Red brass is ok, but about the only things made from it in common plumbing are chrome plated and bare pipe nipples. The term "red brass" may refer to a couple of different alloys, but all have around 85% copper. It is really a type of bronze as far as I am concerned, and all bronzes look redder in colour than yellow brass due to the higher copper content. Anyway, you can tell if a threaded fitting or pipe is red brass by the reddish yellow colour of the machined surface of the threads.
Fully machined ordinary household and automotive plumbing fittings are made from yellow brass, which is not suitable for sea water. Most cast valves are made from bronze, gate valves in particular, and they are ok from a corrosion standpoint. You can't assume that a compression type valve is all bronze unless the manufacturer says so. Some have brass valve stems and cast bronze bodies. All bronzes have more copper content than yellow brass, and the freshly cut metal is redder in colour. I worked for a few years in the 1970s as a setup-operator on screw machines and various other machinery engaged in the manufacture of above said objects. MASCO, Delta, Brass Craft, EMCO, Plumb Shop, Waltech, and a few more I can't remember, are all brands owned by the same company and manufactured in the same facilities in my home town. Steve -----Original Message----- From: CnC-List [mailto:[email protected]]On Behalf Of Joel Aronson Sent: Thursday, December 19, 2013 3:20 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: Stus-List Marine Plumbing Josh No brass! Bronze only. I have qest fittings also. No one has questioned them. I would not use Marelon. Many will disagree. Joel On Thursday, December 19, 2013, Josh Muckley wrote: Ok folks here's one I hope sparks a fury of conversation. My boat is outfitted almost entirely with the original fresh water plumbing, "qest" grey tubing and compression fittings. I have heard that it is an accident waiting to happen. That it used to be used for homes and is now no longer available due to its unreliability. What should I replace it with? Just regular old household plumbing from the hardware store? What guidance is there regarding the waste water and through hull fittings? All of my through-hulls are marelon, which i understand is pretty popular. Unfortunately the PO also used a mix if white and grey pvc in various places throughout the seawater systems. I've heard that doing that has been known to sink boats. He also used white PVC for various holding tank fittings is that ok or should it be replaced? What are the rules about brass, red brass, and bronze? Let the fury being! Thanks, Josh Muckley S/V Sea Hawk 1989 C&C 37+ Solomons, MD -- Joel 301 541 8551
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