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Hello All,

Is it safe to use brass flange fittings to join copper tubing?

Thanks!

This has been discussed many times.
Brass is to be avoided where possible, but it can be used.
Brass is surface treated with lead, so before you do a cleaning run with your whole still, clean the brass part by 'pickling' it in acid. Vinegar works well.
Just leave it in enough vinegar to cover it overnight, give it a good rinse, give it a cleaning run in the still.

Theoretically, that solves the problem. Unfortunately we can never REALLY be sure that all the lead is gone, and that idea is enough to make most users of this forum dodge brass parts. Use it if you have to.

Actually, it should be pickled in 1 part 3% hydrogen peroxide and 2 parts 5% acetic acid (household white vinegar). Peroxide is easily found in most pharmacies as a disinfectant.

I have brass fittings on my still. I did not know that i should have avoided them. I did a cleaning run on my pot still already. Theres no way i can remove the brass fittings from my setup. Can i put some white vinegar and some peroxide in the pot and run it thru at a high temp to clean the brass? Possibly 2 gallons of vinegar and a bottle of peroxide.

Instructions and ratios for such a wash are on the parent site.
Basically people pickle their fittings in acid, then an acidic wash then water then a slightly alcoholic wash that'll get tossed.
After that the still should be ready for the first run.

If you are cl

@ aunt betty,

Perhaps reviewing exactly how you Pickle Brass to remove the surface lead will be helpful to you ->

A 'Pickling Solution' of two parts White Vinegar to one part Hydrogen Peroxide (common 3% solution) will remove the Surface lead from brass parts when they are soaked for 5 minutes or Less at room temperature. The brass will turn a buttery yellow color as it is cleaned. If the solution starts to turn green and the brass darkens, then the parts have been soaking too long and the copper in the brass is beginning to dissolve, exposing more Lead. The solution has become contaminated and the part should be re-cleaned in a Fresh pickling solution.

Regards,
Coaster

I don't feel comfortable with this "pickling" thing as it's temporary and only removes the "surface lead".

Unless you re-pickle every time your distill you can never be sure.

I just smashed the nice copper pot because it had a brass piece on it and the solder was who knows what...
Smashed the still too so I won't be tempted to try and use that. It was fun.

Now I'm deleting all my posts and skeedaddling before I get any more on ya.