{"id":749,"date":"2016-10-29T10:36:52","date_gmt":"2016-10-28T21:36:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/weblog.bergersen.net\/michelle\/?p=749"},"modified":"2016-10-29T11:02:36","modified_gmt":"2016-10-28T22:02:36","slug":"plumbing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/weblog.bergersen.net\/michelle\/2016\/10\/plumbing\/","title":{"rendered":"Plumbing"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Video
How to apply hemp to a threaded joint<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/a>
\nWatching people work and asking them about it is one of my favourite things to do.<\/p>\n

Today the Plumber came, so it was a good day.<\/p>\n

Instead of plumbing tape to put in the threads to seal them tight, he was using an older way of doing things. A way I thought dead since I was a youngling. And, I have seen half a century of life. How did that happen?<\/p>\n

He was using hemp and graphite paste to seal the pipes threads. He replaced a valve and there is an art to the use. He had different techniques I noticed for different sized joints. Some he spread the hemp threads wide and then spread graphite on. Some he twilled the threads to a kind of cord.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It is good to see some of the old ways come back.<\/p>\n

As much as I love technology and long for more advanced tech, I do still love the old ways.<\/p>\n

The Plumber said it was better to have the hemp as it swells when it gets wet. So if I joint starts to leak it seals it back up.<\/p>\n

Also the plastic tape can move around and loosen, making it an ineffective sealer.<\/p>\n

I find these things fascinating and learning a bit of the skills involved means I appreciate the work more. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n