sources for needle valves in the UK

[a1matt]

As part of setting up a pressurised CO2 system I am researching sources for needle valves. Please bear in mind that I live in London,England.

I have found that 'Swagelok' and 'Clippard' valves are often recomended and have sourced both of them...

Swagelok valve - £36ea plus £7.50 shipping (direct from Swagelok UK)
Clippard Valve - £18ea plus £4.75 shipping (sadly with a minimum order of £25 from 'The West Group' who are the sole European distributors for Clippard).

No one in England has ever ordered the Clippard valve before! so I am waiting to see if they can actually get them in stock and what the lead time is.

So my questions are...

Can anyone recommend any other valves?
(Particularly ones that are cheap, easy to adjust, reliable and in stock somewhere in England. I want my cake and I want to eat it!)

Are the Clippard's good?
(I have heard mixed opinions elsewhere, but am keen to hear what you guys think).

Is the Swagelok worth the extra money over the Clippard?
(I would like to buy as cheap as is possible without sacrificing reliability or useability - so basically if I can justify that it is 'better' than the Clippard I'll *probably* spend the extra).

Does anyone want buy a Clippard valve off me?
(As I may end up buying 2 to beat the minimum order amount - I'd sell it for whatever it costs me, i.e. no profit would be made).

thanks for reading!
--------

Links:

Swagelok B-SS4 needle valve:
http://www.swagelok.com/shopping/product_detail.aspx?part=B-SS4&return_url=SS=B-SS4&RT=0&PG=0&RPR=0

Clippard MNV-4K2 needle valve:
http://www.clippard.com/store/display_details.asp?sku=MNV-4K2

 

[neil1973]

Re: sources for needle valves in the UK

Hi
Do you already have a regulator and just need a needle valve. I got a regulator with needle valve (delivered to uk) from germany from aquaristic.net i've bought stuff from them twice now and had no problems. delivery is a flat rate of about 12 euros up to 36kg. I found that quite a bit of stuff e.g. eheims etc was considerably cheaper than the UK (remember the prices are euros).

some links:
Needle valve: http://www.aquaristic.net/shop/shop...anid/190020/pgNr/2/CO2-needle-_-Dosage-valve/

Regulator with needle valve: http://www.aquaristic.net/shop/shop...sure-reducer-with-2-Manometer-+-dosage-valve/

Hope this is of some use.

cheers
Neil

 

[a1matt]

Re: sources for needle valves in the UK

That's very helpful, thanks Neil

So far I've got a secondhand regulator coming my way via ebay (£13 inc p+p) and am looking for all the other components - needle valve, solenoid, and a CO2 tank.

Even with the postage costing as much the valve Aquaristic is my cheapest option so far!

Seeing how cheap they are, I may just sell my secondhand regulator back on ebay and buy a complete set from them! It's probably still a little more expensive than buying the individual parts, but only a little and I would get a guaranteed system and no faffing about getting different bits to work together.

choice, choices, fantastic .

 

[neil1973]

Re: sources for needle valves in the UK

What i did was got the regulator from aquaristic, then got a 2kg co2 fire extinguisher off ebay for about £15 inc p+p, removed the hose, attached the reg with plenty of plumbers tape then cable tied the fire extinguisher handle down - works great. But...... i am just saying this is what i did, I’m not saying anyone else should do it, and I’m saying it's necessarily big or clever – this approach does seen quite popular with the reef people and their calcium reactors though.

neil

 

[a1matt]

Re: sources for needle valves in the UK

a 2kg co2 fire extinguisher

hhmmmmm. I can see this project getting cheaper every minute... and I have a friend who is a fireman

 

[Bill]

Re: sources for needle valves in the UK

I have both of the needle valves, the Clippard and the Swagelok.

The Clippard will work just fine but it's a little touchy.
For me the Swagelok was worth the extra cost because you can make such fine adjustments.

In fact I'm now using both of them, the Swagelok going to my reactor and the Clippard going to my CO2 mist.

But if I was to have just one if would be the Swagelok.

Bill

 

[Paul]

Re: sources for needle valves in the UK

I am getting some needle valves shipped over from the states (hopefully) so will sell them at cost price if and when I get them.
As for fire extinguishers, theres a company called Mainpoint if you call Mike on 01242 701635 where he will take payment on a card and courie a bottle to you for £35 or if you are near Cheltenham, he will sell you a reconditioned and certified bottle for £20

 

[a1matt]

Re: sources for needle valves in the UK

Bill - that's good to know about the 2 valves.

Paul - Can you give me any more info on the valves you are getting from the states? What valves are they? When do you expect to know if they are definitely coming? and how much do you expect them to cost?

I've been generously offered a free sample valve from Clippard - it's the 'MNV-1K' though as that's the closest to the 4k2 they have in stock. Do you think this would be of any use?

I've tried to compare it to the MNV-4K2 but have no idea what the specs mean ...
http://www.clippard.com/store/display_details.asp?sku=MNV-1K
http://www.clippard.com/store/displ...asp?sku=MNV-4K2

 

[Paul]

Re: sources for needle valves in the UK

They are going to cost about $6.80 each (excluing adapters) plus shipping over here with some other stuff I am buying, so hopefully they will work out cheaply.
I use the MNV2 needle valve and have had it around 15 months - was sent free by Clippard. It would seem that they are getting fed up with people phoning up wantng to buy one little valve - hence the £25 min order they now do.
I am getting them, its jus a case of seeing who wants them as a few on another forum I go on want some as well an asking the nice person to buy an send them
ps, I seem to remember they are the ones Tom uses

 

[a1matt]

Re: sources for needle valves in the UK

Hi Paul -

The pricing sounds very good (I appreciate they will come in a bit more than the $6.80 once you add your costs) and the fact that Tom uses them is enough quality assurance for me

I'm quite keen to get set up with CO2 as soon as I can so if you could PM me or reply to this thread when you know a rough date that you will have them available (and equally so if you decide not to get them!) it would be appreciated.

I have a couple of friends who are thinking of setting up CO2 as well (they have the good sense to let me do the legwork in sourcing the parts first!) so even if I get a valve for myself elsewhere sooner I may well want to obtain a valve or two off you anyway.