Home Distiller

Just went to the local plumbing supply looking for some solder.... All they sell is 96/4 silver bearing solder at $32 per lb... Is it safe to use for my column and other fittings?

It should be. But I would find the manufacture on line and see what the ingredients are. Just about any lead free plumbers solder will work.

Thanks...It took me forever to find anything. Finally got just one hit today on google for oatly #23001
INGREDIENTS (CAS Number)
Tin (7440-31-5)
Copper (7440-50-8)
Bismuth (7440-69-9)
Silver (7440-22-4)

Ur good You can also use their "safe-flo" silver lead-free solder...which has actually same MSDS minus the "tin" component.

http://www.oatey.com/Channel/Shared/Pro ... older.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Hello everyone,

I hope I did not make a big mistake. I built a copper pot still using the brazing rods with the specs. below.
After finding this forum and reading about safety issues and metals I got a little worried about my brazing material.
Can anyone advise if it would be safe to distill in this pot.

Thank you for any help.
Chris

Weldcote "5"
http://www.weldcotemetals.com/dataFiles ... sCopp5.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION, Weight Percent:
Silver 4.8-5.2
Copper Balance
Phosphorus 5.8-6.2
Total Others Element s 0.15

PHYSICAL DATA:
Solidus 1190°F (643°C)
Liquidus 1495°F (813°C)
Brazing Range 1325-1500°F (718-816°C)
Color Br ight Light Copper
Specific Gravity 8.13
Density ( lb/cu in. ) 0.293
Electr ical Conductivi ty (%of IACS) 9.6
Electr ical Resis t ivi ty (Microhm-cm) 18.11
AVAILABLE SIZES:
20” Rods of 1 /16, 3 /32, 1 /8 and .050 X 1/8
SPECIFICATIONS:
AWS A5.8/A5.8M BCuP-3
ASME SFA5.8 BCuP-3
FED QQ-B-650C BCuP-3

Copper, Silver and Phosphorus are ok. One of the more popular brazing solder rods (Sta Silv) is silver, copper and phosphorus. Usually, when it contains phosphorus, it doesn't require solder to use it on copper. You just have to get the part hot enough to melt it. (1500 degrees for copper is glowing cherry red).

The only possible issue is the 'other elements" they list as .15% of the total weight. Without them saying what they are...I don't really know how to answer you. It might be fine...I just don't know.

Usge wrote:Copper, Silver and Phosphorus are ok. One of the more popular brazing solder rods (Sta Silv) is silver, copper and phosphorus. Usually, when it contains phosphorus, it doesn't require solder to use it on copper. You just have to get the part hot enough to melt it. (1500 degrees for copper is glowing cherry red).

The only possible issue is the 'other elements" they list as .15% of the total weight. Without them saying what they are...I don't really know how to answer you. It might be fine...I just don't know.

Thanks Usge,

I called the manufacturer of the weldcote "5" and they said its absolutely no problem and will be fine in a pot still.
I think I'm going to call back and find out what the .15% is just to be sure.
It worked great and is a solid hard leak tight braze, nice part is, no flux needed.
Glad I don't have to cut this pot up or try to encapsulate anything.

Thanks

Well, lead content in copper pipe for potable water systems must be ≤0.25% by total weight per NSF/ANSI STANDARD 61.

So, unless the 0.15% of 'other elements" is Mercury, Strontium-90, or enriched Uranium I think you're ok there.

But, it does't hurt to try and find out from them what it actually is.

.

Soggy Bottom Boy wrote:Well, lead content in copper pipe for potable water systems must be ≤0.25% by total weight per NSF/ANSI STANDARD 61.

So, unless the 0.15% of 'other elements" is Mercury, Strontium-90, or enriched Uranium I think you're ok there.

But, it does't hurt to try and find out from them what it actually is.

.

Thanks, going to give them a call Monday.

I would add...the materials sheet for Sta-Silv is exactly the same and "also" contains the .15% "Other Elements" without disclosing exactly what they are.