Lead Pipe Welding 4

[intercise]

I am looking for an equipment or technology which can join the two lead pipes together without soldering them. It more likes the quality of "lead buring" Process. Someone has seen it was done by "Mig Welder". If anyone has any information, please let me know.

 

[corrosionman]

What size pipes?????
In the uk any builders merchant will stock and sell compression fittings to join lead pipe as used in domestic water or gas supply. Cheers DW

 

[deanc]

Two keys for welding(burning)
1.All of the oxides must be removed-everything brite and shiny. This includes the filler.
2.Use hydrogen and oxygen,large tip diameter and low pressures. Must have a soft flame.

 

[griffengm]

Intercise,
Is anyone concerned about lead fumes? Any process that melts the lead is going to create some fumes, especially an arc source.

Griffy

 

[unclesyd]

I've seen it tried without success on any scale.
When we had a lot of lead lined tanks and vessels we always had a lead burner on site. The biggest torch I've seen him use was hooked to a "Prestolite Cylinder".

Check with some of the local phone companies as most always have an expert in connect lead pipes. I would check around the union hall as a retiree may have more experience.

 

[stanweld]

Chapter 5, Volume 3, 8th Edition of the AWS Welding Handbook provides much info on lead welding, wiping and soldering. The last time, that I was associated with lead pipe welding was 30 years ago and it was difficult to find capable welders/burners then - no "lead pipe cinch". Today, I suspect, it is nearly a lost art. Wish you the best of luck.

 

[ledon]

I've had some experience in the past with welding lead. The GTAW (TIG) process was the easiest that we found. Heat could be kept at a minimum, reducing fumes and enhancing control of process. Air sampling was performed with results requiring minimal respiratory protection.

 

[intercise]

Thanks all.

It has been a great help. Ledon's experience confirmed our finding at this moment. We are still working on the details of the parts to make welding process easier. I wonder if ledon has more information so that I do not have to spend too much time to optimize our process.

Thanks for the help.

 

[ledon]

What would you like to know? I'll help as much as I can.

 

[deanc]

Review ASME SecII PartC for fillers/electrodes and gases. Lots of good info. there.

 

[nycpipewelder]

As a plumber what i would do is first make sure the lead is cleaned to remove all surface oxides then take a copper cleaning brush and a hacksaw blade and slightly score the inside and outside of the pipe. Then dependding on the size of the pipe find a piece of copper tubing that would fit snug inside then join the two with a slight gap.Make sure you use a quality soldering flux and spread it on the inside of the joint and copper! The lead is very soft you can use either 50/50 or 60/40 wire and a regular hand torch you use to solder copper tubing with keep a wiping cloth and take your time . Watch for the fumes

 

[ornerynorsk]

Any shop that does babbit torch or tig buildups should be able to help you out.

 

[kellnerp]

Funny you should ask. I used to do this with a oxy-propane setup on batteries. A few months ago I had an opportunity to do this on an outing with oxy-hydrogen. Besides having a soft flame it is very hot so the heat is localized. The base metal and filler should be clean. Shiny is best, but not 100% necessary. You really have to watch your puddle. On the flat work we were doing run a bead next to the lapped piece as a kind of dam and then use that to hold the puddle to the piece you are joining.

No special ventilation was used.

The oxy-hydrogen setup had a single thick, soft rubber hose about 6 feet long with the mixed gas in it. That was connected to a Y where the gases were mixed. The business end was a simple brass blowpipe which I believe had an on/off valve on it.