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Brass Spray Nozzles Prove Worth in Plastic Age03-02-07 | News

Most contemporary nozzle heads are propelled out of the ground on black plastic risers. If jammed by debris, plastic nozzles can remain extended, leaving them vulnerable to feet and lawn mowers. Resistance to corrosion and scale accumulation are two characteristics that increase the desirability of brass nozzles. Photo: Storm Manufacturing Group, Inc.

Brass Spray Nozzles Prove Worth in Plastic Age

By Dwayne Wells, Storm Manufacturing Group, Inc.

As in all industries, technology has revolutionized the way we do things. However, the existence of new technology does not mean that the old ways are effectively replaced or outdated. In the green industry, much of the ?EUR??,,????'??old?EUR??,,????'?? continues to stand the test of time.

For a large portion of the 20th century, fixed pop-up spray nozzles were primarily tooled out of brass. With the production of alternative materials, technology eventually made it possible to manufacture cheaper substitutes that now dominate the market. In spite of their success, quality and experience has allowed the brass spray nozzle to continue to penetrate the market by offering uniformity, consistency and longevity in its spray pattern that is unmatched by the alternative products.

A close-up view shows an old-school brass irrigation nozzle in action. Water is seen exiting the nozzle via the ?EUR??,,????'??smile,?EUR??,,????'?? or curved opening, seen here. Brass has endured as a nozzle option because of its anti-corrosive properties. Photo: Guy Nelson

Quality rather than quantity

The quality of a spray nozzle has a significant impact on how effective an irrigation system delivers water. Longevity is the first line of defense to prevent the waste of water that is caused by under- and over-watering.

Although other materials are relatively inexpensive to produce and purchase, quality is sometimes compromised when making a less-expensive product. The quality of a spray nozzle depends on the design, craftsmanship and the attributes of the product.

Brass has the ability to produce a longer-lasting and better-performing nozzle because of its strength, formability and resistance to corrosion. These distinctive qualities have made brass a highly sought after material to fabricate a variety of highly engineered products.

?EUR??,,????'??Brass nozzles offer features unmatched by any other product on the market. Their superior quality stems from nearly a century of experience in engineering them to perfection, to produce a crafted nozzle that performs flawlessly,?EUR??,,????'?? said Joe Taormina, president of Storm Manufacturing Group, Inc.

Woops! This new brass nozzle isn?EUR??,,????'???t leaking, but the joint connecting it to the main sprinkler line is. Brass is stronger than plastic, but an irrigation system is only as strong as its weakest link. Be sure to test your system after replacing any part of it.

Benefits of brass

Brass nozzles are often overlooked because of their initial cost. However, the benefits that are gained from the years of service are cost effective in the long run.

Today, water conservation is a leading issue in the irrigation industry. Everyday our natural resources continue to dwindle and each year it becomes more important to ensure that we conserve water as our supply diminishes.

Brass nozzles contribute to saving water by producing a uniformed spray pattern that allows for even coverage throughout the length of the disbursement radius. The uniformity of the brass nozzle is not matched by most of the alternatives on the market.

?EUR??,,????'??When coverage is even and effective, a customer is less compelled to over-water to make up for a poor performing nozzle,?EUR??,,????'?? said Peter Hingle, owner of Hingle Lawn Sprinkler Service in Dallas, Texas, who has been installing brass nozzles for 27 years.

The ability to create an accurate spray pattern and even precipitation rate lies in the nozzle?EUR??,,????'???s undercut and ?EUR??,,????'??smile.?EUR??,,????'?? The undercut allows the orifice to water areas closer to where it is stationed. The ?EUR??,,????'??smile?EUR??,,????'?? is the main opening from which the water exits the nozzle, affecting how uniformed the spray will be. As a metal, brass can be machined, instead of molded, allowing manufacturers to produce a superior undercut and smile that can guarantee water will be placed exactly where it should be for the length of its life.

The four primary elements having an adverse affect on the undercut and smile are thermal cycling, water hammer, abrasive particulates and scale accumulation from hard water.

For many alternative materials, thermal cycles can be the source of deformation that limits the ability to deliver water correctly. Thermal cycles can change the shape of the ?EUR??,,????'??smile,?EUR??,,????'?? which will jeopardize the consistency and evenness of the spray pattern. Alternative materials, like plastic, can be altered in a matter of months. Brass, on the other hand, is unique because its high melting point does not allow the metal to be affected by temperature change. This helps ensure that a brass spray nozzle will perform close to as manufactured, year after year.

Another benefit that derives for the use of brass is the ability to withstand the pressure caused by the ?EUR??,,????'??water hammer?EUR??,,????'?? effect. Air often enters the sprinkler line causing a water surge. The surge is created by the air?EUR??,,????'???s compressibility. As a result, a tremendous amount of pressure is applied to the water exiting the nozzle. If the nozzle cannot withstand this pressure, it will break.

Brass is also less susceptible to collecting abrasive particles and agents found in most water supplies. The accumulation of these particles can be disastrous to the longevity of a nozzle because the loss of control over water disbursement. Once clogged, nozzles must be cleaned or replaced. The machined surface of the brass nozzles and the ability to deflect corrosion allows water to flow more easily for extended periods.

?EUR??,,????'??We use brass because it?EUR??,,????'???s a guarantee that the nozzle won?EUR??,,????'???t plug up,?EUR??,,????'?? said Eric Aller, park manager for the city of Clovis, Calif. ?EUR??,,????'??Particles of sand often stick to the plastic nozzles. In the cold season, we?EUR??,,????'???ve seen areas that have been left dry because of restricted water flow. We don?EUR??,,????'???t get that effect with brass. Brass is worth the initial extra cost.?EUR??,,????'??

The sum of these features give brass spray nozzles a big advantage. The precision and uniformity of their spray pattern are the key to the material?EUR??,,????'???s high performance.

?EUR??,,????'??Because I use brass, my customers know that they are dealing with someone that cares about quality rather than price. They can clearly see the difference when I exchange their plastic nozzles for brass,?EUR??,,????'?? Hingle said.

The market

In the last few decades, the market has shifted from brass to more inexpensive alternatives, like plastic. Many of the companies that once primarily manufactured brass nozzles now solely manufacture the alternative as a response to consumer demand. This has made finding brass nozzles difficult.

Luckily, there are still a few companies who have stayed true to their brass roots. Companies like Buckner Irrigation, which has been manufacturing brass spray nozzles for more than 60 years, continue to manufacture an entire line of coal brass nozzles that are crafted for flawless performance.

Although brass is not as common as it should be, its quality will endure as long as these companies continue to manufacture these enduring nozzles.

Dwayne Wells is a product manager at Storm Manufacturing Group, Inc., a supplier of irrigation products in Torrance, Calif. Wells has worked with brass irrigation for more than 20 years.