Jonn Steven Rothwell
: Please tell me how to join copper to lead pi pes thank-you Very simple. Soldering lead is not to hard with a little practice. Lead wiping is an art. I have accounts in NYC that have existing lead drainage pipes from 1928 and we still manage to keep them going. If your talking lead water (domestic) I would strongly suggest replacing it with Copper. IF your talking drainage no problem. Lead when old gets a protective film which can be very VERY easily removed with a file or sand grit or even steel wool.In the apprenticeship we used a shave hook to shine the lead pipe.. The key to soldering lead is getting the lead very shinny to remove the years of oxidation. Then after this piping is thoroughly clean ( takes about 10 minutes) you can apply a NON corrosive flux. Now depending on the inside dia of this lead pipe you can Slip copper inside.Make sure the inside of the lead is clean to do this use a Copper Fitting Brush clean the outside of the copper tubing add flux and get a silver bearing solder or 50-50 (50% tin-50% lead)then slowly solder this joint/takes practice BUT any skilled Journeymen Plumber can do it. Now if it is water supply lines this also can be either soldered or Lead wiped again by ANY skilled journeyman plumber.As a Master plumber I have performed this simple task many many times . As a matter of fact just 3 months ago I had to fix a 4 lead drain pipe where I installed a 4 copper line into it. Copper/lead are most lightly the easiest metals to join. As both are non ferrious and require relatively low tempetatures to join.Actually a good 3rd year apprentice should also be able to solder/lead wipe lead and copper.Every time we replace a defective floor flange on a lead pipe for a toilet we are soldering Brass which is MUCH harder to clean than copper and brass requires much more heat. At least once a month we replace a brass floor flange on very old lead ( normally over 60 yrs)As you can tell I like working on lead pipes and copper. ANY good roofing contractor can also lead burn copper to lead. good Luck. Try it on scrap pieces it just takes practice.Heat the copper not the lead and you can cheat if you like by using a solder in paste form made by Hercules corporation CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN, is the only thing that really counts. Sylvan
