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What is Oakum?

April 26, 2017caulking oakum packing material shipbuilding

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What is Oakum?

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Oakum is a tarred fiber that has a long and distinguished history for use in shipbuilding and the repair of various sea-going vessels. Essentially, oakum is a blend of fibers that are coated with tar and can be used to fill in small cracks in various types of structures. In centuries past, tarred oakum was often prepared by persons serving time in prisons, as well as people who were forced to labor in workhouses in order to work off outstanding debts. There is more than one form of oakum available for use. In addition to the tarred oakum that is made by using the jute or hemp fibers of old ropes, there is also white oakum. White oakum is created with the use of hemp fibers that have not been woven into ropes and is not impregnated with the pine tar that was used in many instances to make the oakum resistant to water and the elements. In usage, oakum was extremely helpful around the shipyard. The substance served as an ideal packing material that could be used as a means of caulking or

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