This article series provides an updated version of Hubbard Cobb's Your Dream Home, illustrated by Sigman-Ward, first published by Wm. H. Wise & Co. New York, 1950.

From site selection and obtaining financing through each step in construction of a single family home the simple procedures and drawings in this book are still useful for anyone building or repairing a home or other small structure.

Cast Iron Drain Piping Installation

Here we describe how to assemble & install vertical and horizontal runs of cast iron drain pipe.

This is a section of Chapter 13 of BUILD YOUR DREAM HOME at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

This article series provides an updated version of Hubbard Cobb's Your Dream Home, illustrated by Sigman-Ward, first published by Wm. H. Wise & Co. New York, 1950. The link above provides versions of each chapter as a web page, as an ePub, and in the original form as a PDF file.

Cast-iron bell and spigot pipe over 2" is used for the drainage inside the house and for the vent system. These pipes come in standard lengths of 5" and up to 6" in diameter. For most purposes, a 4" pipe will be sufficient except for the kitchen sink-drain, where a 2" pipe is used.

Cast-iron pipe is cut with a cold chisel. See Fig 24. First of all, the pipe should be lightly scored around the point where the cut is to be made. Make this line as square as you can. Now, with the pipe supported on some 2" x 4"’s, start making deeper cuts along the line with the cold chisel. Turn the pipe after each blow. After you have gone around several times the pipe will break clean at the cut line. Before you assemble the pipe, strike it at each end with a hammer. If you get a clear ring, the pipe is sound.

How to Make Vertical Joints in Cast Iron Soil Pipe

Making up the joint in cast-iron pipe is a complicated business, but with a little practice you should not find it too difficult.

Fig. 24. Cutting soil pipe with a cold chisel.

The ends of pipe to be joined should be clean and bone dry. When working in a vertical line, the bell end of the pipe should face up. Insert the spigot end of the next section of pipe into the bell end and then secure this length of pipe to a framework with metal strips or by some other means so that it will not fall over.

Now pack twisted oakum into the bell until it is about 1" from the top. For a 4" soil pipe, you will need about 5 feet of oakum for each joint. The oakum should be solidly packed into the bell with a tool called a yarning iron.

See Figs. 25 and 28 below. If any of the fibers of the oakum protrude, they should be burned off with a blow-torch. After the oakum is well packed into place, the joint is ready to be caulked with lead.

Fig. 25. Packing in the oakum with a yarning iron.

Fig. 26. Pouring in the hot lead to make a leak-proof joint in cast iron pipe.

You will need about 3 pounds for 4" pipe. Needless to say, enough lead should be melted at one time for several joints. Lead can be melted in a gasoline-fired melting pot. When the lead is molten, pre-heat the ladle that is used to carry the lead so that it will not chill the molten lead before you get it to the joint.

Take the hot ladle and push back some of the dross or slag that lies on the surface of the lead and then scoop up a ladleful of lead. Do not disturb the molten lead in the pot any more than is necessary. The lead must be poured into the joint in one operation.

Move the ladle around as you pour so that the joint is filled uniformly. See Fig. 26.

Watch out: Do not pour hot lead on a wet joint because the moisture will cause the hot lead to fly out. It is wise to keep your face away from the joint while you pour so that if any of the lead does fly out it will not hit you.

The cast iron pipe joint should be completely filled until the lead is a little above the rim of the hub—about 1/8" or so.

Fig. 27. Caulking a vertical joint in cast iron pipe.

The next step is the final caulking of the joint and this can be done just as soon as the lead is cool. Caulking backs the lead firmly inside the joint. See Figs. 27 and 28. It must be done because lead will shrink slightly as it cools and, therefore, unless the joint is caulked it will not be tight.

The first step in caulking is done with an out-side-caulking tool. Place the end of this tool on the lead and then strike it gently with a hammer. If you strike it too hard, you may jar the lead loose from the joint. Tap all around the leaded joint and then change to an inside-caulking tool.

Heavier blows can be struck with this. Finish off the caulking with a caulking tool that fits into the space without binding.

When working with a section of pipe that has been cut, great care must be taken to be sure that the cut end is properly centered in the bell of the section below. See Figs. 29 and 30. If the end is not properly centered, you will not get a good joint.

Some codes permit joints in cast-iron pipe to be made with a commercial jointing-compound that requires no caulking or with shredded lead, which is calked cold.

How to Make Horizontal Joints in Cast Iron Pipe

For making horizontal joints, the same general procedure is used as for the vertical joints. The joint is first packed with oakum. To introduce the lead, a contraption called a joint-runner is required. See Fig. 31.

The cast iron pipe joint runner is made of asbestos rope or a modern (non-asbestos) fireproof substitute that is wrapped around the pipe just above the hub.

Get the runner on as tightly as possible; the clip that holds the runner together should face up. This is the point at which the lead is poured in. Tap the runner after it is fastened in place and drive it against the hub so that there is no open joint here where the lead can flow out.

Fig. 28. Three tools you will need to make up joints in cast-iron soil pipe.

Fig. 29. Care must be taken in making up a joint with a section of pipe that has been cut, to get the end properly centered in the bell end. The joint shown above is off center and may cause trouble.

Fig. 30. Correct method of centering the end of cut pipe for making a caulked joint.

Pour the lead into the runner and, when it is cool, remove the runner for use with the next joint.

Special caulking tools are available for use on horizontal joints so that the underside of the joint can be caulked.

Fig. 31. Pouring lead for a horizontal caulked joint by means of a joint runner.

Threaded Joints in Drain Waste Vent Pipes

If you wish to save yourself the job of having to make up caulked joints in cast-iron pipes, you can use special pipes of this type with threaded joints.

 They are especially designed for drainage work so that the interior of the pipe at the fitting or joint will be perfectly smooth and free from shoulders that might catch solid matter passing through the line.

Of course, this type of pipe is more expensive than the bell and spigot type and more care is required in cutting and fitting the sections together. On the other hand, the same degree of skill is not required in making the joints, the work goes faster and is much neater.

See details about cast iron piping piping at CAST IRON DRAIN PIPING

Also see DRAIN & SEWER PIPING - home

Details about lead pipes in buildings are at LEAD PIPES in BUILDINGS

...

Continue reading at PLUMBING SYSTEM LAYOUT PLAN - next section of this chapter, or go to book contents at BUILD YOUR DREAM HOME, or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

This entire chapter is also available as PLUMBING SYSTEM INSTALLATION [eBook], or as a PDF image at THE HOUSE PLUMBING SYSTEM [PDF] original page images.

Or see these sections of Chapter 13 - PLUMBING SYSTEM INSTALLATION

1. PROPER PLUMBING WORK is IMPORTANT
2. WATER SUPPLY SOURCES
3. TYPES of PIPING MATERIALS
4. COPPER PIPE INSTALLATION
5. COPPER FLARE CONNECTIONS
6. PIPE SIZE SELECTION
7. CAST IRON PIPE INSTALLATION
8. PLUMBING SYSTEM LAYOUT PLAN
9. PLUMBING FIXTURE INSTALLATION BATH KITCHEN
10. WATER HEATERS & TANKS
11. PLUMBING SYSTEM PRESSURE TESTS
12. SEPTIC TANK, DRAINFIELD INSTALLATION
13. PLUMBING MATERIALS LIST for the basic house

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• BUILD YOUR DREAM HOME
• CAST IRON DRAIN PIPING - home
• CAST IRON DRAIN LEAK, ODOR, REPAIR
• CAST IRON PIPE INSTALLATION
• PLUMBING VENT DISTANCES & ROUTING
• SEPTIC CLEARANCE DISTANCES
• SEPTIC TANK, DRAINFIELD INSTALLATION
• WATER SUPPLY & DRAIN PIPING - home

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CAST IRON PIPE INSTALLATION at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

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INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to PLUMBING SYSTEMS

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