Brass fittings in a Stainless Steel kettle?

[PGSteamer]

Ahoy hoy all,

I want to add a tap to my stainless steel brew kettle.


The plan is to use a small nipple to connect a ball valve on the outside of the kettle to a barb on the inside with washers and O-rings to keep everything firm and sealed.

I can get these fittings in brass cheaply and easily at the local hardware shop. If I wanted to get them in stainless steel I'd have to spend more and do a special order.

Can I get away with using brass fittings? I know they can leach lead but there is a special treatment to fix this. My concern is that over time the two different metals would react and cause general weird, bad things to happen.

On a side note I'm also toying with the idea of using the same set up as a fermenter. Is there any risk in keeping beer in prolonged contact with brass?

[PGSteamer]

Thanks Daab, very nice information

I think I'll give it a go as a little experiment and see how it goes.

[edit1now]

You may be able to get lead-free or low-lead brass plumbing fittings in the US. Here in the UK you can buy fittings intended for "potable water supplies" which have to be WRAS approved http://www.wras.co.uk/, and these are now lead-free. Fittings intended for gas, compressed air, oil and so on don't have to be lead-free.

Unless you intend boiling brine or acids for a considerable period, I should think you'll get away with a brass tap on a stainless container.

[hambrook]

You may be able to get lead-free or low-lead brass plumbing fittings in the US. Here in the UK you can buy fittings intended for "potable water supplies" which have to be WRAS approved http://www.wras.co.uk/, and these are now lead-free. Fittings intended for gas, compressed air, oil and so on don't have to be lead-free.

Unless you intend boiling brine or acids for a considerable period, I should think you'll get away with a brass tap on a stainless container.

When I explained the intended usage to the plumbing merchant they recommended I boil the brass coil before fitting; which I did in a pan for 5 mins to clean any oil or surface contaminants. Also a good spray with StarSan HB post fitting.

[BenB]

You can pickle the parts to try and remove surface lead but some belief this just creates pits, increases surface area and increasing lead leakage. I just went stainless. Avoids concerns about erosion happening at the brass/stainless interface also.

[hambrook]

I'm replacing the Brass with Stainless Steel; best deal seemed to be here: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/231456063580

[chris2012]

That's interesting hambrook, I presume then you'll put a nut on one side and a tap on the other?

Also I presume you'll need washers and o-rings or something?

[hambrook]

I can re-use the fibre, rubber and plastic washers on the Buffalo Boilers and Rubbermaid mash-tun (see my other posts) I will re-use one brass locknut on the outside of the Boiles and Mash-Tun units as that will have no direct contact with any fluid.