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Ball valve
- Thread starter kamk
- Start date
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SliverXZennon
Well-Known Member
Have you tried bargainfittings.com? They have awesome prices and flat rate shipping!
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- Dec 31, 2012
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Check jadedbrewing.com, 10 each.
Sent from my DROID RAZR using Home Brew mobile app
Sent from my DROID RAZR using Home Brew mobile app
SliverXZennon
Well-Known Member
Best price I've seen anywhere..
![Craft A Brew - Safale S-04 Dry Yeast - Fermentis - English Ale Dry Yeast - For English and American Ales and Hard Apple Ciders - Ingredients for Home Brewing - Beer Making Supplies - [1 Pack]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41fVGNh6JfL._SL500_.jpg)
I have a pretty good handle on the availability of stainless valves directly from China and through U.S. distributors and I have seen some really poor quality as they are being "commoditized" in the homebrewing market. In English, the push for rock bottom prices have started compromising the build quality and some of them practically require a ton of torque to operate the handle. I won't claim to have the best quality valves you can buy but they are the best I've had in my hands after bringing in at least 20 different test samples. I give it 99% odds that a 3pc valve retailed for under $10 is going to be a disappointment unless there's some loss leader pricing going on. Don't take my word for it but if you're going to buy more than one or two valves, grab a sample from a couple sources. If your bulkheads are going to be welded, the quality of the valve isn't a big deal. If it's going into cooler or into a thinwall pot with a weldless bulkhead, it matters a lot more.
Note that the valves you see on Ebay directly from China are hit or miss. Some of them are actually not bad as long as you're willing to wait for the shipping. I did however get a 3-way valve that way that didn't have a packing seal installed around the shaft and leaked like a sieve (hence the hit or miss).
I understand the bias that this post reeks of so take it with a grain of salt.
Note that the valves you see on Ebay directly from China are hit or miss. Some of them are actually not bad as long as you're willing to wait for the shipping. I did however get a 3-way valve that way that didn't have a packing seal installed around the shaft and leaked like a sieve (hence the hit or miss).
I understand the bias that this post reeks of so take it with a grain of salt.
But Bobby, we brewers don't brew with salt! Good write up.
