Old lead-free Taramet Sterling Solder
I forgot to check my dad's old plumbing box before soldering up the heating/plumbing pipes for my combi boiler. Turns out there's almost a full spool of Taramet Sterling in there.
Did they change the formula for the 2011 low-lead requirements, or is this still good for potable water pipes? I'm running out of my new Harris Sterling.
Comments
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I don’t see Lead Free so I assume not.
with that saidWhat does it matter!
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Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.
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i assume they changed the formula in like 1986…
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You're good to go unless you live in California....they MAY have changed there thresholds. By the way, Taramet Sterling has been my favorite solder for many years. Mad Dog
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ty
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Thanks. It looks like it was set to 0.2% in 1986 and remained unchanged in 2011, with the 2011 rules mostly impacting fittings <0.25%.
Do they still sell Taramet? Maybe under Harris? Label looks like my Harris spool.
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It says lead free right on the spool.
I like Silvabrite 100.
Who would have thought solder would be $50 and up.
Supply House has 60/40 solder with lead for less than $30
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every time i have bought solder even in the 90's i have thought it cost 10x what it seemed like it should.
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Slivabrite is excellent also, Taramet Sterling has a better pasty range and caps best of them all. Mad Dog
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Bridgit all the way.
Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.
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Never could stand 95/5.
It melts and is solid at the same temp. No in between.
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Apparently 95/5 isn't eutectic, but maybe it has a more narrow point than leaded solder?
Eutectic solder is nice because you can't accidently move something while it's setting up and cause a questionable joint, it's either liquid or it's not. This is probably less of a concern in plumbing than electronics.
Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.
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When I was a First Year Apprentice in 1985, we soldered with 95/5 and Capped with 50/50. Mad Dog
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the viscosity of the liquid changes with temp as well.
63/37 is supposed to be eutetic 60/40 is close, 50/50 has a big range where it will turn in to a mass of crystals if you move it. 50/50 also has a noticeably higher melting point if you've eve worked on old electronics that were soldered with 50/50
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I believe you.
Nothing fills gaps like 15% silphos tho.
Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.
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If it says lead-free on it, you are covered. If it doesn't, do not use it on potable water.
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It is amazing the difference in heat time with the torch. You unsweat some old fitting and they melt really quick and you realize it is 50/50
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When 50/50 was used for all soldering needs, I remember being able to solder a vertical joint with solder running UP! without any drips running down. I cannot and haven't seen it done since.
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maybe that is just poor tolerance of fittings. the capillary action should draw it up but the closer temp between where the soler melts and the flux burns becomes important there too.
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I agree.
As long as the fitting and joint are the hottest part I'd expect it to suck the solder up.
Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.
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I still do that with Stay Brite #8
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Should someone have a rant about how only hacks use Straybrite?
😉
I have a spool of it above my desk, the only reason I didn't use it so far was laziness. I didn't feel like cleaning all of the fittings and dealing with flux.
Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.
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I used to hate to solder a vertical up.
The trick is to keep the heat up high. Too much heat down low and it will run down.
But most of you already know that. Like most people I probably use too much solder as well.
1/2" of solder for a 1/2" pipe. 3/4" for 3/4 etc.
I tell myself that and still use to much
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One of my journeymen came from England and he told me about Yorkshire fittings that come prepped with a ring of solder inside the fitting. Never have seen them here.
8.33 lbs./gal. x 60 min./hr. x 20°ΔT = 10,000 BTU's/hour
Two btu per sq ft for degree difference for a slab1 -
I think i saw them in a catalog or magazine article around the time of the transition to lead free solder.
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There was some type of fitting here that had solder in them. guess they didn't catch on.
I have seen some of the really old fittings that had holes in them to feed the solder in.
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I remember those pre-solder copper fittings , they came with ring of solder inside .. I still ran a roll and "wiped " each connection :)
There was an error rendering this rich post.
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I've seen similar fittings for soft solder as was an an incorporated brazing ring in the cup. Mad Dog
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I saw those at home depot a long time ago. I assumed it was to help homeowners solder.
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I guess they drilled holes in the fittings before they discovered capillary action
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or to heat the fitting evenly so the flux didn't burn out of part of it before other parts got hot enough to melt the solder
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