Water leaking from lead lined overhead toilet cistern

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17 Nov 2006
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Sheffield
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United Kingdom
We have an antique overhead toilet cistern which is a wooden box lined with lead.
Arrived home yesterday to find a leak in one corner. We've emptied the cistern and have noticed that the lead in that corner is a lot paler than the rest. Does this mean it is becoming porous/coroded?
Any suggestions on how to fix it much appreciated.
Thanks
 
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"Does this mean it is becoming porous/coroded? "

Very possibly.

If you have time and enthusiasm to preserve/restore this antique you could

1 clean and degrease the suspect area and smear it up with clear silicone or
Fernox LS-X "the ugly bodge" might well work if done carefully

2 line the tank internally with fibreglass/resin

3 use plumbers metal (not really a Diy job unless you've wiped lead before)

4 give the tank to a specialist leadworker - these days a roofer- for repair

In all cases take the cistern off the wall and work/test on the bench!
 
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There is an easier and quicker repair!

Buy some water based brush on bitumen paint as designed to waterproof brickwork.

Make the room warm with a fan heater perhaps and brush on a full coat all over. It does not need careful drying first as its water based,

Then when it has mostly dried, brush a second coat over the suspect area and ideally repeat that a few times.

When its completely dry, thats important, the refill and use for the next 10 years!

Tony
 

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