Aluminum Tubing for HERMS coil?

[stamandster]

Surprisingly I didn't find any threads on this.

So stainless can be a pain to bend and is expensive but doesn't rust or verdigris, copper can bend easily but can also be expensive and does verdigris. And yet aluminum tubing is cheapest and provides the best heat transfer, easy to bend and no verdigris or rust, can be eaten if left in PBW or other caustic cleaner for too long. So my though is why not? Am I missing something?

McMaster has 1/2" @ 25ft for about $40
https://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-metal-tubing/=18l03v8

 

[day_trippr]

Pretty much the "eaten" part. From all causes...

Cheers!

 

[processhead]

Agree.
Seldom see aluminum in the food/beverage industry because of sanitation and durability issues.

 

[LarMoeCur]

Why use aluminum when you can get stainless steel just a few dollars more. 25' 1/2" OD SS tubing is $45 bucks delivered. I got a 100' delivered for $58 bucks. Now bending into coils is a different story!