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To bend lead pipe without the use of bending spring or sand.

With a wooden dresser, flatten the pipe considerably, and carefully bend it so that the flattened sides come parallel with the direction in which the pipe is bent. This will tend to send the flattened sides out. Flatten the pipe wherever it shows signs of cockling, and having secured the proper bend, smooth the pipe wherever it is rough, with the dresser.

The first attempt with this method may not be very successful, but with a little practice, the flattened pipe will round out just as the bend is completed, and not only looks well, but will be better than a bend made with a spring, for the latter strains the pipe. This method is particularly handy when the bend is at some distance from the end.

To bend large lead pipe.

Fill the pipe with sand, tamp it down well, and plug the ends. After heating the pipe, to expand the particles of lead, the pipe may be easily bent. It is customary with some plumbers, to heat the sand before running it into the pipe.

To finish lead pipe.

After the work has been installed, rub it with fine sand-paper, being careful to rub with the grain of the pipe. When this has been done, cover the pipe with shellac.

To polish lead work.

After the work has been finished, rub it briskly with an old piece of brussels or tapestry carpeting. This will put a fine dark polish on the pipe. Some plumbers carry a bag made of this material for holding their stock of wiping cloths, and this bag may be used for polishing purposes.

Protection of lead pipes from the action of water.

Many waters affect lead supply pipes injuriously, not only acting chemically on the lead, but also poisoning the water supply. To guard against this, fill the piping with a warm concentrated solution of sulphide of potassium or sodium, and allow it to stand in the piping for about fifteen minutes. This will give the surface of the lead pipe a coating which the water will not attack, thereby preventing any possibility of lead poisoning to the users of the water. After standing the required length of time, the solution should be blown out, and the pipes thoroughly flushed.

This was taken from the book "Questions and Answers on the Practice and Theory of Sanitary Plumbing, Volume III, Practical Wrinkles" which was published in 1919.

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