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Product Details
Caulking Irons, also known as Making Irons, are used for packing or putting the Cotton or Oakum into the seam between the planks. Typically, Oakum is used to fill wider gaps in planking seams, whereas cotton caulking squeezes into tighter seams. Extreme care must be taken as heavy hands can do considerable damage. Caulking irons are made of cast malleable iron.
For boat seams, caulking process is commonly followed by painting (seams only) with a marine paint. Once dry, the remaining space is filled with seam compound (one for above waterline, another for below) before applying overall boat paint.
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1 to 3 of 3 Reviews
1 – 3 of 3 Reviews
Most Recent
Harpswell, ME
1 out of 5 stars.
Poor quality caulking iron
3 years ago
The problem with these irons (I bought two different sizes) is that the width of the driven edge not only doesn't match the stated size but the iron varies in dimension along the edge. So, the 1/16"" iron really 3/32""-1/8"" and variable at that. I returned them and found better elsewhere. That sounds picky, but If you need a fine iron to caulk a tight, consistent seam, these aren't the ones.
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St. David's, Bermuda
5 out of 5 stars.
Great product, just what was needed
11 years ago
I am rebuilding a 50 year old wooden punt and want to use old methods to do so.
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Wasilla, AK
3 out of 5 stars.
Wrong iron
15 years ago
I ordered a #00 caulking iron, 1/32"" thick, but instead received a #0 iron, a fat 1/16"" thick. So I called Jamestown and they kindly said they'd send the correct one. They did send another, but exactly the same thing as the first, so I ended up grinding the 2nd down to size. I think they must be getting unmarked irons from the manufaturer and the folks in the warehouse not taking the time to measure the iron.
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1 - 3 of 3 Questions
Q: null I am caulking an old wooden floor. The spaces between the boards vary from 5/16"" down to about 1/16"". What would be the best size caulking iron to get? Would the small one be ok on the bigger spaces? I will be painting the floor after caulking.
5 years ago2 Answers
A: LauraM, I used several caulking irons on my 1958 wooden snipe haul. I used caulking cotton because the gaps were not very wide. I then used interlux primer over the caulking with the caulking iron setting the caulking deeper. Then I used interlux seam compound sanding it smooth before I painted the haul. It is very tedious work, good luck. Pat
5 years agoHelpful?
Q: null is there a groove in the end of the iron?
8 years ago4 Answers
A: I have several irons, all sizes and shapes, all have either a rounded edge or a somewhat sharp edge to force the chalking into the gaps between the planks.
8 years agoHelpful?
Q: null Hello, Which Making Iron do I want for oakum in to a canalboat with 3mm gaps between planks please? Thanks from a limey. Edward
13 years ago3 Answers
A: First I would not recommend oakum for such a small seam. Rather I'd use cotton and a 1/16 (or half the width of the outer seam) thick iron to start. Start by reefing out the offending seam, removing as much of the old material as possible. The seams should be basically like a V and you'll want to practice hand packing about one foot till you see how much looping it takes to fill the seam and still be a bit over half full once hammered home. Take care not to over drive else you'll blow through and/or cause over expansion once the boat takes up. This process is difficult to describe in words so take some time to watch several You-Tube videos to get a visual on what the process looks like. For me it's all about feel, sound, and many lessons learned from the old-timers.
13 years agoHelpful?