Review: Dramm Shutoff Valve

glen22 said:
no leaks!!! better not be any leaks....lol I just wonder if I will notice anymore preasure..
Click to expand...
I ACTUALLY MOVED THE SHUT-OFF TO THE OTHER END ,BETWEEN THE HOSE AND THE 6"HANDLE AND ITS MUCH MORE BALANCED AND FEELS VERY GOOD.
 
with the QD brass and shutoff valve on top of the firemans nozzle it does add some weight to it. I noticed i don't get as good water pressure with the bon aire as i did with just a reg brass nozzle..
 
I have the 300 (sourced locally) and it's a terrific unit, no question. it does add a bit of weight though.

I'm sure you've noticed the new plastic version on their web site, but has anyone purchased one of these yet? looks to be an answer to the weight issue and advertises more flow:

74-Shut-Off2.jpg
 
Nice find Marko! I'm curious about it. I love my brass one but would try one of these out. I'll check the Dramm re-sellers and see if it stocked anywhere. I kind of like the weight of the brass one because it balances nicely in my hand when using the foam gun (minus the trigger handle on the foam gun).
 
I used my Bonaire with my Dramm shutoff and had no luck with any decent spray from the nozzle.The dramm shut has a good waterflow but, IMHO if the water flow isn't some how restricted when flowing through the spray nozzle it just flows like an ordinary faucet no presssure at all. (imo not others) .This is what i did as a test i replaced my dramm with a regular shut off valve i had at the end of the hose and attatched the BonAire, my theory in my case was correct. I got 10 times the amount of pressure(ok can't really measure this) and the bonaire kicked back like a 45 so i'll have to test a few other shuts off for further results but i finally have water flow again..
 
As you restrict the size of the opening that the water has to flow through, you increase the velocity of the water, and decrease the volume, which makes it appear that you have more pressure.
As long as it works thats all that really matters. ;)
 
I ordered one of these from growerssoltions.com and had to write them as I did not receive it 3 weeks after the order was placed. They did reship when I enquired about the delay.
When I received the order the valve that I received does not look like a Dramms. I do not see Dramms anywhere on the Valve. The internal view has a axle in the opening and is not a staight shot like the internal view of the ones pictured on this forum. I think it is a copy of some sort. I have e-mailed the vendor to see what they say. Do your valves have a axle in the middle of the opening when the calve is open? Please respond so I know what to tell the vendor about the original valve.
 
belcherm58 said:
This is the link to where I purchased it. I am trying to post pictures of the
one I received.

http://www.growerssolution.com/Merc...een=PROD&Product_Code=DBSOV&Category_Code=HAA
Click to expand...
i ordered my shutoff from the same supplier it seemed like it took forever to get it.The dramm i have is the one in your link,is this what your looks like. I noticed in spilchy link the shut off handle is black mine is solid brass and is stamped dramm.
btw, i quit using mine because it dosen't work good with my bonaire nozzle.
 
belcherm58 said:
This is the link to where I purchased it. I am trying to post pictures of the
one I received.

http://www.growerssolution.com/Merc...een=PROD&Product_Code=DBSOV&Category_Code=HAA
Click to expand...

That is EXACTLY what mine looks like - check the image from my initial post. That is exactly what you should have received. If not, they sent you the wrong one.

Joep, sorry you had bad luck with it. Mine is working fantastic. Used it today for 2 washes.

They have come out with a new heavy duty plastic one, which supposedly has more water flow which I will try out soon.

http://www.dramm.com/html/main.isx?sub=68
 
Mine has a big stem running thri the opening. The outside looks like the one
pictured except it does not have Dramms written anywhere on the thumb
handle. It's just a thin brass paddle. I bought it to use on my new Bonaire
nozzle. I wanted something that did not have an obstuction in the water
way to lower water pressure. I have another brand that is open but has
a small opening, I think wbout 3/8''. This increases water speed but lowers
volume. I want to control the water volume with my new nozzle.
 
belcherm58 said:
Mine has a big stem running thri the opening. The outside looks like the one
pictured except it does not have Dramms written anywhere on the thumb
handle. It's just a thin brass paddle. I bought it to use on my new Bonaire
nozzle. I wanted something that did not have an obstuction in the water
way to lower water pressure. I have another brand that is open but has
a small opening, I think wbout 3/8''. This increases water speed but lowers
volume. I want to control the water volume with my new nozzle.
Click to expand...
Yours seems look different from mine but im looking down the barrel of the nozzle and i also have the brass paddle. I get a hella of lot more water using the plastic shutoff i wanted to replace with the dramm..

sorry i just took mine apart(removed the QDs).I think the brass QD maybe restricting the waterflow, im gonna try the dramm without the QD and see what type of pressure i get w/my bonaire. The brass paddle i spoke of is connected to the QDs.
 
sounds like they were out of stock and sent you a generic replacement. dramm should be stamped on the lever, and mine has nothing inside to restrict flow.

my local source doesn't have the black plastic one yet, so I'm anxious to hear a review. Spilchy, do you have one already?
 
marko said:
my local source doesn't have the black plastic one yet, so I'm anxious to hear a review. Spilchy, do you have one already?
Click to expand...

No and I don't have a local source. I have to wait for it online :(
 
I e-mailed the vendor about the valve I received. He wrote back that they had been shipping non-Dramms as they were back ordered. He said he had received the Dramms and was sending it out today. I told him in the e-mail that I was a member of a car care forum and the Dramms was discussed much and that the virtues of design were one of the reasons I wanted the original
Dramms and he was a link from that forum as a vendor. At least he admitted it and is making good.
 
cool that he's making it right for you.

as an aside, I rode down to mcguckin hardware here in boulder yesterday, and they're not stocking the new plastic shut-off. I also looked at each of the online distributor's web sites, and none of them list it yet. no worries as I really like the brass one.
 
I asked the vendor if he would like me to return the other valve and he has not replied yet. This actualy the 3rd shipment as the 1st got lost. I must say he is trying. The only thing I can note is that they shipped it in a plastic envelope and can only imagine what can happen during transit in USPS of something that heavy in that envelope. But, had I not known much about the orignal Dramms, I might have gotten stuck with the copy.
 
I finally got one of these brass Dramm valves. I didn't even have to pay shipping as I managed to find one at my local nursery/landscaping supplier. I must say that it is a big improvement over my previous shutoff valve. For me, the increase in water volume and pressure is well worth the cost of the Dramm valve. Thanks for the tip Spilchy!
 
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