Bronze pipe

JonnyBoats · Post by **JonnyBoats** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 11:17 pm

Does anyone know of a good source for bronze pipe?

When connecting a bronze cross

to a seacock it just doesn't seem OK to use a brass pipe nipple, or is it?

Post by **Tim** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 7:05 am

There are bronze tailpieces you can use for connecting to hose, but if you're looking for something threaded on both ends, you're likely to come up short in the bronze department. I don't know of any bronze nipples of that sort. I don't know why this is, but it seems to be the case.

If you happen to find a source, be sure to share it here.

JetStream · Post by **JetStream** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 12:15 pm

Hope this is helpful. I'm not an expert, but I am pretty good at finding what I need. I don't think there are any bronze nipples available anywhere. But I think this may be the answer you need.

Apparently, to prevent dezincification (which is how normal brass will fail in a marine environment), the preferred material is a low percentage zinc - brass, usually called red brass. (one of a series of "tin-brasses"). Here is a link to a site that describes the characteristics of this material:
http://www.copper.org/resources/propert ... asses.html
You can get red brass nipples from this source:
http://midamerica.thomasnet.com/viewite ... &forward=1
And obviously the source of bronze fittings is important:
http://store.hamiltonmarine.com/browse.cfm/2.808.html

Ceasar Choppy · Post by **Ceasar Choppy** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 12:30 pm

In my research, I found this place:

http://www.atlasmetal.com/sb_tuberound.html

But I'd really like to know why it is not used.
My centerboard pennant lives in a RED BRASS tube which is under the waterline and thus is filled with sea water. It does not instill much confidence. Although, the red brass has survived 35 years...

I'm thinking of replacing it with the silicone bronze from the link above, but that will be a project for another day.