What You Need to Know About Brass Fittings in 500 Words or Less
If you are going to do anything with pipes (or are trying to keep up an inventory for customers who do anything with pipes), it’s essential you know your way around pipe fittings. That’s because fittings are simply the various kinds of connectors that allow pipes to work together in a system to perform whatever that system’s desired function is. And one class of fittings you’ll definitely want to know a bit about is brass fittings.
Why Choose Brass Fittings, Specifically?
Pipe fittings are made from a wide range of materials, ranging from plastics and aluminum all the way to iron and galvanized steel. Brass pipe fittings are a common choice because they’re extremely strong (especially when small amounts of lead are added to the alloy), yet they can still be manipulated fairly easily. They also hit a good balance between durability and price, making them popular for everything from commercial irrigation to beverage dispensing to medical devices.
What Kind of Brass Fittings Are Available?
Valves and fittings are generally limited in type by the material at hand. So while you might find crimp and clamp fittings made from polyethylene, those won’t work nearly as well with robust metals like brass or galvanized steel. The most popular brass fitting types are threaded and sweat (meaning they’re joined with solder), but brass compression fittings are also widely available.
What Should I Look for In a Manufacturer?
When choosing a brass fittings manufacturer, you’ll want to look not just at the general catalogue of parts ordered, but more specifically at the in-stock inventory a manufacturer has available for immediate shipment. This will ensure your customers aren’t sitting around waiting for their parts assuming that you’re the one who’s slow. You should also look for a manufacturer that offers lead free brass fittings, as any customer working with drinking water systems will need these.
Do you have anything to add about brass pipe fittings? Join the discussion in the comments.