An oven whose eye developed a crack, its measure is the full size of a spindle that can enter and exit [while] lit on fire. R’ Yehudah says: Which is not lit on fire. If it developed a hole at its side, its measure is the full size of a spindle that can enter and exit unlit. R’ Yehudah says: Lit on fire. R’ Shimon says: [If the hole is] in the middle, [then only if] it can enter. [If it is] at the side, [then even if] it cannot enter. And similarly [R’ Shimon] would say regarding the stopper of a barrel that developed a hole, its measure is the width of the second node of [a stalk of] oats. In the middle, [if] it can enter. In the side, [even if] it cannot enter. And similarly, [R’ Shimon] would say regarding large casks that developed holes, their measure is the size of the second node of a reed. In the middle, [if] it can enter. In the side, [even if] it cannot enter. When are [these] things said? When the [containers] were made for wine. But if they were made for other beverages, even [if they have a hole of] the most-minute size, they are tamei. When are [these] things said? When the [holes] were not made by the hands of man. But if they were made by the hands of man, even [if the hole is of] the most-minute size, [the container is] tamei. [If] they developed holes, [utensils] that are intended for food, their measure is with olives. [Utensils] that are intended for beverages, their measure is with beverages. [A utensil] that is intended for both, we apply to it its more-stringent [measure] with regard to a sealed cover, with [a hole large enough] to let in a beverage.

The following utensils protect with a sealed cover: Dung utensils, stone utensils, clay utensils, earthenware utensils, nesser utensils, bones of a fish or its skin, bones of a sea creature or its skin, and wooden utensils that are tahor. They protect both from their mouths and from their sides, [and] whether they are resting on their bases or tilted on their sides. [If] they were turned over upon their mouths, they protect all that is beneath them down to the depths; R’ Eliezer rules it tamei. [These utensils] protect all things, except for an earthenware utensil, which only protects foodstuff and earthenware utensils.

With what may we surround [the utensil]? With plaster or with gypsum, with pitch or with wax, with mud or with excrement, with mortar or with crushed shards, or with any substance that can be smoothed. We may not surround [a utensil] with tin or with lead, since they cover but do not seal. We may not surround [a utensil] with a fat pressed fig or with dough kneaded with fruit juice, so that it does not come to be disqualified, but if one did surround [with food], it has protected [the utensil].

[Regarding] the stopper of a barrel that is loose but does not fall off: R’ Yehudah says: It protects; but the Sages say: It does not protect. [If] its finger-hold is sunk into [the barrel]: [When] a sheretz is inside it, the barrel is tamei; [when] a sheretz is in the barrel, the food inside [the finger-hold] is tamei.