Lead Gutters
We come now to treat of roofs where the material used by the plumber is lead, and shall take what may be called a plain roof first, or one with two gables, in which are the chimneys, and where the line of both the back and front gutters is uninterrupted in its whole length, of which Fig. 42 gives section, showing front and back gutters. In this case M is the stone cornice on the top of the front wall, in which the valley for the gutter, N, is cut out, say, to a depth of one inch at its upper end, and getting gradually deeper towards the end or place where the water runs off, so that at the deeper end its depth may be about 3 in., while throughout it may have a uniform breadth of, say, b m.
For this purpose the lead has to go across the cornice and up about 6 in. on to the roof, as shown by the dotted line. The breadth of the lead in this case will, therefore, be about 2 ft., which is made up by 1 in. bent down over the front, 5 in. from front to edge of the gutter valley, 8 in. for the gutter valley, and the other 10 in. is taken up by the 4 in. from the back edge of the gutter valley to the roof and 6 in. up the roof, as per Fig. 43. A gutter about 48 ft. long may be put on in either two or three pieces. If we say three pieces, that, if all are cut to the same length, gives about 16 ft. for each, and if the weight of the lead be 7 lb. per square foot, each piece will weigh abort 2 cwt.
The lead being carried up to the roof is then rolled out there, near, or just above where it is to go, each piece by itself, and after being "dressed/* or beaten out flat, it is then marked off where to be bent up in a manner suitable to its intended site. For the gutter we are speaking of the mark—at the deeper end—is set at 10 in. from the front at one end and 9 in. from the front at the other end, after which the lead along its whole length is bent up according to mark (as per Fig. 44). It is then lifted down and set inside the gutter valley in stone, and being bent back and over it is then properly " dressed " into its place, and after¬wards cut or pared evenly along the edges. When measur¬ing off the length of lead, allowance must be made for any upstand or turn-over at the ends of the gutter, according as the site may require.
Where the ends of the lead gutter pieces meet they must be soldered, it being understood that the stone is cub out a little underneath the joint, so that the solder nuiy be " flush " or level, especially in the gutter valley. Where the joint is soldered thus it both looks neater and forms no obstacle to the water running off freely.
We may here describe the operation of joining two lead gutter pieces in situ. Aiter the lead is put into its proper place, as described above, its surface for about 4 in. on each side of the joining is rubbed with a piece of card and chalk to take off the grease, &c.; it is then on the same space painted over with "smudge" (a mixture of lamp-black, glue, or size, and sour beer or water, boiled together), and after said " smudge " has been dried, say with a hot iron, about 1 it back from each edge of the lead is then cleanly scraped with the “shavehook” and to prevent its being tarnished or oxidised it is immediately rubbed over with fresh grease, often a piece of tallow candle.
The solder-pot and soldering-irons in the interim being pro perl j' heated, the plumber, by means of his small iron ladle, pours si sufficient quantity of solder on to the joint (not merely as much as makes the joint, but sufficient to raise a heat* all surplus being returned to the pot), and then, by the help of the red-hot irons and his soldering cloth, he wipes his joint." The soldering-cloths, which are a sine qua noti with all plumbers, are merely pieces of mole¬skin or strong linen, of four, eight, or twelve thicknesses, and various sizes to suit the particular work. Old moleskin trousers, and old aprons considered to have served their day upon the plumber's person, are afterwards torn up and made to do duty as " soldering-cloths." These cloths are kept well greased on the side which comes in contact with the solder, so as to prevent the solder adhering to them.