Does soldering Lead ever go bad?

[hossrn]

I bought a big box of this lead a while back and was wondering why I always see rolls of it at garage sales. Usually it's cheap so I was wondering if people are trying to get rid of it or something.

I don't know anything about pluming but thought i'd learn some day so I pick it up when its free or cheap. I have about 20 rolls of it.

Thanks for the help.

 

[kd3pc]

soldering pipes has almost died out with newer, less un-healthy technology or so they say.

I would look at the labels and likely recycle the acid core solders, keeping the rosin core stuff. Just me.

Cheap, as the diameter is too large for desktop soldering projects for the most part. If you live near a marina, they often have a bin for old lead products - as they still use it for keels and such on boats.

 

[mygarageone]

I bought a big box of this lead a while back and was wondering why I always see rolls of it at garage sales. Usually it's cheap so I was wondering if people are trying to get rid of it or something.

I don't know anything about pluming but thought i'd learn some day so I pick it up when its free or cheap. I have about 20 rolls of it.

Thanks for the help.

No it does not , the outside will some times get oxidized if left out in humidity but that's about it .
Lead will last forever and still be usable .

 

[disston]

If it is acid flux solder it is for plumbing. If it says rosin core solder it is for electrical work. Solder is made with different combinations of metals including lead, antimony, tin and silver. It is used on copper pipe but lead solder is no longer code in most places I think. I have done a lot of copper pipe soldering over the years and when the scare started about lead in drinking water coming from the pipes I thought it was nonsense because there is very little of the solder exposed to the water. I have since changed my mind and only use modern solder which is heavy in silver for copper pipes that provide consumable water.

Copper pipes are still used and still popular. I would use all copper if I was building something but it's been more than 15 years since the last time I did a repair. If it's plastic I do a plastic repair and if copper I repair with copper.

Learning to solder copper pipes is one of those man skills you will be happy to have and feel good about. It has been said that I make nice repairs and installations.

 

[kd3pc]

oddly enough copper is added (banned in some states) to boat bottom paint - making it exponentially more deadly to marine growth than other compounds..yet we still use it to supply/move our drinking water.

Weird?

 

[kwschumm]

The lead/tin won't go bad. If it's flux core the flux may eventually somehow go bad but I recently used some Kester 60/40 rosin core solder that was in an old toolbox probably since the mid-60s. Worked fine.

 

[hossrn]

Thank you gentleman. I never considered that it may be going out of code to use. I have seen those red and blue hose called "PEX" tubing used. I always wanted to build my own garage, a cabin and, do my own home repairs. Guess i'm a little late to the party. Guess i better check with local codes before repairing or starting anything.

I learned something today.

 

[holdover]

I used copper, actually did some iron pipe when I was young, for many years. A few years ago I did a bathroom rehab an used pex. What a joy to work with compared to copper and the price couldn't be beat. Other than some small patch work going forward it will be pex from now on. And BTW my well water requires a conditioner, if not used the water works on the copper, no such problem with pex, I also use lead free fittings.

 

[redmondjp]

I'd still keep that solder around - you may want to solder up a copper air piping system, for example, and the air won't care if there is some lead in the solder joints.

 

[dumper]

I use acid core or solid wire solder with flux to tin the ends of bike brake and shifter cables- keeps them from frizzing.

 

[slip knot]

I use acid core or solid wire solder with flux to tin the ends of bike brake and shifter cables- keeps them from frizzing.

Yup, a lot more uses for solder other than piping.

 

[CJ7VFR]

Yup, a lot more uses for solder other than piping.

I fixed a bunch of old tin decorations that my wife's grandmother likes to keep outside near her front door. The latest one was an old watering can. The handle fell off of it, and I used some old lead solder to put it back on. She only uses it for a decoration, and never uses it to water anything.

I have also used old lead solder to fill in pin holes in the body of my old 1985 Jeep CJ-7. If the holes are bigger, then I weld them closed, or put in a patch panel. But the lead solder has worked great for filling in pin holes.

Jim

 

[joe_padavano]

oddly enough copper is added (banned in some states) to boat bottom paint - making it exponentially more deadly to marine growth than other compounds..yet we still use it to supply/move our drinking water.

Weird?

Why? What exactly is the hazard? This is the first that I've ever heard that copper is dangerous. Now, lead solder is bad for you, which is why I only use silver solder for plumbing.

 

[dutchgray]

Why? What exactly is the hazard? This is the first that I've ever heard that copper is dangerous. Now, lead solder is bad for you, which is why I only use silver solder for plumbing.

Here plumbers only use lead free solder for potable water, have done for many years, they still use normal lead tin for heating systems as its cheaper and works better.

 

[kerrynzl]

oddly enough copper is added (banned in some states) to boat bottom paint - making it exponentially more deadly to marine growth than other compounds..yet we still use it to supply/move our drinking water.

Weird?

Weird if you don't know chemistry.

Copper and Lead are perfectly safe , it is compounds that are dangerous [eg: Tetraethyl Lead , copper oxide, copper thiocyanate ]

When copper sheathing was used on old wooden navy boats, it was the reaction with salt water that created a toxic compound.
If this was done on steel boats it would create electrolysis, hence the modern solution of compounds in antifouling coatings.

 

[kbs2244]

If you decide not to use it, give to the art dept of your local H D or Collage.
They will use it for stained glass projects

 

[finn]

I used some acid core lead solder last year that, I think, came from my grandfathers basement.

I remember seeing it there years ago.

He died in 1978.

The solder looked good, but, I swear, I had leaks in four out of five joints. I’ve been sweating joints around the house since I was in high school in the late sixties, and I’ve never had this much trouble.

I attribute it to solder gone bad, probably some sort of oxidation on the outside surface.

 

[Brian_WK]

Clean the outside off with scotchbrite pads if oxidised otherwise it will affect your joints. Lots of uses for lead solder. Stained glass, non potable water plumbing air lines etc, making sealed copper pans. Make sure you have some decent flux as well the acid core will "dry" up and lose its effectiveness over time.

Brian

 

[ishiboo]

oddly enough copper is added (banned in some states) to boat bottom paint - making it exponentially more deadly to marine growth than other compounds..yet we still use it to supply/move our drinking water.

Weird?

Copper is a biocide... it kills bad organisms and prevents them from attaching. So no - it's great to have for our water supply.

 

[joe_padavano]

Here plumbers only use lead free solder for potable water, have done for many years, they still use normal lead tin for heating systems as its cheaper and works better.

Agreed. I should have specified potable water systems only.

 

[jetnow1]

I used copper, actually did some iron pipe when I was young, for many years. A few years ago I did a bathroom rehab an used pex. What a joy to work with compared to copper and the price couldn't be beat. Other than some small patch work going forward it will be pex from now on. And BTW my well water requires a conditioner, if not used the water works on the copper, no such problem with pex, I also use lead free fittings.

one problem with pex, rats can/will chew threw it, especially where it goes through holes in a floor. I had to redo a house to put copper through the floor
with shields attached to keep the rats from chewing it trying to get upstairs.

 

[Lelandwelds]

Yes, solder can be stored so poorly and be so old it goes bad. The dissimilar metals in solder are pretty close on the corrosion scale. But, you are using a good flux right? If your technique is solid enough, you will have minimal leaks.

My garage sale finds help my wheel weights cast better. I do a tiny bit of copper foil stained glass for gifts. I greatly prefer sil phos for copper work. I love PEX for water. (I think it will be ideal for shop air but have not used plain PEX for that yet. YET!)

 

[TractorJeff]

Repairing old copper radiators, Air piping, HVAC, Stained Glass, Ornamental Copper/Tin projects, Wheel weights mix, fishing sinkers, electrical component repairs, Scuba diver lead weights, Cast Bullet mix.
Cast it into Ingots, store, every once in a while the Scrap price gets crazy high - ROI it!
No real reason to buy lots of it for occasional use but handy to have a roll or two around for occasional use!