Lead Free solder

[Dave]

Since when did any guv mint (with a tax hole) ever allow us to vote for the tax we would prefer to pay? :-(

Dave

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Chris - seek treatment.

[Kev]

I bought a white metal kit a few years ago and I have been to scared to start it as the solder for white metal is white metal. It takes me back to my apprenticeship when I had to braze brass studs into copper blocks. You had about a second after the braze melted before the stud melted and you finished up with a great blob of molten brass.

Kevin

[manatbandq]

The solder for white metal is low melt tin-lead solder. It melts at a lower temp than the white metal and is quite easy to use. The trick is not to have the iron too hot or heat the joint so much that you melt the workpiece.

MBQ

[Aidan]

It's less reliable in the hands of Americans? On second thoughts, that applies to most things. No relevance at all.

[rig doc]

What's the score with lead free solder for plumbing.

Do the new laws prohibiting the use of lead free solder in electronics manufacturing also apply to plumbing? Will all solder joints now have to be lead free?

I don't see much leaded 60/40 solder for sale nowadays - seems quite rare and difficult to obtain......

[Chris Bacon]

I tried that with carbon pencils, brass into copper bar. You're right!

[Guy King]

The message from "Kev" contains these words:

I'd have thought friction welding might have been more suitable.

[Christian McArdle]

I've never used leaded solder in plumbing. Lead free is superior in that it don't turn your children into retards. There is no reason whatsoever to use leaded solder. Perhaps you just have a poor torch (i.e. a paint stripping type Taymar) that isn't suitable for plumbing.

Christian.

[Dave Fawthrop]

|I've never used leaded solder in plumbing. Lead free is superior in that it |don't turn your children into retards.

I will take that as an insult, because I was brought up in the days when water was delivered in lead pipes.

Never had any trouble earning a comfortable living :-)

[Christian McArdle]

Ah. Explains a lot. ;-)

Christian.

[<SuitSat>]

Lead is only an issue in hot water systems which are used for drinking water. Cold is fine with no safety issues here. Much of UK is still served up by means of lead pipe as the rising main. Anything pre 1950's afaik most likely have lead. To be totally honest I don't drink water from the hot tap - the thought of water delivered from a water tank in the loft isn't as appealling from water delivered from the rising main!!

[The Natural Philosopher]

Lead solder won't do that half as fast as Nu Laber and tellytubbies will.

Fix the IMPORTANT things first.

[Christian McArdle]

My hot water system is potable. Not a rat infested loft tank in sight! Good for filling kettles and pans.

Christian.

[Guy King]

The message from contains these words:

You got something against dilute pigeon soup?

[<SuitSat>]

"Christian McArdle" wrote in >

Rat & pigeon soup? Adds to the flavour.....

[Christian McArdle]

Yes, I had guinea pig in Peru (it's like the national dish). Quite frankly it looked like a rat. I can imagine the scene in the kitchens, "ah gringo! bring out the rat!".

Christian.

[Matt]

Lead free is inferior in that it when subjected to heat cycling in use cracks develop. It also needs significantly higher temperatures to melt and also has a longer setting time compared to leaded solders.

The amount of lead uptake from a typical household water system joined with lead containing solder is so small as to be totally insignificant. You'd die of dihydrogen monoxide (Hydrogen hydroxide) poisoning before the lead caused any damage.

Leaded pipes in soft water areas are where the real risk lies.

[Christian McArdle]

I know. However, lead free solder works just fine in practice and there is absolutely no need to stock up on leaded solder.

Christian.

[Guy King]

The message from Matt contains these words:

I've just realised - alcohols are distinguished by their hydroxyl (-OH) group on one end. This means that water is an alcohol! At last an explanation for Monday mornings.