NPT vs BSP thread type in a new set-up

[Camo6]

Even better, there's a HSS one for $11 from China. Eleven bucks? What could go wrong?!

 

[booargy]

wa wen wong

 

[KevinR]

I have been told bsp and npt from 1\2 inch down are the same threads per inch it's the angle of the threads that is different.I have often used 1/2inch bsp with npt most time works fine.Weather they screw in a couple of threads or screw in all the way and still not be tight seems to be a matter of tolerence between the valve/appliance manufacturer and the fitting manufacturer?
The low pressure we use should not be a problem.
Kev

 

[elcarter]

Kev's bang on BSP is 55 deg, NPT is 60 deg.

Both will screw in but your damaging one or both threads when you do.
You will usually be fine on a home-brew "super low pressure" applications just don't over tighten and strip a thread and use a little bit of thread tape.
Some unique brew items are form over the pond and will only come in NTP so it's likely you'll run into this one way or the other.

Attempt this shenanigans on a hydraulic application though.....

Spend some cash on some decent ball valve's, quality moving parts and seals cost $. Once you re-buy the right one your worse off.

 

[TheWiggman]

Close elcarter. BSP come in tapered and parallel but yes the tapers differ between types. I just went and checked my gear and found the bends and male fittings (like hose barb) to be tapered, and a spare ball valve had parallel. I also found it's about 3° outside in Orange and my bottled beers are lagering the natural way. **** I'm cold now.
"Life is like a BSP fitting..."
This is one example of why I love SI units.

 

[mofox1]

As for the "Basically - I'm a cheapskate (that's why we're here right?)" comment, speak for your self, price plays little or no role in what and why I brew. I want to drink the best beer I can. Whether I make or buy the beer is irrelevant to me if it isn't good I don't drink it.

Fair call - mine was a fairly unjustified statement. If I was doing it because it was cheap, it would only be K&K batches. I'm doing AG brews for the challenge of producing the beer I want, and hopefully upping the ante from where I started. Comment retracted. :blush:

Buy a1/2" BSPP (parallel) tap and never worry about it again. Use a proper sealant like Loctite 577 or thread tape and you won't get leaks either.

Great idea - hopefully won't need to do this, but good to know.

Spend some cash on some decent ball valve's, quality moving parts and seals cost $. Once you re-buy the right one your worse off.

Does Keg King fall into this category? Heaps of folk must have fittings from there... As far as a search tells me, the keg king curse is limited to elements and pumps.

Plenty stoked so many people have chimed in here. Appreciate all the help and feedback!!

Cheers,
Mick

 

[Tex083]

I have had 2 ball valves from KK one I sent back because the bulk head fitting they supplied with it was poor quality. The hose barb they supplied wouldn't thread on.
It was replaced and they covered the postage back to them. The second valve they sent is ok but not as smooth as others I have used.
My LHBS stocks fittings from http://www.homebru.com.au and they are great quality, not the cheapest but I keep buying them because they work well.

 

[bazfletch3]

Fair call - mine was a fairly unjustified statement. If I was doing it because it was cheap, it would only be K&K batches. I'm doing AG brews for the challenge of producing the beer I want, and hopefully upping the ante from where I started. Comment retracted. :blush:

Hey Mick, Dont worry, there are quite a lot of "budget consious" brewers out there; me being one of them. Having said that, I have no problem paying for quality, but I despise being ripped off - and price certainly does NOT equal quality! It might have once, but not these days....

If you're paying $3 for a SS ball valve off Ebay, Id be wary; but likewise paying $30 for one from a shop front doesnt necessarily make it any better....but theres well priced decent stuff out there.

Ive found Connor Breware and Gryphon (now Online Brewing Supplies) to both be good, and if you can find a specialised stanless place in your area that can be a great option also - they also might offer stainless welding which might come in handy for you at some stage, and depending on the place, when they know you're a homebrewer things can sometimes become easier and cheaper (not always, but sometimes....)



Cheers

Baz

 

[JaseH]

Where are you located? I'm a tight arse and built my brewery using mostly fittings from Geordi (http://www.geordi.com.au/). They are just up the road from me so I could go in person, pay cash and they'd give quite a substantial discount.

I have also bought a few fittings from Keg King - but again I can go into the store in person and check the quality on the items before buying. If your buying camlock QD's - either buy more than enough at once or get them from somewhere local that you can return to. They are not all built to standard so camlocks from one manufacturer may not fit another - if you need to get more a later date.

 

[mofox1]

Cheers all.

Looks like I'll visit Keg King for the majority. I need 1/2" hose anyway and they're certainly the cheapest I've found for that.

I'm still finding it hard to source the 1-1/8" washers (~28mm, link) that fit around the silicone o-rings in the Electric Brewery setup (are they really necessary?). Does anyone have a good supplier for these (or excess yourself)? From the Amazon link above, it's about $15 for 5 including postage. I got a quote from one of the suggested aussie stores, but they're coming in at $6.10 a washer (before postage) and they're not local.

This might belong in a separate thread, but can anyone offer advice on the quick (dis)connects from KK? Are they any good?

I was just going to use barbs, but I like the idea of hot wort not being able to scold me when hoses pop off...

Cheers,
Mick

 

[JaseH]

Not familiar with the electric brewery, but if the washers are just for weldless bulk heads - KK have silicon o-rings that fit into SS grooved nuts which they also supply. I've found these to work well as you can tighten the bulk head down hard without pinching or squashing the o-ring seal.

 

[mofox1]

Not familiar with the electric brewery, but if the washers are just for weldless bulk heads - KK have silicon o-rings that fit into SS grooved nuts which they also supply. I've found these to work well as you can tighten the bulk head down hard without pinching or squashing the o-ring seal.

Good to know - I couldn't see them listed as a separate item in their parts list, but it wouldn't make sense if you couldn't get spares/replacements.

The electric brewery (apparantly) use the same method for weldless fitting as the Blichman (sp?) kettles. While they do use a grooved lock nut, they also put around the o-ring a stainless steel washer with a larger ID than the o-ring OD so that you can do it up tight and not have to worry about over compressing the o-ring.

They also use fairly fat o-rings (1/8" or ~3.2mm), I figure if I just use the thinner 2.5mm o-rings then I don't need the extra washer. Plus, you can pick up a pack of 10 on ebay for $3.50.

Keg King also stocks silicone washers to fit 1/2" fittings, which could work a treat between the 1/2" BSP female end of the a compression fitting and the kettle wall...

Mick.

 

[Camo6]

I agree with Frothie and have found it much easier to get a good seal with the grooved nut and heavy duty silicon o ring. Flat silicone washers tend to spread too much when you really tighten up your fittings. Not sure if KK supply the HD o rings but I got mine from Craftbrewer or Online Brewing Supplies from memory.

 

[JaseH]

If you have the opportunity to pop into KK to see what they have before ordering too much online then its worthwhile, its a bit like a home brewery candy store! You can chat to the guys about set-up as well and they'll also give you a discount for cash sales.

 

[mofox1]

Damn.

Does anyone know where to get a female BSP compression fitting? The only stockist I can find is Geordi, but they don't list prices.

Can't even find it on ebay :blink: !

Might give Geordi a call tomorrow (thanks Frothie), but would have thought the piece should have been easier to find.

Cheers.

 

[TheWiggman]

I haven't even seen a female compression fitting mofox1. Normal practice is the use a female-female coupling on a male fitting to acheive the same result.
If you really want the female fitting, I'd see Pirtek, Bosch Rexroth or a similar hydraulic supplier. Be prepared to pay about $45 for a single fitting (unless you have a business account).

Ed: actually, normal practice is to configre your system so a female fitting is not required.

 

[mofox1]

Yeah - I'm starting to realise that. Trouble is, they're pretty useful for bulkheads.

I used to work at a small engineering place, and we used 1/4" and/or 1/8" female thread compression fittings for gas. They would have been stainless too. Might pay them a visit.

Otherwise, If I can't get one locally I might just get the NPT fitting from Amazon and tap it out.

I don't really like the idea of using a female to female coupling, because:
- it will stick out further after I add the female coupling + male compression (purely aesthetics)
- there's a single part to do the job (me being anally retentive)
- There more internal spaces for gunk to get caught/harder to clean (possibly the only valid reason)

Pic:

Cheers.

 

[wessmith]

Couple of suggestions for you all. SS fittings: http://www.tsvalves.com.au/index.php They are based in Ingleburn south of Sydney. For HHS taps and stuff try: www.lprtoolmakers.com. Melbourne based.

Wes

 

[JaseH]

You'll quickly go broke using SS compression fittings! This is one area where my tight arsedness led me to use brass/copper and an olive compression fitting. Cheaply sourced from the big green shed.

 

[mofox1]

Thanks Wes, not sure how I missed that when I looked them up earlier. :huh:

Have you purchased from them before?

All good for taps and chassis punches, stumbled across a gold mine in a future brother in law.

Mick.