We recently discovered that Brass has as just as good resistance to SHC and Roof Cleaning Chemicals as Stainless Steel. BOTH only have a "C" Rating, so why not save money and use Brass Instead ? http://fittingsandadapters.stores.yahoo.net/bronhosbar.html here is anothr place that has em cheap ! http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/N2DRVSH?PMSECT=829 These guys have Brass Hose Barbs. THICK Kynar is the very best, but very expensive, and hard to find anymore. Brass Hose Barbs last awhile,. but Bronze is better. We also have found that any kind of plastic hose barb, especially Nylon, tends to crack easily from road vibration, etc, etc.
Here is some more roof cleaning hose barb info
Nylon, Polypropylene Kynar (PVDF)Plastic Fittings For Flexible Tubing & Hose
Important Properties of KYNAR Products:
High mechanical strength and toughness
High thermal stability
High abrasion resistance
High dielectric strength
Chemical and solvent resistance
UV light and radiation resistance
Weathering resistance n Fungi resistance
Outstanding Characteristics of KYNAR Products:
KYNAR has been used as a pipe liner in chemical processing plants since its introduction nearly 30 years ago. It has been used extensively in the paper and paper pulp industries, where equipment is constantly exposed to high concentrations of Chlorine and Chroline Dioxide. In these applications the permeation resistance of KYNAR components far surpassed that of PTFE.
KYNAR products are used extensively in silicon microcircuit fabrication. Processes in this industry commonly use deionized water, a fluid that is highly corrosive to steel. The deionized water is often sanitized through the injection of ozone and exposure to UV light, both of which can seriously degrade the integrity of materials less durable than KYNAR.
PROPER CLAMP PLACEMENT:
Clamps Must be used with all fittings which have Anti-Rotation Devices.
Never place a clamp over the large diameter of the barb. Clamps work best when tightened around the recess behind the barb. For best results place the clamp behind the barb and over the anti-rotation devices. The anti-rotation devices are small oval shaped raised areas which inhibit hose rotation on the barb. Rotation of the hose on the barb causes many of the leaks that occur with other fittings.
Quick couplings and connectors add versatility and convenience to any fluid handling system. OMEGAÆ couplings are economical and easy to install. They quickly pay for themselves with labor and maintenance cost savings. OMEGA's leak free couplings include a variety of built-in end fitting and mounting options.
OMEGAís threads are molded in precision-ground cavities resulting in perfectly matched threads at the parting line. While this method is the most costly, it produces the cleanest, most accurate molded thread possible.
OMEGAís single-barbed fittings are made so that the molded-in parting line stops at the base of the barb. The ridge and the conical surface are free of the molded-in leak path. The conical surface on the fitting is smooth and glass-like, for excellent sealing.
Clamping the relaxed hose behind the barb causes the clamp to work like a drawstring, forcing the diameter of the hose to become smaller than the flare of the fitting barb. If the tubing swells from internal pressure (near burst), the clamp will be pulled up tight to the back of the barb and the seal will be maintained.
Relaxed tubing behind the barb is essential to the barbís ability to bite into the hose.
When the clamps are placed over the OMEGA exclusive anti-rotation device the tubing cannot be freed by a twisting motion.
Why Multiple Barb Fittings Fail:
Tooling mismatches often occur in poor-quality fittings causing mismatched threads and barbs and resulting in leakage.
Tooling cannot be designed to avoid a parting line on multiple barb fittings. This parting line creates a leak path which becomes more pronounced as the tool wears.
Typical Clamping Position:
Clamping on top of barbs in attempt to force the tube down behind the barbs can cause damage. It will round off the sharp edges of the barb and cause it to bite less into the tube.
The clamping pressure causes the tube to flare out behind the clamp. Barbs located behind the clamp will have little or no effect.
Multiple barbs are typically in close succession. This prevents the tubing from relaxing to its original size, which is essential to the barbís performance. If the tubing does not relax behind the barb, the barb is rendered useless, as shown above. (Note the bridging effect.)
Additional Note:
Brass fittings are machined and do not have the problem of molded-in parting lines. However, brass fittings are usually designed with multiple barbs and have the other problem characteristics shown above. In addition, machinable brass contains free lead. Brass parts cannot be used on any system if internal heavy metals are undesirable or dangerous.
-- Edited by Apple Roof Cleaning at 13:54, 2008-11-12
I used brass when I first started and all the fittings lasted forever, I like the big bulky hose connectors from Lowes too. They are like 5 bucks each but wont crack like the little plastic ones
I used brass when I first started and all the fittings lasted forever, I like the big bulky hose connectors from Lowes too. They are like 5 bucks each but wont crack like the little plastic ones
Thanks Russ! I was at the Cole Parmer Chemical Compatability Database lately, checking the chemical resistance of different fitting materials to SHC. http://www.coleparmer.com/techinfo/ChemComp.asp Stainless only has a "C" Rating. Brass has a "D" rating, but Bronze also has a "C" Rating, same as Stainless, but cheaper! Man, we have been busy as heck lately, cleaning roofs. It is almost all word of mouth for us now. Like they say Russ, "Don't quit until the miracle happens" ? As far as roof cleaning goes, it has happened for us here in Tampa.
-- Edited by Apple Roof Cleaning at 21:44, 2008-11-12
awesome Chris I am glad to see you cleaning roofs all over Tampa Florida !!!!!
Thanks Russ ! And i am equally glad the Montgomery Alabama area has a roof cleaning expert as well. I ordered the Heyward 1/2 inch Viton Bulkheads with the big seals, designed so that roof cleaning chemical don't leak all over the new roof cleaning truck. I believe this will make the Vari Flow system a reality, and easily repeatable for the many professsional roof cleaners all over the USA. I told Kory about your new Monster cleaning rig today! of course, he had alrerady seen it on PWI. I will be GLUED to the Alabama Auburn game, bet on it!
We use the brass fittings as well when we clean roofs in Evansville Indiana. I know Russ, who cleans roofs in Montgomery Alabama used to use them, but I wonder if he still does? He probably uses the kynar barbs like Chris, who cleans roofs in Tampa Florida.
I was using brass fittings up until about 8 months ago. I still haven't replaced all of them yet with stainless. I keep plenty of extra ones on my rig just in case. There is nothing worse than being in the middle of a Roof Cleaning job and having to travel all over Pinellas County Florida trying to find a place to get a new fitting.
-- Edited by Roof Cleaning Palm Harbor FL 727 543 3276 on Friday 13th of March 2009 09:19:22 PM
I agree, I keep pleanty of parts a just extra junk, nothing in the world is more agrivating when cleaning roofs in alabama and having something break down and have to leave and come back to finish a job
We use Brass, Stainless and Kynar fittings, along with some nylon as well. Stainless lasts the longest next to brass but is more costly so brass is a working mans alternative. A dollar saved is a dollar earned?
I have always used brass. I did try switching to plastic / poly fittings, but they warped when clamped and cracked. I have some brass fittings on one of my 2 rigs, that have been on there over 3 years! Now, what's the mathematical breakdown of the cost of brass per year???? = Not worth even considering, to me?
-- Edited by Bergman Roof Cleaning Port Charlotte FL 941-698-1959 on Saturday 14th of March 2009 08:51:12 PM
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