Anyone know what National Lead Co. #776 and wiping solder is?

[mikenbarb]

Just got a few bars of National Lead Co. #776 solder, A couple unmarked bars of National Lead Co. solder and also plumbers wiping solder bars and wondering if anyone knows what the composition is for them? Im guessing its a 40/60 but I want to be sure before I mix it up for a batch of #2 alloy. Thanks.

[MtGun44]

I believe that wiping solder was used by plumbers to seal cast iron drain pipes after
driving oakum into the joint. Should be pure lead or darn near. No idea what #776 would
be, but the most common alloys that are called 'solder' are 63-37 Sn-Pb which is called
eutectic alloy and has the lowest melting point possible with Sn-Pb, next is 60-40 Sn-Pb,
basically the same as eutectic, then 50-50 Sn-Pb which was often used for auto body
filler and other uses. Highly likely that if it is called solder it is one of these ratios.

Bill

[mikenbarb]

Thanks MtGun and heres what they say, I tried doing a Google search but came up with nothing on what alloy they are.
1- "National Lead Co." with "776" on both ends.
2- "Plumbers Wiping Solder". "Gardiner Metal Co."
3- "National Lead Co." with no numbers or anything else on it.

[cjensen]

Wiping solder will vary, however it will normally be 60/40, 50/50, or 40/60.
Figure it will be at least 40% tin.

[zxcvbob]

I thought it was used for "wiped joints" when laying lead pipe. If so, it will have a very high tin content, 40% minumum, 63% maximum. (they wouldn't use good solder like that for cast iron pipe joints unless it was the only thing available)

[gbrown]

Hey! Look at this from the archives.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=54990