Stainless Camlocks review
 

So I upgraded my system to ss camlock disconnects. I like them ok. They are not one handed like my mcmaster.com brass ones but they do lock down ok and I think I can learn to tighten them with one hand given some time.

On the valves
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_xPUzhS84gnk/S1...pgrade-eb1.jpg

On the pump
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_xPUzhS84gnk/S1...pgrade-eb4.jpg

Upgraded kettle with a recirculating arm inside.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_xPUzhS84gnk/S1...pgrade-eb3.jpg

It works well
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_xPUzhS84gnk/S1...pgrade-eb6.jpg

Awesome, been looking for a review on these. Do they leak at all? Do they lock down tight? Do you expect them to wear out over time (the seals or locking mechanism)?

I've been told by a friend who worked in commercial setting with a lot of camlock fittings that the cams on the arms will wear over time and you will have to stack the washers to get them to seal. My camlocks as tested do not leak.

They are very nice looking and well made.

Every single one of these has a "hard" side to lock down it seems. One cam locks easy and the other is tough. Must be the way their mold / machining is done.

I noticed that the best technique with them is to try and pull the arms back equally. The "Hard" side is whatever side is done second. If you pull them back at the same time and keep the connector straight they seem to close pretty easily.

It is tricky. It will take some practice I suppose. I hope to do a water test this weekend or next with my rig. I have 11 I have to attach. 4 that will be moved around during brewing. I hope to chime in on performance soon.

I'll try that out. It just seems natural to hold it with one hand and do the cams one at a time.

I'm sure I learn the least effort way to do it :)

I am curious how that recirculation arm is working out for you... Many years ago I discovered that that configuration didn't work so well for me during cooling wort... So basically you will be returning cooled wort back to the bottom of the pot and it is instantly returned to the chiller by way of your drain valve next to it leaving a dead zone in most of the upper kettle as heat rises... I found that returning the chilled wort back to the top of the pot worked much better and faster for me... This is if you are using it for that purpose... :)

Hey Lonnie.

I just installed the arm so i don't have any real world data from it yet.

Your suggestion makes a lot of sense. I did put the bend pointing upward somewhat but I think you are right about it coming back in the top.

Well my friend, I would say to give it a go as is and see if you like it! You just never know... It may work well for you! I had done several batches and figured this out on Brutus. Actually it was one of the driving forces in me putting everything in the lids so I could swap everything with ease...

Brew on brotha... Them cams look great. I have been thinking about switching to these myself...

It is a trick to get them to close easily... As another poster noted, if you can get a good seat on it at first and then use both arms at the same time, it is easier... Took me a few times to start to figure that out... So far, I love them...

Your opinion on flow rates compared to straight thru barbs?