Unearthed large metal cable -lead perhaps?

M@tt · Post: # 61790Post **M@tt** Tue Apr 12, 2011 6:03 pm

I've just had my patio and drive groundwork done today. However ive git home to find that they appear to have unearthed some massive length of metal. It's pretty flexible so I'm assuming it's lead. Any ideas what it is?

Some sort of lightening earth? Although the house doesn't have any sort of conductor

haggistini · Post: # 61791Post **haggistini** Tue Apr 12, 2011 6:23 pm

Shouldn't have left that for you to touch could be anything !!!

Pablo · Post: # 61800Post **Pablo** Tue Apr 12, 2011 8:15 pm

Water perhaps? plenty of old houses served with lead pipes. It's unlikely to be electrical.

Wed Apr 13, 2011 4:41 pm

looks like an old lead water main from here
LLL
scrap Â£1.20 a KG weigh it in!!

M@tt · Post: # 61806Post **M@tt** Wed Apr 13, 2011 4:46 pm

cheers chaps

its not likely to start gushing water if i take a set of bolt croppers to it then?

Post: # 61809Post **Dave_L** Wed Apr 13, 2011 5:22 pm

Very doubtful, even if it does just bend the end over and fold it flat, job done!

Wed Apr 13, 2011 7:10 pm

It's lead water main I wouldn't have left it hehe

Post: # 61942Post **seanandruby** Sat Apr 16, 2011 6:59 am

If you can't see the end of something then it's best left well alone. Maybe chase it along to see if it's connected up. If it's not connected then weigh it in.

haggistini · Post: # 61944Post **haggistini** Sat Apr 16, 2011 7:49 am

You should have been told or left a note if they exposed any services I've seen power cables in lead before now it's more than likely water tho. Could make a few leads for fishing !

Sat Apr 16, 2011 8:06 am

Your not meant to use lead anymore for fishing hehe

Looking at his other post with pics they just hacked it out and left quick

Post: # 61950Post **Dave_L** Sat Apr 16, 2011 8:23 am

Swing a wooden handled axe through it first, you'll soon know if it is a power cable

Post: # 61954Post **seanandruby** Sat Apr 16, 2011 9:32 am

....what kind of advice is that to a diyer ???
thought this was paving expert? Treat all services as if they are live until you know for certain they are'nt, no matter how trivial it may seem. :p

Post: # 61955Post **Dave_L** Sat Apr 16, 2011 10:51 am

LOL - Bad advice!!!

Yes, Sean is quite right. I guess we are sort of used to seeing things in the ground and get to know what's good and whats bad :-/

Sat Apr 16, 2011 11:10 am

Haha better than saying lick it with your Tongue,

But in all seriousness, if you are worried or unsure consult your electric company or any decent ground worker has a CAT scanner that would have located and told them if it live.

Im 99 percent certain that's an old lead water main but without being there I can't be 100%

Also top left is that a vitrous clay or salt glass pipe they've knocked the collar off?

DNgroundworks · Sat Apr 16, 2011 2:25 pm

we do still use lead in fishing Giles, its now powder coated for the big weights the small stuff is tungsten.

I once cut into a salt glaze pipe thinking it was a drain, but it was a 3 phase electric cable inside supplying a workshop! good job i didnt cut the cable!