Stainless 2 Piece Ball Valves For $12

[afromaiko]

I was in Reece plumbing supplies the other day and they sell 1/2" stainless 2 piece full-bore ball valves for about $12. The guy said they were intended for gas but shouldn't have any problems with liquids, especially in applications like a kettle or mash tun. They looked just like the liquid ones that everybody is using and had a gas rating of 2000psi I think. Has anyone used these before and is there anything whacky about them like weird threads or something? It seemed like a very good price so I'm skeptical there's some reason we can't use them!

 

[wessmith]

I seriously doubt they are stainless steel - especially in Reece. They may look like s/s but i think you will find they are nickel plated brass. They will be fine for your MT and kettle.

Wes

 

[domonsura]

I'd agree with Wess...I've dealt with Reece quite a bit, and I've NEVER seen a stainless ball valve at that price or anything even close there, not even at trade rates.

 

[afromaiko]

I thought that too, so I specifically asked the guy if they were plated brass and he assured me that they were stainless. I'll take a closer look next time I'm over there.

 

[reVoxAHB]

fwiw and ot, Reece plumbing is ridiculously overpriced.. seems good as a quick stop for tradies needing the emergency part or material who pass along the exorbitant cost to their clients.

try Gottlieb's Builders Supply in malvern east for cheap plumbing, although you won't find any SS there

i picked up a compression fitting at Reece, cost was $9. picked up the same exact fitting at Gottlieb's the next day, $2.

when i was pricing a roll of 1/2" copper, Reece was $279 Gottlieb's $108. I can't remember the specs off the top of my head but the gauge and quality were the same.

reVox[size=-1]
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[afromaiko]

fwiw and ot, Reece plumbing is ridiculously overpriced.. seems good as a quick stop for tradies needing the emergency part or material who pass along the exorbitant cost to their clients.

try Gottlieb's Builders Supply in malvern east for cheap plumbing, although you won't find any SS there

i picked up a compression fitting at Reece, cost was $9. picked up the same exact fitting at Gottlieb's the next day, $2.

when i was pricing a roll of 1/2" copper, Reece was $279 Gottlieb's $108. I can't remember the specs off the top of my head but the gauge and quality were the same.

reVox[size=-1]
[/size]

Thanks, I'll check out Gottlieb's next time I'm looking for fittings as I just paid $12 for one from Reece which I thought was a bit pricey.

 

[domonsura]

Yep, I was going to say that Reece is generally my last option to get something for when there is no other choice and I have to have it regardless of price......they do however carry stuff that most other places don't have....so sometimes there is no choice..

 

[slowlearner]

hi all.
that price of $12 is a bit out, unless it's a left over from a special buy-in for a customer.
I used to work in and manage a branch with REECE, i just checked with one of the guys and the REECE brand DURA 1/2" s/s 2pc ball valve comes in @ $28.16 inc. Even a 1pc in same size is dearer @ $18.92 inc.
It was most likely a chome plated brass unit.
Yes you can use a gas ball valve for liquid and they have a higher press rating. But not gas in a liquid unit.
The funny looking thread is most likely BSP (british std pitch).
The comment about the $$ of the copper sounds about right for REECE. You'll definatley pick up most things cheaper elsewhere. The quality is not always the same though. There's a lot of Korean copper out there getting pitted and blowing holes because it's crap quality. Bunnings had to recall a crap-load last year.The comment about them carrying more stock is also true. The product knowledge is also higher. They know it and can get away with higher prices because of it.
Unfortunately, the days of getting a discount just because it's cheaper down the road are gone. Only the manager can discount, and he gets the bollicking of all time if he discounts even a little bit.
If you gunna use them, use them for product knowledge. Find the right branch, the right guy and pump them for prod info on how things work. They have specialty business branches (IRRIGATION,CIVIL,HVAC,REFRIGERATION etc etc) that staff are encouraged to call on for specialist prod advise. Trust me, it's a huge part of the job to do a tradie's homework on how things work and how to put it together.
It might seem like I'm trying to defend them, but there's no way I'd be buying off them either knowing the sort of mark-up in a lot of the stock. Know exactly what your after and go elsewhere for a better $$, or use them for the prod info and still go elsewhere.

 

[tin pot brewery]

PROCHEM, for cheap SS ballvalves, might be a few dollars more than $12 these days.