Tinker's dam

Posted by Charles laws on November 17, 2005

I believe a tinker's dam has been misidentified in "not worth a tinker's dam".
The tinker's dam, I was shown, was a small donut of clay that pressed against the metal being repaired that served to keep the molten solder in place. Once used was worthless.

• Tinker's dam Smokey Stover 19/November/05