LEAD VERSUS COMPOUNDS FOR PIPE JOINTS [with DISCUSSION]

E. G. Bradbury:1 Lead is universally recognized as a satisfactory material lor jointing cast iron pipe, but there nas been, and is, wide difference of opinion regarding the use of compounds for this purpose. Many superintendents and engineers are using the latter, usually for economic reasons. In some systems both materials are used, the selection being based on the conditions encountered or anticipated on each particular job, or, sometimes, on size of pipe. Leadite is the oldest and best known of the compounds, with Hydro-tite a close second. Metallium seems to have gone out of use, and Mineralead is just entering the field. All are of similar nature and seem to get fairly comparable results, but the older compounds have a distinct advantage in having stood the test of twenty or more years use. Each of the manufacturers naturally claims special advantages for his particular product. In favor of lead may be instanced its long record of successful use, its flexibility, the tightness of joint on completion, the simplicity of testing, and the ease with which leaky joints can be recaulked. The principal argument for compounds is the financial saving, although many of the advocates of their use claim that a better and stronger joint can be made than with lead. The Franklin County Sanitary Engineering Department, in its work of constructing water mains outside of municipalities, largely in the suburban territory around Columbus, began receiving alternate bids on lead and compound joints in 1926 and the latter have been used on practically all work since that date. Twenty-six contracts have been carried out during this period. The average difference in cost for lead and compound as shown by the accepted bids for these projects is shown in table 1. The total length of pipe laid was 269,981 feet or about 51.2 miles. The actual saving by use of the compound joints was $24,245.87, or approximately $475 per mile. Satisfactory joints can be made with compound if proper methods