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Removing lead based solder from copper?

2006

Dear Sir,
I'm writing to ask you how to remove lead based solder from a copper vessel
and replacing it with lead free solder. is there a solvent or acid that can do this without harming copper, brass, or tin in any way?. if not perhaps you can suggest a way that it can be done, and with what tools specifically will I need to carry out the work?
Jonathan Andrew Abraham
hobbyist - Northampton in England

I'd probably start by thoroughly desoldering with a solder sucker and solder wick. Depending on the construction method, this may disassemble the vessel so the remnants can be sanded away.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
Ted is available for instant help
or longer-term assistance.
2006

2006

You can remove it with very fine sandpaper or with scalpel. It can be removed with acid solution too:
330 gm acetic acid ⇦ on eBay or Amazon [affil link]
50 gm hydrogen peroxide(30%)
1 lit distilled water
Goran Budija
- Cerovski vrh Croatia

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