OldTools Archive

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264167 Ed Minch <ruby1638@a...> 2017‑12‑10 Lignum Vitae
Just remembered - a few years ago I picked this up for $4 (IIRC):

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ruby1638/24093435807/in/dateposted-public/

It is a plumber’s lead dresser and still has a wax coating on the surface -
unused.  It is about the shape of a small mallet, but not quite right.  I have
thought of a couple of tool handles being in there.

Modern ones are made of beech, and I have seen a couple of LV and even a boxwood
one on the innerwebs

Ed Minch
264169 Claudio DeLorenzi <claudio@d...> 2017‑12‑10 Re: Lignum Vitae
Hi Ed
I thought that object you shared is a roofer’s lead sheet dresser, to
smooth out lead sheet flashing (as around chimneys etc)?
What would plumbers use this for?
Claudio
264170 Ed Minch <ruby1638@a...> 2017‑12‑10 Re: Lignum Vitae
Claudio

I suppose, like most tools, it can cross disciplines, but I found it in numerous
places on the innerwebs as a plumber's tool for working lead over oakum in
setting cast iron and lead pipes.  They have a whole kit of wooden tools,
perhaps a dozen different shapes.

Ed Minch
264173 Peter Marquis-Kyle <peter@m...> 2017‑12‑10 Re: Lignum Vitae
On 11/12/2017 3:13 AM, Claudio DeLorenzi wrote:
> Hi Ed
> I thought that object you shared is a roofer’s lead sheet dresser, to
> smooth out lead sheet flashing (as around chimneys etc)?
> What would plumbers use this for?
> Claudio

There is a clue in the name -- plumber -- which comes to us from the 
Latin 'plumbarius' (worker in lead).

The first definition of 'plumber' in the Oxford English Dictionary says:

"Originally: a person who deals with or works in lead. Subsequently: a 
person who fits or repairs the pipes (originally made of lead), 
fittings, and other apparatus relating to the water supply, sanitation, 
heating, etc., for a building."

--

Peter Marquis-Kyle
264174 Claudio DeLorenzi <claudio@d...> 2017‑12‑11 Re: Lignum Vitae
That makes complete sense.
  An interesting example of domain dependence of knowledge (or more
succinctly, as Homer says, "D'hoh" , like I just did while slapping my
forehead).
Cheers
Claudio

On Sun, Dec 10, 2017 at 5:06 PM, Peter Marquis-Kyle <
peter@m...> wrote:
264175 Ed Minch <ruby1638@a...> 2017‑12‑11 Re: Lignum Vitae
One step back - the latin name for lead is Plumbum

Ed Minch
264176 Michael Parrish <michaelparrish@o...> 2017‑12‑11 Re: Lignum Vitae
Hence, the atomic symbol for lead, Pb.

---
Michael Parrish
michael-parrish.com


-------- Original message --------
From: Ed Minch 
Date: 12/10/17 7:44 PM (GMT-06:00)
To: peter@m...
Cc: Old TOOLS 
Subject: Re: [OldTools] Lignum Vitae

One step back - the latin name for lead is Plumbum

Ed Minch




> On Dec 10, 2017, at 5:06 PM, Peter Marquis-Kyle  wrote:
>
> On 11/12/2017 3:13 AM, Claudio DeLorenzi wrote:
>> Hi Ed
>> I thought that object you shared is a roofer’s lead sheet dresser, to
>> smooth out lead sheet flashing (as around chimneys etc)?
>> What would plumbers use this for?
>> Claudio
>
> There is a clue in the name -- plumber -- which comes to us from the Latin
'plumbarius' (worker in lead).
>
> The first definition of 'plumber' in the Oxford English Dictionary says:
>
> "Originally: a person who deals with or works in lead. Subsequently: a person
who fits or repairs the pipes (originally made of lead), fittings, and other
apparatus relating to the water supply, sanitation, heating, etc., for a
building."
>
> --
>
> Peter Marquis-Kyle

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264218 scott grandstaff <scottg@s...> 2017‑12‑12 Re: Lignum Vitae
I picked this up for $4 (IIRC):
> https://www.flickr.com/photos/ruby1638/24093435807/in/dateposted-public/
For plumbing needs smaller ones were more common.
This one was probably made for body work.
Before bondo all auto repairs and customizing details were done with solder.
   As in lead sled, which we have all heard of.

I know a guy who can wield one of these with great finesse. (ever try to 
get molten lead to stand on a vertical surface?)
Last I saw a rare Jaguar XKE coupe was lookin like 2 million dollars.

I found one at a yard sale too, and made him a couple more as a gift.
Identical in size and shape, none were lignum, but they don't really 
need to be.
    yours Scott

-- 
*******************************
    Scott Grandstaff
    Box 409 Happy Camp, Ca  96039
    scottg@s...
    http://www.snowcrest.net/kitty/sgrandstaff/
    http://www.snowcrest.net/kitty/hpages/index.html

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