Has anyone considered using all copper parts and pipe between the HLT, MLT, brew pot, and/or pump in their brewing stands? I was just puttering around on the internet and found 1/4 turn ball valves for 1/4 to 1/3 the price of SS. There are all sorts of fittings and pipe at Home Depot.
Most of us use copper wort chillers and fittings inside the tun and brew pot. As long as non-lead solder is used, I can't see why not.
Corrosion can't be an issue. Even if someone wanted to be "hospital" clean, they'd only have to run a little Star San through the system once in a while to make everything shiny again. Could dissimilar metals at the union between SS and copper be a problem?
I'm thinking it would be a pretty solid system and a heckuva lot cheaper.
Comments, anyone?
Most of us use copper wort chillers and fittings inside the tun and brew pot. As long as non-lead solder is used, I can't see why not.
Corrosion can't be an issue. Even if someone wanted to be "hospital" clean, they'd only have to run a little Star San through the system once in a while to make everything shiny again. Could dissimilar metals at the union between SS and copper be a problem?
I'm thinking it would be a pretty solid system and a heckuva lot cheaper.
Comments, anyone?