So What’s in the Back? A Look Inside Swagelok's “Private Reserve”

A look at some lesser known components that can really make a difference

When our customers need extra help, we listen. Sometimes that means coming up with a solution that isn't in the Swagelok catalog or isn't easy to find in it. Once we've created it, there's no reason that the rest of our customers can't take advantage of it.

Reduce install errors with color coding

For instance, one of our customers was having a problem identifying the gaskets for our VCR fittings. There was nothing wrong with the performance, but some of the installers were having difficulty with the appearance. VCR gaskets come in stainless steel, nickel, brass and copper. The trouble was that a nickel gasket looks a lot like a stainless steel gasket.

Even though we package them differently -- black printing on the plastic bag for stainless steel and blue printing for nickel, our customer needed something extra to differentiate the two products even when they were out of the bag.

We came up with a way to treat the stainless steel gasket’s retainer so it would have a magenta color. So now you can purchase the stainless steel gasket with a magenta colored retainer and nickel gaskets with standard retainers, and never get your gasket materials mixed up.

It is currently available in ¼ inch with a stainless steel unplated gasket, which is by far the most common size and type of gasket customers use – the part number is SS-4-VCR-2-MR-VS.  

If you look closely at the photo above, you will notice another advantage of the VCR gasket retainer assembly, when you compare its orifice sizes with the nonretained gaskets. We are able to have a larger ID in the gasket retainer assembly since the component is self-aligning. This feature provides the fitting with a lower turbulence design reducing the pressure drop through the fitting.  

Save space with a built-in filter

It's also possible to get a snubber gasket for the VCR fitting – that is, a gasket with a sintered metal filter in it. There's a sentence or two about it in the catalog, but it's easy to miss. If you have low flow and no space and need a filter in the line, you can install the snubber gasket in any VCR joint in place of a standard gasket instead of installing a separate filter. That saves time and reduces the need for about an inch and a half long filter. Multiply that by the number of filters you need, and it adds up to a big savings in space and cost. We have them available in ¼ inch to 1 inch VCR gaskets, with element sizes from 0.5 microns to 60 microns. Part numbers for the snubber gaskets are the same as standard gaskets with the micron size of the filter element added to the end, i.e. SS-4-VCR-2-.5M

Speed up install time with extended length port connectors

The idea started with the Swagelok port connector, used to closely couple components. We and some of our fellow Swagelok sales and service centers said it would be nice in longer lengths so that you could space your fluid system components, so we created it.

We stock them in three-inch lengths, because they fit perfectly through a cushion support clamp. This allows you to significantly speed up your installation time because you don't have to cut a lot of tubing to the right length. Here are the part numbers for the extended length port connectors: SS-401-PC-0022 (1/4" PC x 3.00”OAL), SS-601-PC-0014 (3/8" PC x 3.00”OAL), SS-811-PC-0012 (1/2" PC x 3.00”OAL).

Cut back on the pipe thread bushings with special sizes

Frustrated that the 1” tube fitting stops at 1” male NPT? Good news, it doesn’t. With extra time we can match our tube fittings to far more combinations of male pipe size than is shown in the catalog. When your designing your fluid system consider giving us a call before you design in that NPT hex bushing.

Give us a call

The key take away is that your Swagelok account manager has some deep knowledge of what's available to solve your challenge. If you have a need for something that’s not in the catalog, we may already have encountered it before. If your challenge is brand new, and you know you'll have to deal with it over and over again, we may be able to work on a custom fitting for you. Then you'll have a spot on the shelf of our "private reserve." Contact Us » 

Additional Resources

Swagelok Tube Fitter's Manual PDF	Quick-turn Pressure Regulator Assemblies	Swagelok Hose Solutions