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I have some discoloration on a Conn 2J. I believe it is cosmetic damage rather than red rot, but if there are any contrary opinions here I would welcome them. I am considering fixing it up a little to re-sell, but the presence of red rot probably would convince me not to sell it. (Wouldn't be worth selling.)

Why I think it is not red-rot:
- The discoloration is all in the vicinity of the piss-poor joint repair job evident in the first photo.
- The leadpipe does not show any evidence of red rot.
- I believe the leadpipe to be the original. It has the nickel trim common to the 2J, which I have not seen present on any 3J or later model.
- Only the third and fourth valves have the discoloration - seems to me rot would be more pronounced in the first.
- Inside of the valve casings look great. (Sorry, I'm not good enough with photography and lighting to get a good shot of that.

Having said all that, if anyone has a contrary opinion, that would be helpful.

The areas shown in your photos look more like acid bleeds to me than red rot, though I am not an expert and am curious to hear what the repairpersons on the board have to say about it.

Looks to me to the result of a unapt repair to me, too (not that I ever made such a thing... )

The charred lacquer and solder build-up point to dripped and splashed acid combined with heat.

I'm sure one of the experts can chime in, but I've NEVER seen "red-rot" on a valve casing...

edit: used wrong BBC

Yes to all above. In my experience, red rot usually appears in thin tubing, and first appears as a small round red dot. The lacquer (if there is any) flakes off of the dot, and the dot grows larger. The dot is evidence of a pinhole (not necessarily porous) where the zinc in the brass has leached out, leaving only the copper.

All brass, when heated, will suffer some surface dezincification and form a red layer. This will eventually turn green as the copper oxidizes.

The "rot" part means that it's happening from the inside out, not on the surface. Red rot doesn't strike from the outside in, because it is caused by the acids in saliva.

Rick "noting that higher copper content (red brass) or the addition of nickel (nickel-silver) will protect against dezincification" Denney

THANK YOU for the responses - a cold beverage of your choice if any of you ever happen to be in my neck of the woods.