Another source for B3 stainless QD's?

[The Pol]

No no Orfy and I are cool... thus the reason for the PM, some things dont have to be discussed in an open forum between friends.

 

[Orfy]

I don't want this thread turning into a "me too" bashing thread like so may others do.
These treads can gather momentum very quickly and the BOLD post is designed to stand out amongst the others. So new poster can spot it and play nice.

 

[gwood]

Damn I just spent an hour on that site! Some kille stuff....Not that any of us can afford it
Cheers
JJ

I've spent the whole morning on the frickin' site, talk about beer porn!

 

[The Pol]

I know you want SS, but I have to say that the brass from McMaster are awesome, they are CHEAP, high temp... and available!

 

[bull8042]

I know you want SS, but I have to say that the brass from McMaster are awesome, they are CHEAP, high temp... and available!

You know, it is this freakin' "Pol's" fault I am using the brass stuff now! I spent over $110 on the polysulfone QD from Colder Products, and loved them until I tore 2 o-rings on the same brew day.
I decided to try the McMaster QD's and haven't turned back since. They are actually very nice and work GREAT! No leaks, easy to connect and disconnect with one hand. The P/Ns are:

6739K64 Sleeve-lock Coolant Hose Coupling, Socket, 1/2" Barb, Brass $6.47
6739K59 Sleeve-lock Coolant Hose Coupling, Plug, 1/2" MPT, Brass $1.93

 

[The Pol]

Yeah, the friggin POL....

You can replace the WHOLE brass QD for the price of a replacement silicone O-ring almost. Leave it to me to steer you down the right path...

 

[bull8042]

Yeah, the friggin POL....

You can replace the WHOLE brass QD for the price of a replacement silicone O-ring almost. Leave it to me to steer you down the right path...

hehehe! Yeah, you are right. Just don't tell anyone I said that!
I'll make you a great deal on a bunch of polysulfone QDs if you are interested....

 

[The Pol]

hehehe! Yeah, you are right. Just don't tell anyone I said that!
I'll make you a great deal on a bunch of polysulfone QDs if you are interested....

Polysulfone???? That is like the metrosexual version of the QD... no thanks. I prefer metal! No "foo foo" QDs here!

 

[dunleav1]

The backorder date just slipped to 05/12/2009 on the stainless fittings according to the B3 site. I was going to pull the trigger on these but I'm not waiting for 3 months.

 

[jcdillin]

Yeah I have been waiting on mine since December, they also are jacking the price up on the female barbed disconnect.

 

[Brewmasters Warehouse]

I have been looking for a supplier that can get me these disconnects in SS at a decent price. I did locate a supplier that had the threaded versions cheap, but they are also back ordered for a long time. I can not promise anything, but I will do everything I can to get you guys some SS disconnects at a reasonable price.

Ed

 

[TommyBoy]

**********

 

[TommyBoy]

I have placed quite a few orders with B3. I have only had two problems. One order was shipped to my house when my family advised it to be shipped to their house. I got to see all my x-mas gifts early. No real biggie. Another order came with a broken kettle lid. they shipped a new one that day.

Although some feel that this out of stock issue is a deal breaker I believe that with today's current economic condition it is very difficult to hold excess inventory in a company. It seems like they need to change the way they manage inventory but I like their products and I have not felt "screwed" yet so I will keep buying from them when needed.

Also, let's face it people. We are dealing with a company full of drunks. What do you expect?

Just my experiences though...

 

[kal]

F#$(!*!#*#

This sucks! I've purchased the other half of the disconnects just because I know if I wait, they'll probably be sold out by the time the others come in. Sheesh.

Is there a waiting list we can get on? Anyone know?

Kal

 

[Evan!]

Well, I don't know why they have to be SS. The brass QD's at McM-C are relatively cheap (~$11.50 per set, shipped). Unless you're worried about aesthetics, brass will do. If you're paranoid about possible trace surface lead, just give them a quick bath in hydro peroxide and vinegar. See JP's How to Brew for a full how-to.

 

[Boerderij_Kabouter]

Well, I don't know why they have to be SS.

[Shakes head] Silly Evan!, you should know better than that by now. The addiction is strong with some of us.

 

[jcdillin]

Very very strong....

 

[Evan!]

[Shakes head] Silly Evan!, you should know better than that by now. The addiction is strong with some of us.

Good thing my addiction with not wasting money is stronger.

 

[Boerderij_Kabouter]

Good thing my addiction with not wasting money is stronger.

har har har

patience and a strict adherence to a budget is all that's necessary... except it will take me 3 years to build my system....

 

[kal]

har har har

patience and a strict adherence to a budget is all that's necessary...

I have neither of those which is why this is annoying me so much.

Kal

 

[Boerderij_Kabouter]

Just get the Tri's from Swagman... Might be the best option anyway, I am still considering it.

 

[kal]

I don't like the extra work around connecting/disconnecting tri-clover fittings. Sanitation is quicker/easier/more reliable due to the design, but I certainly won't be doing any sort of crazy sanitation with my QD's so it's a lost feature on me. Breweries use tri-clover because they need the large pipe diameter and the 100% sanitation guarantee (no groves or other places that nasties can hide). The extra work to them is not an issue. The people there work 8+ hours/day making beer.

I like the quick one-handed snap-in/snap-out of the QD's. But that's just my preference. I know some people have gotten really good at doing tri-clover's one handed reasonably quickly.

I do like the like of tri-clovers a lot better however. I'll give you that.

My SS March pumps are already here too... if I was to go with clover fittings I should have spent the extra few bucks for the clover fittings.

Kal

 

[Evan!]

Yeah, I messed with Dude's tri-clovers at the first CVBD, and while they're cool to look at, it seems like way too much of a PITA (and way too much $$) to me.

 

[Boerderij_Kabouter]

Yeah, I messed with Dude's tri-clovers at the first CVBD, and while they're cool to look at, it seems like way too much of a PITA (and way too much $$) to me.

hmmm..... that's good to hear. Generally the only people who have responded about Tri-clamps were people who had them and loved them, or those who had never used them.

 

[Evan!]

I'm of the opinion that there's way too much stuff out there that will really help make the process better, more streamlined, easier, more consistent, and possibly produce better beer...and given my lack of unlimited funds, I will not spend $$ on something that doesn't do any of those things. Tri-clovers are one of the things that simply don't benefit me in any way.

 

[BrewBeemer]

Not to stir the pot of stink up more than it already has been stirred, I live within 20 miles of B3 so no shipping costs only a little road trip. (they don't let me out of my cage enough). Around 3 weeks ago I went with a friend to show him the B3 store plus he drove. He purchased two male/female SS QD's right on the spot. Two hours before this purchase we both did the lookie lookie drooling over shiny equipmentthing then only 45 seconds total time for the ss QD's find and purchase.
I second or tenth the replies about this no way to run a business especially with trying to get respect from customers that will later become loyal repeat customers. Expanding a business is one thing, to lie and not give you a straight up delivery date is bad business practice. I can not blame other members with moving on to other brewing equipment suppliers. I will do the same thing even if it's out of state, hell the added shipping is a wash vs the sales tax. We just got it increased by 1% more and it is at 8.75% already.
Someone dropped the ball on this one as the manufactures have high production machines already set up to do these run of parts. If I were that machine shop I would have that ss rod stock on order and feeding the machines ASAP. I have worked in parts production machine shops in my past life. Best comes to those that wait, hang in there.

 

[Boerderij_Kabouter]

Can anyone spell price gouging...

Female Stainless Steel Quick Disconnect w/Barb | MoreBeer

now $21.50 a piece. And... Tri-clovers have just become my QD of choice.

 

[Evan!]

Can anyone spell price gouging...

Female Stainless Steel Quick Disconnect w/Barb | MoreBeer

now $21.50 a piece. And... Tri-clovers have just become my QD of choice.

Ha, salt in the wound: looks like it's backordered, along with everything else B3 carries.

Fail.

 

[The Pol]

I know SS is the "cool" thing... but $8 for a pair of brass QDs at McMaster Carr is pretty hard to pass up.

 

[jcdillin]

Yeah after getting screwed on those QD's I doubt i'll ever be ordering from them again.

The brass are nice and cheap but I just can't get past the surface lead part. I mean yeah i'm sure it's small amounts but damn I drink a good bit of beer. I don't want to be getting coloring books for my 40th b-day.