Hercules Rockefeller

Recipes 

I've been assembling a cooler MLT recently, and when I showed it to a freind he advised that he's not sure if neoprene washers are food safe. ('m using an SS washer on top of a neoprene washer to seal the pipe nipple to the cooler wall)

I don't think it's a huge concern, but I just thought I'd throw the question out there to see if anyone has some insight.

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"let me be the first to welcome our new insectile overlords"

On deck: Breakfast stout
Primary: Empty
Secondary: American Pale Ale
Conditioning: None
Kegged: Imperial red ale, Breakfast stout, Chipotle Irish red ale, Biermuncher's C3C cream ale

Donasay

Recipes 

they make special high temperature washers that are food safe, you can buy them from any online homebrew store. I have no idea about the washers you are using as it varies by manufacturer and type of washer. Best bet is to just order one of the ones from a site on the internet they only cost a couple bucks.

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No matter how rich you are, you can still only drink 16 or 17 liters of beer a day.

http://www.solutionsinmetal.com/

Kauai_Kahuna

Recipes 

I bought around 25 in my last order from an online homebrew store, I always seem to loose them. I hope sure hope they are food safe.

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In Primary: Belgium Chimay clones.
In Secondary: Braggot, pale ale, end of the world white.
Conditioning: Mead, Cider, braggot, Belgium Wheat.
On Tap: Clones, Chimay Blue, Red, Porter, malted cider.
Bottles: Far, far, too many to list.

sigmund

Recipes 

Just to play Devil's advocate, are your SS washers rated food safe? I doubt it. Are the neoprene washers and SS washers safe for what you're going to be using them for? There's lots of folks out there using them with no ill effects, so go for it.

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- Schoonie

Burkey Street Brewery

Hercules Rockefeller

Recipes 

Kauai, from which online store did you buy those washers?

thanks!

__________________
"let me be the first to welcome our new insectile overlords"

On deck: Breakfast stout
Primary: Empty
Secondary: American Pale Ale
Conditioning: None
Kegged: Imperial red ale, Breakfast stout, Chipotle Irish red ale, Biermuncher's C3C cream ale

AnOldUR

Recipes 

I use McMaster-Carr part number 94709A536.

Neoprene-Bonded 18-8 SS Sealing Washer 7/8" Screw Size
.910" ID, 1-1/2" OD

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It’s best to brew dark beer at night, because that way the darkness gets into the beer. —Bohuslav Hlavsa

conpewter

Recipes 

Lead is used in the compounding of neoprene, but really I wouldn't worry about it, you probably have more in the brewing water than the neoprene. I don't recommend the stuff, but neoprene should work just fine as long as you are not super paranoid.

http://www.dupontelastomers.com/literature/neoprene/585E7A59DA93810F6B1A7900D3712585.pdf

__________________
"People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people." - V

Primary: Nothin
Secondary: Shady Lord RIS, Water to Barleywine, Pumpkin wine, burnt mead
Kegged: Crappy infected mild
Bottles: Apfelwein, 999 Barleywine, Oatmeal Stout, Robust Porter, Robust smoked porter, Simcoe Smash

Hercules Rockefeller

Recipes 

Thanks for the info guys!
conpewter, why don't you recomend neoprene? I'm not married to the idea of using neopren washers, that's just what I found at home depot. I basically need any type of soft washer to fit behind my SS fender washer and seal up against the cooler wall. If there's a better material I'm all ears.

I'm kinda torn about worrying over the lead thing. I doubt there's a whole bunch of lead in there to begin with, and I suppose I could soak some hot water in there for a while then drain it to leech out whatever lead is on the surface as a precaution (perhaps even simulate wort by adding enough star san to get it to 5.2 ph). so I'm sure it's not a huge risk. But the idea working so hard to make my own beer just to have lead in it is nagging at me...

__________________
"let me be the first to welcome our new insectile overlords"

On deck: Breakfast stout
Primary: Empty
Secondary: American Pale Ale
Conditioning: None
Kegged: Imperial red ale, Breakfast stout, Chipotle Irish red ale, Biermuncher's C3C cream ale

abracadabra

Recipes 

I stayed out of this because I'm not familiar with the properties of neoprene other than the fact that I use in my wet suits.

However there are a number of other products that would work well here McMasters and Carr has both Buna-N and silicone O-rings and they also have Nylon washers. I'd prefer any of these to neoprene.

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Do what you like!
Brew what you like!

Hercules Rockefeller

Recipes 

I picked up a ten pack of 5/8" neoprene washers from McMaster-Carr. Their a bit snug on the nipple, but they're neoprene so they stretch, and I figure that'll just give them that much of a better seal. I only need two so if anyone needs a couple PM me and I'll mail 'em on over...

__________________
"let me be the first to welcome our new insectile overlords"

On deck: Breakfast stout
Primary: Empty
Secondary: American Pale Ale
Conditioning: None
Kegged: Imperial red ale, Breakfast stout, Chipotle Irish red ale, Biermuncher's C3C cream ale