Stainless ball vaves

[oogaboogachiefwalkingdeer]

Why does everyone have to have ss valves? What is the drawback of having brass valves. They are a whole lot cheaper than ss.

 

[PJM]

My understanding is that brass may leech bad things into the wort.

 

[PJM]

Lead, specifically.

 

[oogaboogachiefwalkingdeer]

Just wondered because I see brass nipples in mash tuns ans brass hose barbs tied to a ss valve.

 

[Rockn_M]

I think a lot of people (me included) do it because everything else was SS and it kept the look clean.

 

[Rev2010]

Lead, specifically.

Which is of such low levels that it's really not a concern at all for use in a mash tun. The surface area of contact is also very small and once the small amount of lead has leeched I don't believe any more from deeper in the metal can leech, it's only what's at the surface contact area of the metal.


Rev.

 

[iijakii]

Which is of such low levels that it's really not a concern at all for use in a mash tun. The surface area of contact is also very small and once the small amount of lead has leeched I don't believe any more from deeper in the metal can leech, it's only what's at the surface contact area of the metal.


Rev.

Seems like a pretty wild guess. But any recent brass ball valves from HD and the such are required to be lead-free brass. So no harm in using brass. It's just less bling.

 

[Dfitz]

In the past, the amount of trace heavy metals were not regulated for brass fittings sold in the US. Recently this has changed and levels in brass are neglegeable. A 1/2" ball valve can be picked up for $5 including shipping. With this in mind, as posted, most likely just would rather keep their system all stainless.

 

[JonW]

Stainless stays nicer looking and doesn't discolor like brass.

 

[beernutz]

 

[jwalk4]

I've had brass corrode(sp) before in my old tun. Got this orange gunk all over the place. Had SS braid with an SS hose clamp, so I figure is had to be the brass.