cast copper?

[voodochile]

hey everybody. love all the information that is here. i have been reading posts here for months, but just got around to registering today. i wanted to ask if anyone had heard of ,or used cast copper in there stills?
i am thinking of using a cast copper flange to connect my 2 in copper column to my stainless steel boiler lid. I'm just not sure if this thing is pure copper or not, and if it is safe to use. what has me worried is, the web site says that it is Made from copper alloy C84400, Uses: For non-drinking water and air applications.
here is the web site. http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/items/1WLH6?Pid=search" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
i am going to do a little more research myself. but would love to get any information or feed back you can give me,

[rad14701]

Aside from being expensive and heavy, cast copper can be used without problems and has been used by several members..

[ozone39]

Not sure why they call that cast copper. I've been installing these sweat companion flanges for over 20 years and they have always been brass or bronze. Brass is primarily what we use because you can install it on potable water systems. That flange in the picture looks like a bronze based material. Bronze has lead in it, that's why it is not approved for potable water systems. I would go to a local plumbing wholesale (or commercial plumbing shop)house and talk to the guys behind the counter.

[rad14701]

http://www.elkhartproducts.com/solder-j ... cfm?cat=15" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

[voodochile]

thanks for the info. i been looking at http://www.copper.org/applications/plum ... _stds.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow . according to this site
the cast copper fitting(c84400) has 85% copper,5% tin,5% lead,5% zinc
the wrot copper fittings have 84% copper ,and 16% zinc in it.
is it the 5% lead in the cast that makes it non potable?
is 5% lead really that big of a deal?
i would love to use a copper flange. it would look great, and work perfect, but don't want to take any chances on using anything unsafe.

[ozone39]

Anymore, lead is bad. And yes that is why the specifications say it is not rated for potable water. Buy the time you actually look at the surface area that is exposed to the media passing through on a sweat flange it is pretty minimal (about an 1/8" cross section of material). So it's pretty much up to what you think is reasonable, I would personally run a brass flange rated for potable water usage (less than 1% lead content). You should be able to get one of these at you're local plumbing wholesale house...The link provided above with EPC (elkhart products) is reputable manufacture, those flanges look like potable water rated copper flanges (they are listed as copper, and are drilled to ASME spec). Some other fitting manufactures include Nibco, and Muller.

[ozone39]

Found something interesting on the Elkhart web site. For the sweat cast copper fittings they offer low lead alloys. Looks like they just changed this due to the mechanical and plumbing laws regulating lead content of fittings. Go to there home page and click on the LL (low lead) icon. Then go to the low lead offered fittings. There are two different EPC numbers on that chart, scroll down to comp flange and it is available (ie the 2" low lead flange EPC number is 10056628). This would be a rated fitting for potable water systems. I would include this number when ordering or call and ask if this is all they offer now. You can still use high lead content fittings on heat and non potable water systems, my guess would be there is a price difference. Just want to make sure you get the right fitting....cheers

[voodochile]

thanks ozone, and rad for the great advice, and web site. i will go with a flange made for potable water. now that i know there is a different, and there is one available with a lower or no lead content

[still crazy]

Those flanges are 125 & 150 # rated. That means PSI or pressure if your running that in pressure you got a bomb.

Can't you soilder a flatted piece of type L to a 2" coupling for the low pressure set up.

[ozone39]

yes, 125 and the 150 are the class designation of the fittings. Order the 125 class....