Would a brass pool ladder

[rickbenedict]

We have an all tile pool, built in 1932. We need to do various repairs to the pool (although it has held up great). One of those repairs includes the pool ladder. We are wanting to retain the (4) all brass steps which were original in the pool, and somehow affix them (braze ?) to a new pool ladder made from 2" Diameter (OD) x 1/8" thick brass tubing. The original ladder was made of steel, and rusted out after so many years. We believe that the original steps were saved and brazed to brass in the 1980's. However, the ladder has disconnected from the wall, and since the prior repair only featured cutting the original above-water galvanized steel, we now want to replace the entire assembly. So I have a couple of questions for any contractors familiar with metallurgy:

1) The brass tubing we are considering is roughly 65% copper and 35% zinc. Would this be OK long term for corrosion resistance? (We have no idea of the actual percentages in the alloy of the original "step" pieces.)

2) Since stainless steel seems to be the modern-day standard in materials, is it feasible to join these original brass steps to new stainless somehow ?

3) Are there any companies out there who anybody can recommend for bending brass tubing and brazing original steps?

Thank you so much. The pool is historic, and in 1981 we replaced a 5hp single pump and (3) MASSIVE sand gravel filters with just (2) Purex "grid" DE filter tanks, and (2) 2hp motors. We'll be getting variable speed pumps and cartridge filters, as well as adding in-line skimmers, which to this day have always been external stainless "boxes".

 

[rickbenedict]

Here are a couple of photos.

- Rick

 

[Bperry]

Here are a couple of photos.

- Rick

Is there a particular reason you want the new steps brazed on the main tubing instead of mechanically fastened with rivets or screws?

There’s a few threads on the site referring to brass in pool water and one thread mentioned keeping the zinc percentage under 15% being good. I’m not sure if the excess copper sitting in the water would be detrimental to leaching copper into the water and staining things so that’s something to watch out for.

The brass steps can be brazed to stainless or brass tubing, just not sure it’ll be aesthetically pleasing. The brass tubing might be easier to cosmetically clean up after brazing since they’ll both patina at about the same rate rather than the stainless not “patina-ing” at all.

 

[ajw22]

I would think you want to use Naval Brass...

Interesting Facts about Naval Brass—Composition, Properties, and Applications

Brasses are classified into different groups depending on their zinc, copper, and tin content. Each type, such as the Naval brass, has its unique properties.

rotaxmetals.net

That page says for naval brass, the perfect ratio is around 59% copper, 40% zinc, 1% tin, and trace amounts of lead. While this page says dezincification can be avoided by maintaining the zinc content below about 15%, and minimized by adding 1% tin such as in Admiralty brass (C44300) and Naval brass (C46400). Adding less than 0.1% of arsenic, antimony or phosphorus gives further protection, provided the brass has the single a-phase structure. Again, a decrease in the zinc content to less than 15% is beneficial.

Brass corrosion

How do you chlorinate your historic pool?

 

[ajw22]

Brass is not compatible with stainless steel and will cause galvanic corrosion. Note there are different grades of stainless steel in the chart below.

are stainless steel and brass fittings compatible | HONGDA Valves

There are a few different types of fittings that are popular today. One type is brass fittings, and the other is stainless steel fittings. Brass fittings and stainless steel fittings are two of the most popular types of fittings because they are durable and have a long lifespan. Brass fittings...

hondavalve.com

Metal Compatibility | Galvanic Corrosion Scale

Galvanic Corrosion Scale - to help evaluate the susceptibility of two metals in contact to galvanic corrosion. Links to related information.

www.mfcp.com

 

[rickbenedict]

Is there a particular reason you want the new steps brazed on the main tubing instead of mechanically fastened with rivets or screws?

There’s a few threads on the site referring to brass in pool water and one thread mentioned keeping the zinc percentage under 15% being good. I’m not sure if the excess copper sitting in the water would be detrimental to leaching copper into the water and staining things so that’s something to watch out for.

The brass steps can be brazed to stainless or brass tubing, just not sure it’ll be aesthetically pleasing. The brass tubing might be easier to cosmetically clean up after brazing since they’ll both patina at about the same rate rather than the stainless not “patina-ing” at all.

Thank you for the reply. It is actually just aesthetics in not wanting to mechanically fasten the steps to the tubing. Interesting about suggesting keeping zinc content to less than 15%, as the brass tubing I am considering looks to be closer to 35 - 40% Zinc.