:-)
:-)
There are at least four solder options: lead-free solder (95 tin, 5 antimony), which is OK for water pipes but not for acids; silver-bearing soft solder (95 tin, trace silver, 4 Cu) which is probably OK for you; silver- bearing high strength soft solder (95 tin, 3.x silver, trace Cu); and hard solders (so-called "silver solder" usually a silver-copper alloy, without tin, and VERY high temperature required).
The first two are sold for plumbing. The third is common for Pb-free electronics. I think that third option is also approved formally for food contact, but you'd have to get the MSDS from a manufacturer to be sure. The fourth, you can get in small quantities from jewelry craft houses, larger quantities (over a pound) a welding shop will help you out.
Actually just under 20.
1990 was the beginning of the restriction of lead in plumbing solder in Canada.8% is the acceptable limit according to law. Anything under 8% is "legally" "lead free"
Well, my first big plumbing project was in early 1989 and I got lead free solder and flux from the supply house. I'm in the US however.
95-5 contains no lead. It's 95% tin, 5% antimony.
You and I won't freak if there's a tiny fraction of lead in the brass or solder, because we realize that the numbers are so small it really doesn't make a lot of difference - there isn't enough exposed area at the joints or in the valve bodies to let much of it leach into the water. We're talking 1 or 2 parts per billion in the first few ounces of water that was standing overnight, then it runs clean after that - flowing water doesn't have time to leach any lead.
But that same 2 PPB is enough to totally freak out the Do-Gooders. They are trying to get all older Los Angeles Unified Schools campii declared practically Superfund Sites because of old brass drinking fountains - the kooks are pushing to rip out every inch of pipe all the way from the street and replace it with 100% Certified Lead Free parts - at a huge price. The janitors are supposed to run water and rinse out the fountain valves every morning to solve the problem.
If they don't flush them and a tester comes by to take a water sample that day, that 2 PPB in the first ounce sets off every kook into total rabid "They're Trying To KILL OUR KIDS!!" mode.
Why is Common Sense so uncommon?
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