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**Bensiff** · 02-24-2010, 03:38 AM

Figure this is as good a place as any to ask this...

What are peoples pro/con thoughs on 2 piece verses 3 piece ball valves?

**arturo7** · 02-24-2010, 03:54 AM

3 piece can be disassembled for cleaning. Well worth the extra bucks.

**Bensiff** · 02-24-2010, 04:22 AM

My two piece valves come apart so that I can easily remove the ball and seals and fully clean them as well.

mordantly · 02-24-2010, 05:07 AM

3 piece are a lot easier to disassemble due to the design, and might be rated for more than the standard 1000psi wog that 2 piece are... but who has that kind of pressure anyways? more important is to get "full-port" ball valves.

trailblazer · 02-24-2010, 05:22 AM

2 peice are cheaper, and ive never had to take a valve apart for cleaning. 3 peice are only good for looks.

**arturo7** · 02-24-2010, 05:52 AM

Only for looks? Ha!

For an extra four bucks they'd still be worth it even if that were the only reason.

Cliff897 · 02-24-2010, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bensiff

Figure this is as good a place as any to ask this...
What are peoples pro/con thoughs on 2 piece verses 3 piece ball valves?

Get yourself a couple of pipe wrenches and try to take one of the unitary models apart for cleaning.
They come apart they really do. But you gotta work for it (like for an hour) and re-assembly usually requires a fixture and an arbor press.

They were meant to stop flow in a system where active maintenance of sanitary conditions are not at issue.

bendavanza · 02-24-2010, 01:40 PM

Proper sized (non adjustable) box wrenches and a table vice should make short work of a 2 piece valve.
3 piece are designed to disassemble and be cleaned without needing a vice and big wrenches.
Many homebrewers never open their valves, some do it religiously. Your pre boil valves are not really a problem and your BK valve is getting boiled. If you had ball valves on a bright tank or fermenter, or other post boil placement, sanitation is more critical.

Cyan · 02-24-2010, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bendavanza

Proper sized (non adjustable) box wrenches and a table vice should make short work of a 2 piece valve.
3 piece are designed to disassemble and be cleaned without needing a vice and big wrenches.
Many homebrewers never open their valves, some do it religiously. Your pre boil valves are not really a problem and your BK valve is getting boiled. If you had ball valves on a bright tank or fermenter, or other post boil placement, sanitation is more critical.

I agree with you on all that. When it comes to sanitation of a fermenter ball valve, wouldn't it be good enough to just let the assembled ball valve sit in starsan solution for a minute? I wouldn't think that any beer could come into contact with any metal that wasn't sanitized...

bendavanza · 02-24-2010, 04:06 PM

It's well known that crud does get past the seals, which means it can get back out. It just does not matter on pre boil or on the BK where it's cooked.