There is a bit of confusion when it comes to Brass Hose Fittings and brass pipe fittings. This is basically because a hose fitting is pretty much the same as a pipe fitting. Both are the component that either enables two pieces of hose (or pipe) to be joined together or joined to another fitting such as a valve. To muddy the issue even more, when pipe bore size gets small, it is often referred to as tube – so we also have tube fittings.
In most cases the design, shape and size of a Brass Hose Fitting will be identical to fittings for hoses in other metals only the metal will be different. Additionally, many fittings for brass pipe and tube will be the same as for brass hoses.
However, brass hoses are not so common. The idea behind a hose is to provide a flexible pipe. But, metal is inherently non-flexible so how do you turn metal into hose. Early work towards this end was largely carried out in Germany (the first metal hose was thought to have been made in 1885 by Heinrich Witzenmann at Pforzheim in Germany (in collaboration with a Frenchman called Eugène Levavassèur). Germany probably still leads the world in numbers of metal hoses manufactured. However, other flexible elements that can be placed into lengths of pipe – such as expansion joints, bellows and moveable joints cloud the issue as to who actually makes the most metal hoses.
Brass Wire Braided Over A Polymer Based Hose
Fittings for this type of hose are possibly what most people are referring to when they mention Brass Hose Fittings. In this type, the brass wire acts as a reinforcing sleeve of a rubber or plastic based hose thus imparting additional strength at the cost of a small loss of flexibility. These hoses usually have a nut and a sealing washer at each end fixed over the end of a crimped metal tube so they can be turned but not fall off the hose. This nut can then engage the male thread on a fixed in place brass fitting for hose connections.
Brass Fittings For Garden Hoses
Just to add to the confusion, you might not be using brass hose at all. Instead, you could be using ordinary plastic or rubber garden hose and what you are looking for are brass fittings for that hose. In which case, Brass Hose Fittings for garden hose include such as barb to male thread, nipple type connectors and a variety of fittings for both joining hose to hose and hose to water supply pipe.
