Does my antique pot have lead solder?

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Tyler is Great
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Does my antique pot have lead solder?

Post by Tyler is Great »

I have this antique copper pot that was used to boil water, but it is 75+ years old and I don't know of anyway to tell if the solder is lead.

How can I find out if the solder is lead and if it is what can I do about it?
CoopsOz
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Post by CoopsOz »

Short answer = yes. If in doubt, consider that it does.
It is most absurdly said, in popular language, of any man, that he is disguised in liquor; for, on the contrary, most men are disguised by sobriety. ~Thomas de Quincy, Confessions of an English Opium-Eater, 1856
Tyler is Great
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Post by Tyler is Great »

I'm going to pick up a lead testing kit even though I've read that they are unreliable. Is there anything I can do about it if it does have lead? like cover up the old solder with new lead-free solder or even de solder everything and resolder it
ol' rummie
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Post by ol' rummie »

A lot of old copper pieces were brazed together, if the joints look to be a brass color then it probably has been brazed. But if it is lead solder, you probably will have to melt off all of the old stuff, then re-solder, to be on the safe side.
flyboy3b
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Post by flyboy3b »

im guessing its lead based tin. i have a beautiful copper vase i wanted to use as the mounting base for a new still head. but when i went to clean it,, i found it to be mostly lead. if its really soft (easy to gouge with a knife) its probably lead.
Tyler is Great
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Post by Tyler is Great »

I used a lead testing kit and it did test positive. Better to find it that way than after I've started drinking out of it

So if you are in doubt if your old pot has lead you can test it with a lead test from home depot for $10
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