dressing lead in making branches, eta Two bradawls, two gimlets, one pliers for cutting wire, one brace and bits. Fio. S78.->-CnttiDg pUers. The compass, for making curves and circles. The calipers, for measuring thicknesses and dian^^ters. The blowpipe in various forms, for jointing and solder- ing. The spirit level and plumb-line, always required. The cramp, for holding two ends of pipes tc^ether for wiping a joint. The smudge or soil-pot, made of copper, and its brush. The plumber's saw, about sixteen inches in the blade, for cutting lead pipe across. Three caulking tools of different thickness, for jointing iron drain and soil pipes. Plumber's blowpipe torches, used with methylated spirit* or benzoline, are very trying to the workmen, and only advantageous in making joints in some place where a fire cannot be had. The self-acting blowing lamps, with spirits in a boiler, heated by a small lamp, generate a powerful flame. The valve needs attention to keep it free and prevent accidents from explosion. The solder must be used in strips with k. PLUMBERS' TOOLS. 475 these lamps. They are more useful for jointing than for roof or cistern work. Fio. 874. — Plumber's pmnp for clearing service-pipes. The plumber's forcing-pimip, for clearing choked or air- bound pipes. With this useful pump (Fig. 374), by closing the stop-cock, and working the handle cmd piston, a great pressure can be obtained in the copper bell-shaped container. This concentrated force can be suddenly discharged into obstructed pipes to clear them. About two feet of strong indiarubber hose is also needed to attach to couplings. The plumber's force-pump, handy to carry and useful. The forcing cup, for clearing water- closet traps. force-pump. Pio. 876.— Plumber's 476 DOMESTIC SANITARY DRAINAGE AND PLUMBING. Fio. 876. — Steam or gaa-pipe tonga. The gun-barrel tongs, of two sizes. Fio. 877.— Gas-pliers. The gas-pliers, for brass couplings and unscrewing gas- burners. Fig. 878. — Wrench for gi-atiugs. The stocks and dies, | inch to 2 inches. The shears, for cutting sheet zinc, copper, or brass. The list of tools here given is intended as a guide to enable young plumbers to try systematically to get together as complete a collection as possible* A plumber never knows what class of work he may be called on to do, but he should aim at being ready for anything. It is not at the moment of commencing a plumbing job that the plumber should begin to seek for tools. He cannot take all the tools in the list to daily jobs, but he ought to be provided with them in long country jobs. We must not forget that, although the best kind of tools help a plumber in his work, yet a good plumber, to handle ij^-: plumbers' tools. 477 them well, is much more important. Tools are to be bought for money, but plumbers must be trained and educated to use them. 8 iroBS. 2 copper bolts. 2 copper bits. 2 solder-pots. 2 ladles. 1 splash -stick. 1 pouring stick. 4 shave-hooks ; 2 straight, 2 shaped. 1 gauge-hook. 1 hammer. 1 bossing mallet. 1 plain mallet. 6 dummies. 8 dressers. 3 turnpins. 1 flapper. 1 wedge. 1 plane. 1 square. 3 mandrels. 1 straight-edge. 1 knife. 1 drawing knife. 1 rasp. 2 tumscrews. 3 bradawls. 2 gimlets. 1 screw-wrench. 2 iron bolts. 1 pliers. 1 brace and bits. 1 compass. 1 calipers. 2 blowpipes. 1 cramp for i)ipe joint. 1 pair of shears. Stocks and dies. 2 gas-pliers. 2 gun-barrel tongs. 1 force-pump. 1 forcing cup. 1 blowing lamp. 1 solder cloth. 1 carpet. 1 saw. 1 soil-pot and brush. 8 caulking tools. 1 spirit-level. 1 palette knife. 1 wrench for gratings. The renaissance of the plumbing craft has created a demand for first-class journeyman plumbers to carry out first-class work. To attain the highest rank as such nowa- days, a man must have commenced at the foundation. The very utmost use of his opportunities at school is essential to give a solid groundwork of primary education, and this is now placed within easy reach of all boys, but is difficult to attain in later life. Next, as a lad, he must work steadily under a good master as an apprentice and improver, during a term of seven years at the very least. During his apprenticeship he must contrive to attend 478 DOMESTIC SANITARY DRAINAGE AND PLUMBING. technical classes in plumbing and science classes connected with plumbing. He should pass the examinations both under the Science and Art Department and under the City and Guilds of London Technical Institute, securing thus his full Techno- logical Certificate. He should then claim his right to registration as a journeyman plumber from the Plumbers' Company. He will then be qualified to commence his career as a fully trained journeyman plumber. In the first place, he will be an honest man all round, scrupulously sharp in keeping time, and protecting his employer's interests against waste of either the time or the material used and paid for by his employer. The pliunber whose heart is in the right place — ^that is, in his work — steps out bravely with a will, looks every inch a workman, and is proud to know it ; his mate or assistant will also share his spirit, for there is a magnetism in it that attracts. As iron sharpeneth iron, so a man sharpeneth the countencmce of his friend. He will be a gentleman at heart also, as every plumber ought to be, considering the wishes and feelings of those about him in his daily round of work, being careful not to injure property or make his presence in any dwelling disagreeably felt. The model journeyman plumber must add many other qualifications to these if he is to take front rank. His hands must first be the hcmds of a plumber, adroit in all manipulation of lead cmd solder. As a foreman he will be prepared to meet the architects. He will find greater clearness and detail in their plumbing specifications then, no doubt; but he will also be more frequently invited in person to receive instructions, and will be expected to be ready to point out possible improve- ments, and to explain practical points, to hear practical PLUMBERS' TOOLS. 479 difficulties stated, and to suggest the best means to overcome them. As a foreman, or as a master, he must know the values of material and work, so as to draw up and price out quantities for estimates. He must understand the chemical and physical qualities of the various metals, and their uses in the trade. He must be acquainted with the mixing of alloys, and know their fusing-points and working qualities. He must be prepared to advise on occasions as to the best means of obtaining suitable household water in any district, to calculate the required quantities, and the proper dimen- sions for store tcmks and conduits. He must be able to recommend the best form and the proper dimensions of pumps, hydraulic rams, and pumping engines, to fix them, and to calculate the quantity of water each is capable of raising to given heights with given powers. He must be a ready draughtsman, so as to convey his instructions clearly to workmen. Syphonage and momentum in traps he must be able to conquer. Planning, laying, flushing, and disinfecting of drains, he will be required to understand. Finally, we hope that the model plumber may obtain so honourable a position that, without fear of consequences, he may be able to decline to carry out faulty or insufficient plumbing work, no matter who may specify it or require it executed. In closing these chapters let us once again recall the fact that, as modern plumbing and drainage exert a more powerful influence over the health and happiness of our %. 480 DOMESTIC SANITARY DRAINAGE AND PLUMBING. fellow-men than any other handicraft, so also a greater responsibility rests upon us, and upon all connected with these crafts, to do our whole duty to the public and to each other, whether as teachers, as masters, as journeymen, or as students. Recent attention to sanitary reform, in which good and sound plumbing and drainage work takes the most im- portant place, has saved the lives, improved the health, and increased the happiness of hundreds of thousands of the I^eople of our land ; but we must also admit that sorrow, suffering, and death can still be traced to shameful ignorance and n^lect of sound sanitary plumbing and drainage work, both on the part of the public and on the part of some who undertake the responsibility of ministering to them in such vital matters. The technical education of plumbers is of double value when it is given and received by those who realise the greatness of their moral responsibility in following this handicraft, and the vital importance of securing, by all means in their power, good arrangement and sound work in the plumbing and drainage of the dwellings entrusted to their care. The arts of decorating and of furnishing houses, which receive the most ample consideration, both from the public and from the craftsmen concerned, involve mere questions of taste and luxury ; the arts of plumbing and drainage, therefore, involving the life and health, and consequently the happiness of whole families and communities, should Qucupy a higher and more important position than they Iiave yet been given. Tlie claims of plumbers, whether journeymen, foremen, or employers, to this noble grade, depend on the manner in which they individually realise their responsibility, and act upon their professions. It is one of the great objects plumbers' tools. . 481 of the City and Guilds of London Institute, not merely to teach technicalities that may better be learned in the workshop or at the bench, but to encourage the teachers of plumbing, and to stimulate the younger students and crafts- men to concentrate their faculties, and to join all together in one bond of union to elevate themselves and each other, and by their united efforts to raise once more the noble art and handicraft of plumbing to the highest attainable position of honour and of usefulness. 2 I CHAPTEK XII. PLUMBERS' RULES AND TABLES. Useful Rules for Plumbers. Given the diameter of any circle, to find the circumference — Multiply diameter by 31416. Given the diameter of any circle, to find the side of an equal square — Multiply diameter by '886226. Given the diameter of any circle, to find the side of an inscribed square — Multiply diameter by '7071. Given the diameter of any circle, to find the area — Square the diameter and multiply by '7854. Given the circumference of any circle, to find the tliiiuieter — Multiply circumference by '31831. To find the area of any triangle — Multiply the base by half the perpendicular. 482 plumbers' rules and tables. 483 To find the area of any ellipse — Multiply the conjugate axis by '7854, and the product by the transverse axis. To find the surface of any cylinder — Multiply the circumference by the length, and add the area of both ends. To find the surface of any cone — Multiply the circumference of the base by one-half of the slant height, and add the area of the base. To find the surface of any sphere — Multiply the square of the diameter by 3* 141 6. To find the solid contents of any cylinder — Multiply the area of one end by the length. To find the solid contents of any sphere— r Cube the diameter and multiply by '5236. To find the solid contents of any cone or pyramid — * Multiply the area of the base by one-third of the per- pendicular height. To find P (pressure in pounds per square inch) from any given head of water — Multiply H (the head or height of water in feet) by '433. Hx-433=P. To find H (the head or height of water in feet) from P (any given pressure in pounds per square inch)— 484 DOMESTIC SANITARY DRAINAGE AND PLUMBING. Multiply the given pressure in pounds per square inch by 2-31. Px2-31 = H. To find the contents of a cylindrical water tank approxi- mately in gallons — Square D (the diameter in feet), and multiply by 5, and again by H (the number of feet in height). DxDx5xH = gallons. To find the contents of any pipe or drain — Square d (the diameter in inches) for W (the weight of water in pounds per yard of pipe). Divide by 10 for G (the number of gallons per yard of pipe). dxrf-W-rlO = G. To find the weight of water in any large tank in tons when full — Reduce the contents to cubic feet, and divide by 36 for tons weight. Thus in a tank 20 feet x 12 feet x 6 feet » 1,440 cubic feet, 1,440-^36-40 tons of water when full To find the weight of iron per foot — A square foot of cast iron 1 inch thick weighs 37^ lbs. To find what a square foot of any other thickness will weigh, multiply 37^ by the thickness in inches or fractions of an inch. A square foot of rolled wrought iron 1 inch thick weighs 40 lbs. To find the weight of boiler-plates or sheet iron per square foot, multiply 40 by the decimal of an inch in thickness the required plates are to be. PLUMBERS* RULES AND TABLES. 485 To find the weight of castings from the pattern — Multiply weight of deal pattern by 17 for cast iron. »* i> 18 „ brass. „ 19 „ copper. 25 „ lead. To find the weight of iron castings — Find the solid contents in inches, and multiply them by •26, and it will give the weight in pounds. For rough calculations it will do to divide th^ cubic inches by four and call the answer pounds. Useful Tables for Plumbers.