Is this compression fitting safe?

**HitTheTwit** · 10-07-2011, 02:54 AM

I had some welding done recently, and the guys hooked me up with a bunch of 1/2" SS compression fittings.

As I worked with them, I began to notice some dark smudges rubbing off on my fingers from the compression nut. The body is definitely and obviously stainless, but the nut is a darker color. Do you guys have any idea what this metal is, and if it's safe to brew with?

Pretty much every dip tube and fitting I have will use one of these, so I'm hoping the answer is yes!

Many thanks!

**jsguitar** · 10-07-2011, 03:11 AM

It's a molybdenum coating of some kind or another that's on the SS. I talked to a guy at Parker who told me he wouldn't use them in a submerged situation, like in the HLT or BK. If liquid is just running through it then it won't touch the nut anyway. I'm still not sure if there is any real concern if it was submerged in the HLT or BK to be honest though. I just took his word for it. In researching the moly for myself, it didn't seem to sound like a big deal but I swapped them out with some Parker A-lock series just be sure since they're not coated and since the moly stuff seemed to rub off so easily.

So, outside the HLT, MLT, BK, not an issue at all, inside maybe not but I'm not completely sure.

**HitTheTwit** · 10-07-2011, 03:21 AM

Hmm.. I've currently got 6 of them that are supposed to be going into the keggles. Two each for the tubes in the BK and MLT, one for the HLT, and another as a convenient way to pull my Jaybird FB out.

It's sounding like it might be worth switching them out then. Is there any way to remove the moly coating?

And if it does prove worth switching out, where did you pick up the Parker A-lock series nuts? Or did you replace the whole things?

PantherCity · 10-07-2011, 03:39 AM

Mine look like that too. I have been using them so I hope its OK.

**jsguitar** · 10-07-2011, 03:43 AM

Some of us on here bought some of the industrial fittings that you have by mistake from an eBay seller and they switched out the furrules and nuts from the a-lock series. This is the seller and the a-lock series fitting that you want. I don't know that you can get just the ferrules and nuts though. They just did it because the description on the other one's were not completely right.

Before I knew what it was I tried sanding it off. It was a mess and it didn't all come off anyway. Not recommended.

**jsguitar** · 10-07-2011, 03:47 AM

PantherCity, it may be totally fine as I said. Just relaying what the guy at the company told me. I would urge anyone with any concern to call Parker themselves and get all the info you can. You never know, a different guy might say something different and as I said, I couldn't find anything concerning when I was looking into it.

**HitTheTwit** · 10-07-2011, 04:11 AM

Jsguitat, thank you for the excellent information! Though not what I wanted to hear...

Can anyone else chime in about these?

milldoggy · 10-07-2011, 06:03 AM

From what I researched thos are carbon something something, they will rust and not intended for our enviroment. Use stainless and don't take the risk.

**HitTheTwit** · 10-07-2011, 02:15 PM

Bloody hell. I have SS everything else too...
Anyone in SE PA have a tube bender? Sounds like I have to order and make all new fittings

**HitTheTwit** · 10-07-2011, 02:33 PM

I just looked at the three pieces more closely, and it appears that the bolt and compression fitting are regular SS. Hopefully that means I just need to get 1/2" Nuts to replace it.

Although my tubes are already bent, which prevent me from slipping the nuts off... so I'll need to make new dip tubes.