Cheap NIBCO China brass valves....

[Master Plumber Mark]

Just thought I would pass this warning on to plumbers using NIBCO brass sweat ball valves..

They are made in china now days and their quality has gone completely to hell in hand basket... The yellow brass will
not solder correctly no matter how hard you try to solder it .... sand the inside of the fitting, clean everything triple good
and the solder will still not adhere to the brass ...... Both the inside of the fitting and the copper pipe must be pre-tinned to
be extra sure the solder will flow

I have had about 5 valves leak on me after a few weeks in service ... all letting go after a month or two and doing some minor damage in a few situations. I plan on taking the rest of the valves back (10) of them
to the supply house . I have no idea what kind of " lead free brass " that this cheap ass quality
valve is made from but the Chinese will figure out a way to cut corners any way they can


Originally I thought it was the solder, then I considered it being the oaty#5 tinning flux being dirty, adn then
I thought it was just me messing up. Now I realize its just
the shitty brass quality junk that is now being passed off ad Nibco quality brand valves....

I never liked the Legend brass valves much but they do look more like real deep yellow old style brass., so I have had to
start buying them and replacing the Nibco junk I have out in the field as they fail.....

The Legends cost about 5 bucks more each but its better than call backs

 

[bigb56]

It's a problem in the electrical trade too, the only way we can do anything about it is to vote with our wallets. I've had cheap parts cost an extra hour or more of labor, and we all know how much a callback costs us. Not worth it.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[jacksonyang]

I think that no matter which country the product is made in, you get what you pay for.
We are in the electrical industry, and the cheap and poor quality PVC conduits are sometimes deformed when they first arrive in the hands of customers. Don't ask me how I know this, because customers come to us with photos of other suppliers' products...

 

[Master Plumber Mark]

I think that no matter which country the product is made in, you get what you pay for.
We are in the electrical industry, and the cheap and poor quality PVC conduits are sometimes deformed when they first arrive in the hands of customers. Don't ask me how I know this, because customers come to us with photos of other suppliers' products...

well these 3/4 full flow ball valves cost me about 15 bucks each,,, BECAUSE THEY WERE NIBCO adn tehy
are supposed to be the best quality available

I can get a ball valve on amazon right now for 7 bucks from god knows where,,,, that is probably about the same quality or maybe better if I want to gamble on them

 

[Sylvan]

It's a problem in the electrical trade too, the only way we can do anything about it is to vote with our wallets. I've had cheap parts cost an extra hour or more of labor, and we all know how much a callback costs us. Not worth it.

I had the same problem a decade ago, as they outlawed lead and cheated on the copper content

Using 95- 5 was difficult to get the alloy to adhere, and terrible capillary action, no matter how I played the flame

I ended up buying Hercules Swif Solder in paste for 95-5 (EXPENSIVE) as a flux, and never had a failure BUT it is no longer made

https://www.supplyhouse.com/Hercules-10210-1-2-lb-Swif-95-Solder-Flux-Paste-w-brush?srsltid=AfmBOoqNEUAFDCV4NubfEGq_pmLRMeJUEJ0KRLVvLSWEss6PNyM-sHVG

 

[Master Plumber Mark]

I had the same problem a decade ago, as they outlawed lead and cheated on the copper content

Using 95- 5 was difficult to get the alloy to adhere, and terrible capillary action, no matter how I played the flame

I ended up buying Hercules Swif Solder in paste for 95-5 (EXPENSIVE) as a flux, and never had a failure BUT it is no longer made

https://www.supplyhouse.com/Hercules-10210-1-2-lb-Swif-95-Solder-Flux-Paste-w-brush?srsltid=AfmBOoqNEUAFDCV4NubfEGq_pmLRMeJUEJ0KRLVvLSWEss6PNyM-sHVG

I got a whole bunch of older crusty 95-5 laying around if you want some....

I have been using canfield and sterling and Lennox solder it good too....

I was using the Oaty #5 tinning flux and it appeared to take just fine and it would last about 2-4 weeks before it
would finally let go and leak.......

I took backa bout 20 1/2 and 3/4 ball valves to the supplier and told them about the issues
and last week i got a refund for about $275 for all of it