The material obtained by untwisting and picking into loose fiber old hemp ropes; -- used for calking the seams of ships, stopping leaks, etc.
The coarse portion separated from flax or hemp in nackling.
tarred hemp or manila fibers made from old and condemned ropes which have been picked apart. They were used for caulking the seams of decks and sides of a wooden ship in order to make them watertight. The unpicking of oakum was considered a naval punishment, every man condemned to cells on board ship was made to unpick a pound of oakum daily. It was a tedious and slow process, and very hard on fingers and thumbs.
A caulking material used in waterproofing the seams between strakes of planking. It is a mass of strong, pliable tarred rope fibers obtained from scrap rope, which swell when wet. The fibers are soaked in pine tar and loosely bundled together.
Loose hemp or jute that is wedged and soaked in tar to form a watertight seal between planks of wood.
Medicated hemp used for packing.
The coarse part of flax or hemp separated in hackling; also old ropes untwisted and picked into loose fibres resembling tow; used for calking the seams of vessels and caissons.
loose hemp or jute fiber obtained by unravelling old ropes; when impregnated with tar it was used to caulk seams and pack joints in wooden ships
Loose fibres obtained by unpicking old ropes which were then sold to the navy or other ship-builders - it was mixed with tar and used for caulking (sealing the lining) of wooden ships. Picking oakum was done without tools of any sort and was very hard on the fingers. Picking oakum in the East End of London, 1906. © PRO (PRO 30/69/1663).
Loosely woven hemp rope that has been treated with oil or other waterproofing agent; it is used to caulk joints in a bell and spigot pipe and fittings.
Old rope untwisted and pulled open. Used for caulking the seams of decks and sides of a wooden ship in order to make them watertight.
Loose hemp or jute fiber impregnated with tar or pitch and used to caulk large seams or for packing plumbing pipe joints
A substance made from soft vegetable fiber such as hemp and jute impregnated with pine tar. It is principally used for caulking the planking on wood decks of steel vessels and for caulking all the planking on wood ships where watertightness is desired, It is also used for caulking around pipes.
Material used for caulking hulls. Often hemp picked from old untwisted ropes
Lengths of shredded rope used with pitch to seal apertures between planks and such like.
Loosely twisted jute or hemp fiber impregnated with tar and used in caulking seams, as in wood shipbuilding or in caulking cast iron bell and spigot piping.
Shredded hemp fibers used to caulk or fill joints, as in bell-and-spigot pipe; oakum may be dry or saturated with tar or oil.
Oakum is a preparation of tarred fibre used in shipbuilding, for caulking or packing the joints of timbers in wooden vessels and the deck planking of iron and steel ships, as well as cast iron plumbing applications. Oakum was at one time made from old tarry ropes and cordage of vessels, and its picking and preparation has been a common penal occupation in prisons and workhouses. In modern times it is made from virgin hemp fibers.