Chugger Stainless Worth the Extra $?

[djonesax]

I am going to buy two chugger pumps and wondering if the stainless head is worth the extra $80 for two pumps? $220 Poly versus $300 Stainless.

David

 

[sandyeggoxj]

I think so. It is much harder to break the pump head when threading valves and such onto the pump.

 

[dmcman73]

I like the stainless steel ones for a few reasons: 1. It's not plastic 2. I can dismantle the pump for any reason (cleaning, maintenance, etc) and not have to worry about stripping out the threads on the plastic ones.

In reality, they both do the same thing, one for each side of the market. There are brewers that only want stainless in their gear (no plastics in their brew setup, fear of BPA type chemicals leaching into their brew or just for the plain old Bling factor) and the other side of brewers that they just don't care for any of that.

Either way, they will both perform exactly as intended. If you ever want to switch over later on, you can always just buy a stainless pump head without the electric motor and swap the plastic out for stainless.

 

[iijakii]

All depends on how much the bling is worth to you.

 

[wardens355]

If you can afford it, I would go with stainless. Less likely to be damaged by trauma (dropping, over-tightening on threads, other accidents, etc.).

 

[djonesax]

I spoke to the guy at my LHBS and he said they wont even cary the poly version because they are worried about customers breaking them and it becoming a hassle.

I was trying to price them on amazon because I have a gift card, but my LHBS sells them for cheaper than I can get it with amazon prime. I think I'll pick up the SS version at the home brew store and use the GC for something else. I havent been impressed with Amazons selection of Homebrew stuff.

David

 

[djonesax]

I got the stainless and glad I did.

 

[sandyeggoxj]

FWIW, I have the center inlet pumps and I find them extremely easy to prime and they work better with my stand orientation.

 

[Natdavis777]

I have one of each and am happy with both. The poly one is for moving sparge water from the HLT so I never have to worry about disassembling to clean sticky wort. I could see the issue with stripping the threads which would be a pain.

 

[djonesax]

FWIW, I have the center inlet pumps and I find them extremely easy to prime and they work better with my stand orientation.

I got the inline but priming was as easy as opening the valves since the the pumps are lower than the kegs.

 

[Homercidal]

FWIW I brewed yesterday in front of the garage. When I got done I went to pick up my pump and didn't know my foot was on the cord. It yanked out of my hands and landed on the fitting, breaking the plastic inlet fitting right off.

Shopping for a SS replacement head now.

 

[Natdavis777]

FWIW I brewed yesterday in front of the garage. When I got done I went to pick up my pump and didn't know my foot was on the cord. It yanked out of my hands and landed on the fitting, breaking the plastic inlet fitting right off.

Shopping for a SS replacement head now.

Ouch... Sorry to hear that

 

[BBBF]

The plastic head works fine until you cross the threads or break it. It's you're call if you think you need the added insurance. I'm on the Homercidal plan. I'll stick with my plastic one until I break and replace it. Then I'll know I'm the type of person that needs the SS head.

But seriously, mine is mounted to my stand and has camlock on it, so it doesn't get moved around very often. I expect it to last a long while.

 

[LandoLincoln]

I am going to buy two chugger pumps and wondering if the stainless head is worth the extra $80 for two pumps? $220 Poly versus $300 Stainless.

David

Yes, I think it is. I started out with the poly heads, but I switched over to SS heads because I was always worried about stripping the threads on the plastic and because of that my connections leaked a bit. With SS I no longer have to worry about it and no more leaks.

 

[bbohanon]

I would get the SS one. I also would get the center inlet pump. I have an inline and a center inlet, and I LOVE my center inlet..the inline has a harder time priming thinking of dumping it for another center inlet.

 

[Homercidal]

The plastic head works fine until you cross the threads or break it. It's you're call if you think you need the added insurance. I'm on the Homercidal plan. I'll stick with my plastic one until I break and replace it. Then I'll know I'm the type of person that needs the SS head.

But seriously, mine is mounted to my stand and has camlock on it, so it doesn't get moved around very often. I expect it to last a long while.

Yep, would have been fine had it been mounted to my completed brew stand, but alas, it's not yet completed.