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Lead free solder alternatives??????

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CertifiedMike

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Anyone have any suggestions???
I am trying to sweat pipe in my basement.
The solder I picked up from Lowes is at least 85% chinese coat hanger I'm f'ing positive of it.
This is drinking water so lead is bad...
Anyone ever do this and NOT have the solder fail?
Copper has been cleaned, fluxed, using a propane torch, plenty of heat...
This lead free stuff is JUNK! It refuses to leave a clean bead of solder. It looks like I was throwing hot solder at the pipe from across the room. Can't get a 'bead' around the lip of the pipe at all. Like a bad welder was at this thing!
I've been soldering for a few decades so I have a decent idea of how this is supposed to go and I have successfully plumbed baseboard decades ago so again, not a stranger to this process.
Is it me?
I can see inside the pipe that the solder appears to have made a seal but it looks like a child did the job.
 
We used to build stainless steel water tanks at the drinking water company I owned during my professional career. We used 100% silver solder. We also used for copper piping. It’s pricey if you can find but it flows nice. I used to buy it at Home Depot back in the day. Hopefully they still carry it.
 
We used to build stainless steel water tanks at the drinking water company I owned during my professional career. We used 100% silver solder. We also used for copper piping. It’s pricey if you can find but it flows nice. I used to buy it at Home Depot back in the day. Hopefully they still carry it.
I am going to try working this stuff. At this point, it either works and we have water tonight or tomorrow I will go to the grown up hvac supply co and buy new solder, fittings etc and try again.
The frustration in having a job fail because of cheap solder is really getting to me.
I'll bet FW Webb has silver solder in stock. 👍
Thanks for the suggestion!!! 😎
 
Pex tubing has replaced copper here... no solder just crimps, and blue for cold, red for hot.

In the gunsmith trade there is a low temp silver solder that works at propane temps, but Brownell's (mail order) is the only source I've used and they won't be a quick source.

Amazon carries some as well.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0015H6JYS/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A1QZKSFGQN5HY7&psc=1
This is the fun stuff that runs from the well pump to the pressure bladder and the house filter etc. Theres pex and copper and just a few feet further up, it all turns to pvc! Good times! 👍🙄
There is prob a way to convert it all but I'm guessing that will cost more than the $150 I just spent on essentially nothing.
I think they double the price of plumbing supplies in New England every winter. 😐

After I eat, I'm gonna give this one more shot before I call it a wrap.
I feel like this job is unlikely to work out based on this solder.

The hvac place is about 10 miles away and they carry EVERYTHING! I will buy new stuff and start again if I fail tonight.
 
IMG_6978.webp

I used this with zero issues. Been over a year and it’s yet to leak lol
 
I walked from it last night so I could cool off.
Unless these copper parts aren't real copper, the only other thing it can be is the solder or flux.
I will attempt to assemble the parts with better solder and flux... if it holds, great, if not, time to start from scratch.
I will head to the hvac store that DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE OPEN ON SUNDAYS!!!! if I need to do this over.
Having to put this pile of fun SH!T on hold so I could spend ANOTHER HOUR snowblowing AGAIN... well, thats just a special punch in the ding dong today!
I might just put this on hold til tomorrow.
 
My dad was like a whiz with sweating pipes. I've only done it once or twice. But he used silver solder that was about 5/32" diameter, big chunky stuff, and I think it was acid core. He'd hit them with a wire brush, heat the pipes with a torch, and flux them while they were smoking hot. Slip them together and apply the heat, then just drag the solder around. He would have it done before I typed this. I kinda sucked at it, so I feel your pain.
 
My dad was like a whiz with sweating pipes. I've only done it once or twice. But he used silver solder that was about 5/32" diameter, big chunky stuff, and I think it was acid core. He'd hit them with a wire brush, heat the pipes with a torch, and flux them while they were smoking hot. Slip them together and apply the heat, then just drag the solder around. He would have it done before I typed this. I kinda sucked at it, so I feel your pain.
Lol! I WAS good at this. I just did a tiny section of shut off and feed to our toilet. I am REALLY struggling to understand why, today, this is a problem.
Its a poor mechanic who blames his tools, I know... 🙄
 
Lol! I WAS good at this. I just did a tiny section of shut off and feed to our toilet. I am REALLY struggling to understand why, today, this is a problem.
Its a poor mechanic who blames his tools, I know... 🙄
Are the ends that you are sweating clean? If not, get you some roloc scotchbrite wheels.
 
Is the pipe wet inside? I grew up working summers as a plumber for my Dad. I was never anything more than a novice, as I decided waaaay back then, that I did not want to follow in the old mans foot steps lol. At any rate, I could sweat new copper without too much issue but anytime we went to test and found a leak, getting the leaking joint soldered up correctly after that I could never figure out how to do, and this was back when plumbers were still using leaded solder. My dad could do it no problem but he was a plumber his whole life. i on the other hand couldnt get it to sweat properly once it was wet. Sorry not much help but I was wondering if maybe that had something to do with it.
 
So new solder and flux got the joints all good. The ball valve leaks tho so... doing the job again tomorrow anyways.
Maybe i can save the valve but I'm expecting this to be just as painfull as a tiny little pinhole in a pipe could possibly be!
REALLY not enjoying this job.
 
So new solder and flux got the joints all good. The ball valve leaks tho so... doing the job again tomorrow anyways.
Maybe i can save the valve but I'm expecting this to be just as painfull as a tiny little pinhole in a pipe could possibly be!
REALLY not enjoying this job.
There's a reason the words 'work' and 'fun' have different meanings.... 🤪
 
There's a reason the words 'work' and 'fun' have different meanings.... 🤪
I don't mind the work. Its the sifting thru piles of mismarked, misplaced parts, hunting down MORE solder and flux now...
I guess I feel like I didn't sign up for a $150 soldering lesson. I'm REAL annoyed because I'm POSITIVE that I caused the damage when I overheated the valve trying to work the Mickey Mouse solder.
I don't care if this gets finished with the damned radiator hose off my Focus. I just need this to be finished now. We need water. 😐
 
I don't mind the work. Its the sifting thru piles of mismarked, misplaced parts, hunting down MORE solder and flux now...
I guess I feel like I didn't sign up for a $150 soldering lesson. I'm REAL annoyed because I'm POSITIVE that I caused the damage when I overheated the valve trying to work the Mickey Mouse solder.
I don't care if this gets finished with the damned radiator hose off my Focus. I just need this to be finished now. We need water. 😐
If it makes you feel any better, I crossed a wire when I was swapping out a zone valve last winter. Ended up teaching myself a $4000 lesson when I blew the transformer and everything else downstream of it, including the circulation pump. It was -40 degrees outside too and I had no heat. It's something I've done a handful of times without issues, but the moment it started kicking my butt, I should've stopped... sometimes its better to swallow your pride and have a plumber come in and do right in 15 minutes. They're usually more than happy to give you pointers and tell you what you did wrong too 🤣
 
If it makes you feel any better, I crossed a wire when I was swapping out a zone valve last winter. Ended up teaching myself a $4000 lesson when I blew the transformer and everything else downstream of it, including the circulation pump. It was -40 degrees outside too and I had no heat. It's something I've done a handful of times without issues, but the moment it started kicking my butt, I should've stopped... sometimes its better to swallow your pride and have a plumber come in and do right in 15 minutes. They're usually more than happy to give you pointers and tell you what you did wrong too 🤣
I have a friend who is a plummer. If I really feel the need, I will call.
Again, I am fully capable of sweating pipe and having it not leak, be problematic etc...
I had not forseen cheap ass solder and junk flux as the weak links in the job.
This won't happen again.
In the event that I can't save this valve, I will be buying a new set of everything from a far more reputable store that supplies professionals, not soccer moms.
The problem has been identified and eliminated. 👍
 
I have a friend who is a plummer. If I really feel the need, I will call.
Again, I am fully capable of sweating pipe and having it not leak, be problematic etc...
I had not forseen cheap ass solder and junk flux as the weak links in the job.
This won't happen again.
In the event that I can't save this valve, I will be buying a new set of everything from a far more reputable store that supplies professionals, not soccer moms.
The problem has been identified and eliminated. 👍
Wasn’t trying to challenge your capabilities or come across like I don’t think you know what you’re doing, if it came off like that I apologize. Just sharing the fact I’ve had my behind handed to me from simple tasks sometimes lol

I wish you the best of luck and hope you get her figured out! Keep us posted! 😎 Home ownership is awesome until it isn’t lol
 
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