Brass Fittings

This area is to be used for submitting plans, referencing and conversations related to building stills and accessories.

Brass Fittings

Postby Potmash Boka » Mon Feb 03, 2014 9:07 am

G'day, I have some brass fittings that I have lead checked( scraped clean then used the little two part sticks) that I'd like to use on an experiment. They will come into contact with vapour and liquid alcomohol. Can anyone see a reason not to use them. Lead check=no lead detected.
Potmash Boka
 
Posts: 295
Joined: Wed Apr 17, 2013 6:18 pm
Location: The Shire( with all the Hobbits)
equipment: 2" pot and 4" thumper, 4" pot, 2" SS reflux, 2.5" Boka. 4" 5 plate bubbler( almost done, need to some bits and to make the column round again). SS boiler, 80L keg, 50L keg and a 30L keg boilers.
Various pieces of copper pipe laying around for future experiments.

Re: Brass Fittings

Postby Smbjk » Mon Feb 03, 2014 9:36 am

Not 100% sure but I thought all brass had some traces of lead :think: vapor path not sure I would risk it. Someone with more knowledge I'm sure will chime in
Smbjk
 
Posts: 863
Joined: Fri Dec 14, 2012 11:22 pm
Location: Brisvegas
equipment: 50lt keg boiler with 2"boka
3" bubbler with 4 perf plates
All grain brewery ( Small Scale ) Keg Fridge
50lt keg boiler 2x2400w elements
Control box
Building fund is depleted

Re: Brass Fittings

Postby Sam. » Mon Feb 03, 2014 10:03 am

You can coat the inside of the fitting with lead free soft solder for an easy solution :handgestures-thumbupleft:
Sam.
Lifetime Member
 
Posts: 10405
Joined: Sun Jul 17, 2011 7:19 pm
Location: South Oz Straya
equipment: Original FSD 5 plate 4 inch modular bubbler SSG with hand crafted plates and parrot by Mac.
18 Gal boiler.
2 x 2400W elements and power controller.
.

Re: Brass Fittings

Postby crow » Mon Feb 03, 2014 10:42 am

As always when all is said and done we all do our own risk assessment and use what we believe is an acceptable risk. There are better products to use than brass particularly in the vapor path, most brass has to varying degrees of lead and therefore I'm not comfortable with to much in the vapor path (one thermometer port that is virtually not in any contact) . Take a look in tips from the work bench and you will find methods for pickling brass, If you intent on using it this method will strip any lead of the surface as will a thorough sacrificial alcohol run :-B
crow
 
Posts: 2363
Joined: Tue Mar 13, 2012 1:44 am
Location: Central Highlands Victoria
equipment: ultra pure reflux still and a 4" 4 plate MacStill built copper bubble cap column and a 500mm scoria packed rectifying module

Re: Brass Fittings

Postby Potmash Boka » Mon Feb 03, 2014 7:12 pm

Cheers Guys, the fittings came with paperwork that said they were lead free brass. I won't use them just to make sure.
Potmash Boka
 
Posts: 295
Joined: Wed Apr 17, 2013 6:18 pm
Location: The Shire( with all the Hobbits)
equipment: 2" pot and 4" thumper, 4" pot, 2" SS reflux, 2.5" Boka. 4" 5 plate bubbler( almost done, need to some bits and to make the column round again). SS boiler, 80L keg, 50L keg and a 30L keg boilers.
Various pieces of copper pipe laying around for future experiments.

Re: Brass Fittings

Postby Sam. » Mon Feb 03, 2014 7:14 pm

Potmash Boka wrote:Cheers Guys, the fittings came with paperwork that said they were lead free brass. I won't use them just to make sure.


If it's from a reputable source they should be fine :handgestures-thumbupleft:
Sam.
Lifetime Member
 
Posts: 10405
Joined: Sun Jul 17, 2011 7:19 pm
Location: South Oz Straya
equipment: Original FSD 5 plate 4 inch modular bubbler SSG with hand crafted plates and parrot by Mac.
18 Gal boiler.
2 x 2400W elements and power controller.
.

Re: Brass Fittings

Postby Potmash Boka » Sun Feb 09, 2014 7:34 pm

I bought them from an online plumbing supply run from Sydney, they must have come from the US as the certificate was from California. The certificate says 0.25% lead by weighted average. I take it as that's lead free in the US of A.
Potmash Boka
 
Posts: 295
Joined: Wed Apr 17, 2013 6:18 pm
Location: The Shire( with all the Hobbits)
equipment: 2" pot and 4" thumper, 4" pot, 2" SS reflux, 2.5" Boka. 4" 5 plate bubbler( almost done, need to some bits and to make the column round again). SS boiler, 80L keg, 50L keg and a 30L keg boilers.
Various pieces of copper pipe laying around for future experiments.

Re: Brass Fittings

Postby zombie » Mon Feb 10, 2014 2:43 am

1/4% isn't lead free. That's lead Light! (Miller/Bud Light)

I just have one memory of brass, and tequila. A brass Flask my brother gave me. After skiing all day, and the flask sitting in the hot car. That first sip was the most horrible tasting thing I ever tried to drink.
Brass, and hootch really don't mix well. Makes odd flavors!
zombie
 

Re: Brass Fittings

Postby Aussiedownunder01 » Tue Oct 14, 2014 12:18 pm

After you pickle brass by what ever method how long does the pickling last
I was thinking of brass fittings for a sight glass on a keg for 40%
Aussiedownunder01
 
Posts: 1133
Joined: Tue Sep 11, 2012 7:25 am
Location: So close to melbourne airport you can hear the plains
equipment: 100 litre boiler with a 4 in 5 plate bubbler on top with a 500 packed section standing by if needed

Re: Brass Fittings

Postby Meatheadinc » Tue Oct 14, 2014 3:14 pm

@aussiedownunder People look at things differently but this is my thought . If its on the up path, (Boiler ,column etc ) don't worrie if its on the down path (pc takeoff etc) there could be an issue as I don't see lead going up a column. again thats just me
Meatheadinc
 
Posts: 561
Joined: Thu Aug 29, 2013 9:00 pm
Location: Far North Coast NSW
equipment: 2" LM/VM on 30L boiler
4" FSD Neutraliser 50L boiler
4" carter head thump column
"Control Freak"- Semi Automation

Re: Brass Fittings

Postby dogbreath vodka » Tue Oct 14, 2014 3:28 pm

Meatheadinc wrote:@aussiedownunder People look at things differently but this is my thought . if its on the down path (pc takeoff etc) there could be an issue as I don't see lead going up a column. again thats just me


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZSkM-QEeUg

:laughing-rolling: :laughing-rolling: :laughing-rolling:

Me just being a smartarse.... :D :D :D

DBV
dogbreath vodka
 
Posts: 1396
Joined: Sun Jan 15, 2012 5:10 pm
Location: Somewhere over the rainbow
equipment: "Steampunk 2 - 6" Bubble cap
"Jimmy" the 4" Carter head

Re: Brass Fittings

Postby Aussiedownunder01 » Wed Oct 15, 2014 6:18 am

I should have explained better its not for a boiler its for a bulk 40% neutral storage drum say 19 liter keg
Aussiedownunder01
 
Posts: 1133
Joined: Tue Sep 11, 2012 7:25 am
Location: So close to melbourne airport you can hear the plains
equipment: 100 litre boiler with a 4 in 5 plate bubbler on top with a 500 packed section standing by if needed

Re: Brass Fittings

Postby Zak Griffin » Wed Oct 15, 2014 6:39 am

I definitely wouldn't be putting brass near my stored spirit mate :-B :handgestures-thumbdown:
Zak Griffin
Lifetime Member
 
Posts: 6832
Joined: Mon Jul 15, 2013 9:34 pm
Location: Radelaide
equipment: "The Heart of Gold" - 4" Bubbler - finally bubbling!
"Zaphod" - 3" Pot - retired
"Agrajag" - 6" Bubbler - midlife crisis build?

Re: Brass Fittings

Postby Aussiedownunder01 » Wed Oct 15, 2014 7:30 am

Thanks wont do it then
so now will look for some stainless fittings :handgestures-thumbupleft:
Aussiedownunder01
 
Posts: 1133
Joined: Tue Sep 11, 2012 7:25 am
Location: So close to melbourne airport you can hear the plains
equipment: 100 litre boiler with a 4 in 5 plate bubbler on top with a 500 packed section standing by if needed

Re: Brass Fittings

Postby Zak Griffin » Wed Oct 15, 2014 7:34 am

Get a 2" sight glass kit from Mac?
Zak Griffin
Lifetime Member
 
Posts: 6832
Joined: Mon Jul 15, 2013 9:34 pm
Location: Radelaide
equipment: "The Heart of Gold" - 4" Bubbler - finally bubbling!
"Zaphod" - 3" Pot - retired
"Agrajag" - 6" Bubbler - midlife crisis build?

Re: Brass Fittings

Postby Aussiedownunder01 » Wed Oct 15, 2014 8:09 am

Zak Griffin wrote:Get a 2" sight glass kit from Mac?

No I need it to go up the side like the level indicator an a hot water urn
Aussiedownunder01
 
Posts: 1133
Joined: Tue Sep 11, 2012 7:25 am
Location: So close to melbourne airport you can hear the plains
equipment: 100 litre boiler with a 4 in 5 plate bubbler on top with a 500 packed section standing by if needed

Re: Brass Fittings

Postby Zak Griffin » Wed Oct 15, 2014 8:33 am

Aaah, gotcha. I believe Mac has those in the pipeline as well...
Zak Griffin
Lifetime Member
 
Posts: 6832
Joined: Mon Jul 15, 2013 9:34 pm
Location: Radelaide
equipment: "The Heart of Gold" - 4" Bubbler - finally bubbling!
"Zaphod" - 3" Pot - retired
"Agrajag" - 6" Bubbler - midlife crisis build?

Re: Brass Fittings

Postby Aussiedownunder01 » Fri Oct 17, 2014 8:45 am

Just a heads up if anybody needs bosolite sight glass tucks in south Melbourne has 1/2 od by 2 meters about %25.00
Aussiedownunder01
 
Posts: 1133
Joined: Tue Sep 11, 2012 7:25 am
Location: So close to melbourne airport you can hear the plains
equipment: 100 litre boiler with a 4 in 5 plate bubbler on top with a 500 packed section standing by if needed


Return to Hardware Research & Development



Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 17 guests

x