Caulking iron
Date made: 1900-1910
Description: One of 13 caulking irons used at Qualtrough's shipbuilding yard by donor's father, James Alexander Qualtrough, circa 1910-40.
Caulking irons, also known as making irons, are used for packing or putting cotton or oakum into the seam between a ship's planks. Typically, oakum is used to fill wider gaps in planking seams, whereas cotton caulking squeezes into tighter seams.
Measurements: overall: 20 x 6 x 4 cm
Materials: iron
Object name: caulking iron
Collection: Social History Collection
ID Number: 1983-0224/1