When a 1970s era brass boiler has lost its plating, should it be replated before it's used on a daily basis?

Regards
Timo

timo888 wrote:When a 1970s era brass boiler has lost its plating, should it be replated before it's used on a daily basis?

Regards
Timo

Hi Tim
IMLTHO;
When I spoke to the folks at a major espresso parts supplier, They suggested a replate rather than using. However, look at all the rebuilds!
If you will look up Jeweler's bronze or cartridge brass,at this metals supply companyyou can choose for yourself. They all have a very small proportion of lead and have been in use and still are in use for boilers. I believe the factor you are interested in is the "leaching" of metals by hot water over a period of time.
I am using my Cremina with the original brass boiler after the plating went south. ( I like the taste better! )
Cheers
richard / espressme

espressme wrote:When I spoke to the folks at a major espresso parts supplier, They suggested a replate rather than using. However, look at all the rebuilds!

The logic of "however" escapes me, Captain.

espressme wrote:They all have a very small proportion of lead and have been in use and still are in use for boilers.

Yes.

espressme wrote:I believe the factor you are interested in is the "leaching" of metals by hot water over a period of time.

Correct. Also, verdigris (why folks are discouraged from using vinegar to descale?). If it's not too expensive to replate with food-safe nickel, I think it would be prudent to have it done--based on info I have found since posting the question. Lots of info on brass cookware.

Regards
Timo

timo888 wrote:Correct. If it's not too expensive to replate with food-safe nickel, I think it would be prudent to have it done--based on info I have found since posting the question. Lots of info on brass cookware.

Regards
Timo

Hi Tim,
I was taking a course in Hazmat last year and one of the topics was nickel ingestion. The course leader was of the opinion that there are some negative benefits to using nickel in cookware. She was adamant that I not use nickel plating in a copper pot that I was making. Some persons are sensitive to it and may get severe itch and dermatitis. Doing a quick search today I find it is now used on stovetop cookware. I would find what plating element the electroplater knows ( hazmat and FDA, NSF) to be food safe under hot wet leaching conditions.
You know what sources to check for food safe. There seems to be NSF approved nickel platings.
Cheers
richard
PS As with anything else, there are risks getting out of bed in the evening.

I suppose copper tubing is also out then?

Not all makers adopted plating. Faema and gaggia have used plating since the mid '50s whereas the likes of smaller makers, eg carimali, never bothered. I am sure that it was done early on as an aesthetic thing rather than anything to do with food safety.

Of all the dangerous things in life I face, lead poisoning from making coffee using machines with exposed brass and copper is, I think, a pretty low risk. Now, whether the worn Ni surface is a risk may be another matter. I polish this off during restos.

Each to their own, I don't mean any of the above to be advice.

Paul wrote:Not all makers adopted plating. Faema and gaggia have used plating since the mid '50s whereas the likes of smaller makers, eg carimali, never bothered. I am sure that it was done early on as an aesthetic thing rather than anything to do with food safety.

Of all the dangerous things in life I face, lead poisoning from making coffee using machines with exposed brass and copper is, I think, a pretty low risk. Now, whether the worn Ni surface is a risk may be another matter. I polish this off during restos.

Each to their own, I don't mean any of the above to be advice.

Hi Paul,
In my opinion, there is more lead hazard in my older home plumbing system than all the espresso systems that I shall operate in my life!
Again, one finds what for them is an acceptable risk. Working in industry in the 60's and 70's did nothing positive for my health. The most common hand cleaning agent back then is now considered a major carcinogen and I have MS type damage from a certain common solvent chemical of those days. "Use what we give ya or your out'a here" "Who needs a mask, your only gonna be in there a minute, get to work!"
A tiny % of lead , nickel, chrome, I do not consider a major threat.

What I do hope for is that people become able to find information for themselves and decide for themselves.
richard
PS As with anything else, there are risks getting out of bed in the evening.

There is a lot of copper pipe in lots of houses in many places, also brass elbows and fittings that are in line with hot water heaters etc......... I am going to keep my worry meter down - same as Paul- not to be taken as advice- everybody is in charge of their boat- I just steer mine.

mogogear wrote:There is a lot of copper pipe in lots of houses in many places, also brass elbows and fittings that are in line with hot water heaters etc......... I am going to keep my worry meter down - same as Paul- not to be taken as advice- everybody is in charge of their boat- I just steer mine.

In honor of H-B's non-virtual location:

http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/programs/...at/wqwm/he395.html

Regards
Timo

i remember at varsity reading papers of lead poisoning case studies where the exposure route was from drinking moonshine produced in apparatus that used car radiators as condensers. Apparently this was a sizable problem at some stage in the past