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Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 6:38 pm
by lutonlagerlout
went away for the weekend and read a bio of fred dibnah , "fred" good read, and nice to see someone who loved traditional stuff (bit of a selfish so and so where his family were concerned-but) in the book fred talks of repointing chimneys (200foot high) with his own mastic,made from white lead ,red lead and linseed oil
he said that this was superior to sand and cement
anyone know anything about this seemingly toxic mastic???
regards LLL
Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 9:28 pm
by Dave_L
Probably had something to do wih his premature passing 
Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2007 9:58 pm
by Stuarty
All i know is i wouldnt fancy using it :/
Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2007 1:55 am
by lutonlagerlout
been in touch with some *jacks* on a steeplejack forum ,and they reckon everyone is now using sand,cement and lime for pointing chimneys.
the red and white lead where effectively flexible paints with the linseed for a finish
cheers LLL 
Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2007 11:25 am
by Tony McC
Fred turned up at my Brother-in-law's wedding about 3 years ago.
There we were, sat in a little pub in a village called Astley about 10 miles outside manchester, having a few post-nuptial beers, when a thundering, rattling noise was heard heading towards the pub car park. It was fred and his traction engine making their way to Astley Green Colliery, a preserved single-shaft coal mine that's used as a sort of museum to remind schoolkids of how it used to be in the good old days when everyone had rickets or diphtheria, and you would be sent down the shaft as soon as you could stand on your own two feet.
A few of us went out to gawp at the traction engine, and I sheepishly approached Fred, explained my b-i-l was just after celebrating his marriage, and would it be possible to get a photo of the happy couple with Fred?
"Tha' con do what tha' waants, as long as tha' gets me a pahnt or two", said Fred, most graciously, and we spent the next couple of hours getting slowly sozzled in his company!
Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 12:34 am
by lutonlagerlout
fair play to him i reckon he spent 27 years and 2 marriages getting that thing on the road,2 pints was a bargain
LLL
Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 1:28 pm
by Dave_L
Tony McC wrote:"Tha' con do what tha' waants, as long as tha' gets me a pahnt or two", said Fred, most graciously, and we spent the next couple of hours getting slowly sozzled in his company!
What a great memory to have of Fred! Superb stuff.
Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 7:31 pm
by lutonlagerlout
believe it or not guv' he actually mention that wedding in the book!
un flipping believeable
can you feel the celebrity glow?
if you want you can have a read after me i am down to the last few pages
cheers
LLL
Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 11:07 pm
by flowjoe
I have had the pleasure of being stuck behind the guy and his bloody machine on several occasions as he made his way into staffordshire/midlands, he was often found at the bar of several local public houses as he went.
You could feel the enthusiasm of the guy on the goggle box whether he was hanging around a lump of iron or a norman castle. I wonder how he would have coped in todays market with health and safety, astronomic insurance, and not being fluent in polish.
He`s better off out of it god bless him
Edited By flowjoe on 1175378912
Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 11:16 pm
by seanandruby
we built a soup farm ( thats sewerage to you. ) on the old power station at shoreham harbour. at the time there was one chimney left. the first one they blew down filled a culvert that runs the full length or the harbour. you wouldn't believe the old lead down pipes and copper we found there. you couldn't lift the hoppers by hand. every expansion joint at 3 metres was 10 metres of solid copper. the power cables were lead surround not that twisted metal crap. the cable was tin coated. it was 1,300 quid a ton at the time. i got gold fever and had a good few grand out of there. t n w ( that's touch nose wink to you ) :;):
Posted: Sun Apr 01, 2007 4:41 am
by lutonlagerlout
i weighed some lead in off 1 job week before last,result 200kg of lead £140 cash used to be £400 a tonne
cheers lll
Posted: Sun Apr 01, 2007 6:56 am
by Dave_L
I wouldn't mind a read after Tony, too! I feel a www.pavingexpert.com book round coming up! :laugh: