On Mon, 21 Nov 2011 02:29:10 -0600, Caesar Romano
wrote:

On Mon, 21 Nov 2011 00:01:21 -0800 (PST), harry
wrote Re Dental floss toilet beast (must see):

Heh Heh. That is not dental floss.
That is what in the UK we call "gaskin" . It is hemp fibre (often
tarred) and was used to fill the joint in socket and spigot rigid
pipes. (Iron or earthen ware.)

That's what it looks like to me too.

It will be leaking someplace now.

Sewer stack joints used to get packed with oakum, (either tarred hemp
or bentonite soaked hemp.)
Then filled with melted lead.
I don't see how he could pull the oakum out unless it was a really
badly done joint.
Doubt it will cause a leak unless the lead bead is broken and he gets
a backup.

--Vic