Flashing?

[bobg]

Yeah! I thought that'd get your attention.

What I'm actually after is what do you guys use to simulate lead flashing, or capping, on slate roofs?

 

[Madman]

How about lead flashing I don't know if it can be had on your side of the pond. It's getting harder to buy it here. Liabilities and all that rot. I would also suggest aluminum foil. You can get heavy foil for freezer wrapping. Not quite as robust as lead though.

 

[trammayo]

You can use real lead as Dan suggests. You can use a good quality Gaffer tape. There is also the lead used for simulated leaded windows (Decra Led) - comes in different widths but neads gluing to the substrate as it only really bonds to glass. The other way is to use a grey coloured Builder's sealand (like Leadmate) and tape off the area you want to represent flashing and apply, smoothing out and then removing tape before sealant sets.

I have used all three methods .....

Decra Led.....

..... gaffer tape ....

 

[GAP]

Do you have any lead lighters in your area?
They use a lead tape to make their stained glass creations might be worth a look at.

 

[ge_rik]

Strips of that artificial lead flashing that comes in rolls suitably scribed.

Rik

 

[CoggesRailway]

you can by a self adhesive role of flashing substitute in wickes....

 

[mike]

as been said, i use a roll on lead flashing, its from wicks.cuts with a stanly knife, has mastic backing, so it can be heat/iorned on or just pushed on..

 

[bobg]

Cheers Guys, I started experimenting with real lead. I've passed it through the bending rolls several times and I can get it down to under 0.010" (0.25mm). Trouble is it goes all over the place, straight-wise, and trimming it back is proving tricky.

Off to try a Stanley knife and a straight edge.

 

[tramcar trev]

Yes, Stanley knife and straight edge would give a straight cut. Here we can buy thin alluminium in rolls that is covered in a coating and it's used as flashing and damp coarse. would require cutting into strips though.

 

[owlpool]

i've heard of people using tomato puree tubes, I think they're still metal
can't remember who - may have been Peter Bunce or some other gourmet

 

[KeithT]

Don't forget there are different codes (thicknesses) for lead flashing. I think that Code 3 is the thinnest generally available. The higher the number the thicker the sheet.
I just cut a strip with a stanley knife, scribe a centre line place the strip in a vice and gently hammer it to the required angle. If you overdo it it is perfectly easy to redo.

 

[bobg]

i've heard of people using tomato puree tubes, I think they're still metal
can't remember who - may have been Peter Bunce or some other gourmet

Yes Paul, I thought of that one, the metal on them is very thin, but being an impatient b****r and not using that much puree I tried this, and it seems to work a treat.

The lead strip started out at about 0.088" (2+mm). The interesting thing is that it doesn't increase in width hardly any, but nearly doubles in length for every halving of thickness. How? Well I put it through this.....

Not it's true intended purpose I know, but hey, needs must! The trouble was it tended to curve the sheet, as it came off the roller, but after a few attempts I found I could 'steer' it into the roller and make it came out reasonably straight (enough). Even at around 0.010" it is still nearly twice as thick as scale, but it'll do me! Just gotta stick it down now, I favour something that remains kind of tacky.

 

[owlpool]

i've heard of people using tomato puree tubes, I think they're still metal
can't remember who - may have been Peter Bunce or some other gourmet

Yes Paul, I thought of that one, the metal on them is very thin, but being an impatient b****r and not using that much puree I tried this, and it seems to work a treat.

The lead strip started out at about 0.088" (2+mm). The interesting thing is that it doesn't increase in width hardly any, but nearly doubles in length for every halving of thickness. How? Well I put it through this.....

Not it's true intended purpose I know, but hey, needs must! The trouble was it tended to curve the sheet, as it came off the roller, but after a few attempts I found I could 'steer' it into the roller and make it came out reasonably straight (enough). Even at around 0.010" it is still nearly twice as thick as scale, but it'll do me! Just gotta stick it down now, I favour something that remains kind of tacky.

looks good

 

[trammayo]

Don't forget there are different codes (thicknesses) for lead flashing. I think that Code 3 is the thinnest generally available. The higher the number the thicker the sheet.

That's generally true. It used to equate to the weight per square foot - code 3 =3lb (colour green), 4 is blue, 5 red etc. They did make a 2lb lead (for lining coffins etc.).