What are faucets made from?
Shaft | ||
| The main stem of the tap is made of steel. This provides a solid foundation for all other parts. Steel is wear-resistant and durable. | ||
Parallel Bushings and Tapered Cones | ||
| Tapered cones are made from steel or brass, while parallel bushings can be made from steel, brass or plastic. | |
 | All materials will do the job adequately, but the plastic parallel bushings are likely to wear out faster, so they are more suitable for infrequent use. Brass and steel varieties are more durable, steel is more durable than brass. Brass is cheaper than steel, but the durability of steel means it is commonly used by professional tap installers. | |
Processing | ||
 | The faucet handle can also be made from steel or plastic. The knob-shaped handles are plastic and usually fit onto a shaft extension. On the other hand, bar handles are made of steel. | |
 | Plastic-handled resailers are a bit easier to hold as they have a better grip and shape. However, they wear out faster than steel handles. This is why, as a rule, DIY versions have plastic handles, since they are not designed for long-term use. The most commonly used professional tap setting fixtures are made entirely of steel. | |
Cutters | ||
 | Cutters on seats for taps are made of hardened steel. This means that the outer body is hardened, but the center remains soft because fully hardened steel can become brittle. Thus, the cutters are hard enough to grind a tap seat, but retain a soft center to absorb pressure. | |
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