Copper and Brass vs Aluminum
vs Steel
Not all Materials are alike
Copper and Brass
The majority of radiators that we work on are copper and brass. This method of construction has been used for over a century and continues to be a favorite of ours. While typically more expensive, this method has the best repairability, as well as opening the opportunity for custom builds. This method utilizes copper fin material and brass tubes and tanks held together with a mixture of lead and tin called solder. The nature of these materials allows for easier repairs and flexibility of construction styles. There are many construction styles of copper and brass cores, which can allow a core to work better in your specific application. Some cores feature louvers or dimples on the fins to slow down airflow around the tubes allowing for better cooling in certain applications.
Aluminum
The majority of radiators made today are made of either plastic and aluminum or all aluminum. While aluminum at times can do a better job of dissipating heat, we believe that they are largely inferior to copper and brass or steel-constructed cores. For starters, aluminum cores do not feature the same repairability as copper and brass or steel cores. Aluminum has a much lower melting point, which makes repairs in tight areas difficult to do without causing further damage to the core. Aluminum cores can not be soldered together as solder does not bond to aluminum the way it does to copper and brass. Aluminum cores instead must be brazed. This braze melts at a higher temperature than solder, which coupled with the lower melting point of aluminum, makes it easy to accidentally burn through core material before a repair can be made. Aluminum is also much less durable than copper and brass. The thinness of the material coupled with the complexity of repair, means that a bump or crack in the core material could junk the whole radiator. Aluminum can sometimes be repaired through glue or epoxy methods, but these methods are case dependent and are never as solid as a brazed or traditionally soldered repair.
Steel
Our specialty! Steel core radiators can be a wonder in applications where the radiator may see a high degree of wear and tear or impact. Steel cores are a favored (and FREE!) upgrade to copper and brass in applications such as forklifts, construction, and industrial machinery. While copper and brass can be plenty strong, we find that the wear and tear that these applications see warrants something that can take a lot more abuse. Steel fin radiators often feature flat fin material which allows for easier passage of debris in especially dirty environments. This style of core features thicker steel fins which are significantly harder to bend and damage, allowing for easier regular cleaning of cores at higher pressures, less chance of serious damage upon impacts, and easier repairs when needed. At a high-intensity job such as materials handling or construction, time is money. No one likes having their machine sidelined by a radiator with a forklift fork through it (trust us, we have seen it). Steel cores can take a beating, and are a shockingly resilient choice when your job demands the most.