Is brass safe in a fermentation vessel?

[Steve Broady]

So, I’m thinking about tinkering again. I can’t help myself. I’m debating putting a sink drain into the bottom of a 32 gallon fermentation vessel (aka trash can), and then using drain fittings to empty it. The logic being that they’re designed to handle low head, high volume, and chunky stuff, and also they’re cheap. The biggest downside I see is the lack of any convenient valve, but I can find a solution to that, I’m sure.

That led me to a number of drain fittings, and all the metal ones in the US appear to be chrome plated brass. So, the options seem to be either brass or plastic (PVC, I think?). Are there any safety concerns about either one, strictly in a fermentation vessel? I’m leaning towards metal for durability and safety, but I’m not sure if the acidity post ferment would attack the brass.

[MooseMan]

For low ABV ferments I'd be happier with plastic myself.
The acidity will definitely attack the brass over time but not quickly.
If you do go brass, you could use bare brass and try to tin up the surfaces in contact with the fluid?

[Yummyrum]

Personally , I’d go PCV before brass Steve …. but thats just my gut feeling .
I’m pretty sure waste water Brass fittings are not lead free like Drinking water brass fittings are .

So in an acidic environment like a fermenter , there is potential for lead leaching ….. but then , you are not drinking the fermentation and AFAIK lead does not come over when distilling .

Happy to be corrected on that .

You can buy High pressure PVC valves cheap as chips …even in the bigger sizes .
https://www.valvewarehouseaustralia.com ... gKWVvD_BwE

Having said that , I have a brass valve on my 200litre fermenter . But there is a plastic 90° before it and I dump first few 100mls through it first .

EDIT : posted with Moose.

[Bushman]

I agree with Yummy on using PVC mainly due to cost. After having said that I went from Carboy’s to 6 gallon plastic fermenting buckets and siphon into the boiler so no valves involved. I have never used the large fermenting vessels others on the forum use mainly due to a large portable cart I have insulated to control temps while fermenting.

[shadylane]

That led me to a number of drain fittings, and all the metal ones in the US appear to be chrome plated brass.

For a drain in a fermenter, there's no problem with using chrome plated, sink drain fittings I can think of.

[Salt Must Flow]

Just for fun I searched "stainless steel sink drain assembly" and found some.

[Homebrewer11777]

I think this is a great idea and am thinking to try it. But instead of a sink drain I'm thinking a plastic spigot with a stainless steel 12" bazooka tube.