Fuel Tap material

[WolfieParticipant @wolfie]

I need to make a small part for a fuel tap. The original part is brass, I don't happen to have any of the right size. Can I make the part in steel?? Or is there a reason why its brass? It will get petrol on it.

[WolfieParticipant @wolfie]

brass vs steel

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

One tends to stay clear of steel and petrol as there is a very remote chance of something striking the steel and making a spark, but as I said remote chance. If you have a lathe and want to make a piece , you must be able find a bit of brass/bronze – perhaps a plumbing fitting turned down, the stem of a water tap – something surely.
BobH

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

Bob, I think you may have rust problems if you use steel, maybe stainless would be OK.

Ian S C

[Tony Pratt 1Participant @tonypratt1]

I would use brass.

Tony

[Tim StevensParticipant @timstevens64731]

Many (not all) such taps rely, more or less, on lapping the two conical surfaces to get a good leak-proof fit. I am fairly sure that lapping steel and brass together would not be so easy, as they are of different hardness, etc. I agree with the 'use stainless' comment, though.

Cheers, Tim

[Chris Evans 6Participant @chrisevans6]

Only downside that springs to mind is water contamination. The ethanol content seems to attract water but it would take an awful long time to pit and leak.

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