Do you use PVC or steel on your processor?

[yaric008]

Well as the question states, which is better to use. I imagine PVC will hold up, but will it? We're down to the plumbing up our system and we were wondering which route we should go. I've read some stuff about both ways so i'm not sure which is best. Also, should i just use braided PVC clear pipe for the sight glass? I mean there isn't much more of a choice i guess. When you guys do drying phases, how hot do you get the bio? I'm not sure if our water heaters can get to 212F and even if they can, i don't know if our pumps can take it or if the PVC would hold up.

[latitude500]

If you want to go for a quality build your going to want to go with black iron. It will not react with the biodiesl. Stay away from brass, and copper because it will react with the biodiesel.

[yaric008]

Black iron for everything? No PVC? How about the sight glass?

[StorminNorman]

I used vinyl tubing from Menards. (Home Depot, Lowes). And you don't need to dry at 212 degrees. I spray dry at 100 degrees and it works just fine.

Norman

[Spencnaz]

I use the reinforced clear vinyl tubing for a sight glass. Remember too that vinyl will degrade over time, but it's so cheap that it's a simple thing to replace on your processor.

My processor has to be kept out in the open and I've had to replace the vinyl tubing/sightglass once in 3 years. Everything else is black iron pipe for durability.

[taxmame]

avoid the PVC... the handles on the valves arent pvc and will break making the valves real hard to turn

Where can you get black iron ball valves?? My brass ones are nice and green....

[Spencnaz]

The brass ones are just fine. The valve inside of them are usually stainless steel.

The valves on my processor have been used for about 3 years and 2 of those years, the processor has been outdoors on a trailer. Yes there is a patina on them, but once it develops there wont be any more of it forming.