Plumber's Candles

[Dunbar Plumbing]

Here was a new one for me.

Had a customer call me in dire need of "plumber's candles" for a wedding shower tomorrow night, pronto! She was going down a list of plumbers trying to find someone who would sell her some since all the hardware stores she called could only order it and have it in a few days.

I personally am not aware of these, maybe cause I only hatched out of the egg in the late 60's? She stated that they are long and thick, and very hard to come by. I stopped right there and excused myself from the conversation because she started giggling uncontrollably. I implied that she may want to call the plumbing supply houses in the area to fit her need.




I promise this isn't a joke, I really did get a call on plumber's candles today. Anyone who knows about these let me know. I can't see what candles provided in the plumbing industry unless it was for a source of light in crawlspaces or something. Or maybe even something tied to pouring lead joints but it takes a pretty strong source of heat to get a lead ladle going for pouring.

[Cass]

Not 100% sure but there definately are plumbers candles and I beleive they were used to light the old fule torches. No spark ignighters back then.

[plumber1]

In my past life, we used them in crawl spaces when there was no electricity and we used a candle when we were taking our test for Journeyman and masters licenses.

Just call a good supply house and ask.

[Cass]

Last I knew they use talcum powder to keep the lead from sticking to the cloth.

[Mikey]

I think they'd giggle a lot more with the "Household and Emergency Candle" (http://candles.genwax.com/products/___0___247002.htm). The Plumbers Candles are described as "chubbier and slightly shorter" than these household candles (1 1/8" by 4 1/2" vs 3/4" by 7"), although perhaps chubby may be more appropriate for this particular group. Further I don't want to go :) .

[Ed from chicago]

If you live near Evanston, Illinois, these candles can be purchased at Lemoi Hardware. :)

[Lakee911]

Ok, I must be feeling better, lol.
Here is a URL complete with a pic, ;)

http://candles.genwax.com/products/___0___2504B.htm

I got to have some fun! bad bad bad Like you need more cowbell!

(Good ole vinegar, huh?) :)

[hj]

WE always made sure the wiping cloth, and our hands, was very dirty so the solder would not stick to it, or them.

[Dunbar Plumbing]

Rugged,

You did also figure out why they were giggling right?
No further comment ...




Oh yeah.........definitely. At the time the statement was made I went kinda dull on them, I was trying to drive my truck in a huge rainstorm and was hoping for a service call that would equate to $$$.

So I guess I was kinda on track with my thinking with the lead pouring and the like, just a different application. I've seen those candles numerous times at weddings,,,,,,just didn't know they had anything to do with plumbers.

Damn we're good!