Using ordinary solder

[hcspng]

Hello

i've made a still that all of column fittings are soldered with silver solder and thhe condenser is soldered with ordinary solder.

But the problem is that i've a stainless pot with copper column and just could solder it with ordinary solder wit 37% lead!

does it make any problem?If so how i've to solder stainless to copper?

[Dnderhead]

NO ONE here is going to recommend lead base solder!

[rubber duck]

Ya that's not a good idea, some folks say that the lead in the boiler won't get into the final product but most of them also use galvanized rigs.

If all I had to work with was lead solder I would just quit drinking.

If you value your heath don't risk it.

[hcspng]

Thank you for your helps.

I will melt the solder and try to find a leadfree solder.

[hcspng]

But what about the condenser which is not in touch with alcohol?does it make any problem?

[Dnderhead]

"which is not in touch with alcohol?"
that is ok but why? it is like storing rat poison in the spice cabinet.just not advisable.
it is just plain stupid to have anything around food/wash/distilling that is toxic and does
not have a reason to be there.

[rad14701]

hcspng, I think it should go without saying that lead-based solder has no place anywhere near any parts of your still... It, quite honestly, just isn't worth the risk... Once the solder is in place the only way to know if it contains lead is by performing a lead test... Stay safe by staying away from lead-based solder altogether...

And if you have already used lead-based solder anywhere on your still you need to make damned sure you get every bit of it off, whether by sanding or grinding, before re-soldering with known lead-free solder... 37% is just plain toxic... Some folks around here would probably scrap any copper that had been in contact with that much lead...

And for the record, there is no such thing as "ordinary solder"... It's either lead-based or lead-free... Calling it what it is helps keep people safe...

[Popcorn Fan]

I would stick by the rule that as long as lead (or anything containing lead) is at least 6 feet away from your still or wash you are fine

[hcspng]

Thank you all guys.i'll try to fix the problems as you said.

[WeeStiller]

I have a still with lead solder in it. I did quite a few lead tests on my distillates to find out how bad that is. Turns out that lead leaches out in the fluid path of the equipment, not the vapor path. Foreshots leach out more lead than tails. So a condenser (mine is one continuous run of copper, fortunately) or parrot (scrapped mine, too many soldered connections) with lead is bad news. A column or boiler with lead may not be so bad, depending on the column design, of course. Buy a lead test to be sure and test your diluted distillate before drinking.

mike

[UnclePaul]

Why not just buy "lead free" solder? There are few plumbers I know anymore that use anything with lead in it. Still a lot of copper pipes going in homes around here and no lead.

[hcspng]

Thank you for all of your help.here finding lead-free solder is impossible but at last i found it and i melt the column and pot solder,sanded it and resolder it with lead-free solder.
but my condenser is a 12mm pipe in another 25mm pipe which doesn't have any solder in touch with vapour.
Is there any way tat i could test the lead without lead test kit?

[WeeStiller]

Is there any way tat i could test the lead without lead test kit?

No, I'm afraid not.

Mike

[rad14701]

here finding lead-free solder is impossible

Where is here...???

[hcspng]

here finding lead-free solder is impossible

Where is here...???

Here is Tehran,Iran

[WeeStiller]

Hcspng,

Have you tried sourcing silver solder via a jewelry or crockery maker? According to my Iranian sister in law they make lots of silverware in Iran.

[hcspng]

Thank you but my problem solved.and i've done my first run and it works good.