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Lead-Free Plumbing Solder: Tin with 0.7 % Copper, Cast in Bars
Lead has been banned from drinking-water plumbing solder in the US since 1974; tin with a little copper took its place. Tin with 0.7 % copper melts at 227 °C, higher than the old tin-lead. Melt the tin, dissolve the copper in it and cast it into bars, the thick form plumbers use.
The picture: soldering a copper pipe joint with a torch.
Intermediate
Two hours
Instructions
1
1
Weigh
Weigh
Weigh 99.3 parts tin to 0.7 parts copper (step 5). Cut the copper wire into short pieces.
Materials for this step:
Tin Ingot993 g
Copper Wire7 gTools needed:
Balance Scale
Tin Snips2
2
Melt and alloy
Melt and alloy
Melt the tin in an iron crucible on the forge hearth under a thin layer of charcoal dust (ours). Drop in the copper pieces and stir with an iron rod, keeping it hot, until no copper is left undissolved.
Tools needed:
Iron Crucible
Hearth (Forge Fire)
Charcoal
Iron Rod
Crucible Tongs
Welding Gloves
Safety Glasses3
3
Cast bars
Cast bars
Skim off the charcoal and pour the alloy into a warmed ingot mould. Knock the bars out when cold.
Tools needed:
Ingot MouldCrucible TongsWelding GlovesSafety Glasses4
4
Label
Label
Scratch a mark on each bar so it is never mixed with lead solder.
Tools needed:
Iron Rod5
5
Tin and copper
Tin and copper
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