Customer Reviews

Dramm 12353 Heavy-Duty Brass Shut-Off Valve

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

A lot of life is dealing with little frustrations - the leaky faucet, the door that doesn't close right, the sink that wobbles, the refrigerator that sometimes freezes food.

That's why I felt compelled to write a review about a shut-off value. This value will be one of those things that just works simply and easily, and it's made so strongly that I suspect it will always work. Simple, dependable, and made in the USA to boot.

Just received the Dramm HD brass shut-off valve and am very impressed with the quality. I have a high-flow hose for filling large watering troughs and I've gone through a LOT of cheap plastic hose-end shut-offs over the years. I usually buy 2-3 a year. They work great for about 2 months, then work lousy for 2 months, getting progressively worse until I eventually get totally disgusted, throw it away and run out and waste $10 to buy another of the exact same piece of junk that I had before because that's all that's available at the local Depot of Homes.

I reserve judgement till I use it for at least a year but the Dramm looks good. I tested the flow: I filled a 5 gallon bucket in 24.0 seconds with nothing on the end of the hose, it took 24.5 seconds with my new shut-off valve. Not bad!

I have tried several shut-off valves from Nelson,Gilmour,& Sears and while some of them worked OK, none of them had the flow or the robust construction of the Dramm.
I use it around the yard for my sprinkler as I don't have to run back & forth to the spigot to regulate water flow as I move the sprinkler across my odd shaped yard.
I recent have been using it for my pool slide as it is extremely fussy to regulate the flow of water with the spigot which is over 30 feet away.
While it is more costly than the previously mention valves it is also hands down the best made.
It is a premium piece made in the USA weighing in at over half a pound. It flows better other valves due to it's 12mm inner opening.
What I like most about this valve is the extra large on-off switch located on the side of the valve, with most shut-off valves you need two hands to turn it on or off, not so with this Dramm, just using your thumb will accomplish the task.
If you are looking for a quality piece to purchase just once Dramm is the answer.

Jeff

Never knew how useful this piece could be until I bought one some while ago. Use this in conjunction the the Dramm solid brass nozle and you have an unbeatable combination. True, this item is not entirely necessary but attached to the hose with a quick disconnect, you can change heads Without spraying water all over yourself And without having to go back to the main shut-off at the house. It also acts as a limiter so you don't have to change the setting on the head. This item is solid brass, and at least for now, leak free.

**EDIT** Had this one several months and it is still leak free. Liked it so well I bought another one for the front yard hose. And now, here comes winter....think I'd better shut off the water at the manifold and drain the hose. Brass is relatively soft and I have found that brass fittings will crack (due to expansion of the water in the hose) if the hose is left presurized.

**EDIT #2** Valve continues to perform flawlessly. I wanted to address one reviewers complaint about the handle snapping off. For those who drop or even through their hose nozzles/valves around, and this includes myself, I think, mind you I haven't done it yet, that the handle can be sawn off without any loss in functionality. Just went out to play with it and the valve mechanism turns quite freely, (like a heavily greased ball bearing), without the use of the handle. See the triangular flanges on either side of the nut that attaches the handle? These flanges provide plenty of space to grab on to for torqueing the valve open or closed. To be safe you could saw all but a nub off the handle that I don't think would ever break, (even if stepped on by a horse! ;).

Yeah this is pretty expensive for a shut off valve, but after being irritated by crappy Gilmour ones that last a year I was willing to pay up. I bought a Gilmour shutoff valve from Lowes and paid about $10 for it. I got the upgraded "metal" large flow model because "hey metal will last!". After 2 months it failed to shut the water off completely when I would turn it. After dealing with it for months I finally decided to take it apart and discovered that despite being advertised as "Metal!" the most important parts are all plastic. The valve and more incredibly the interior parts that turn the valve were plastic and of course had cracked. This explained why the valve no longer closed. As I learned with hose reels, it pays in the long run to buy the good stuff. So I bought this Dramm, and wow. It's a solid hunk of brass that I'm certain will last. The handle is really easy to turn and the valve is large enough that it doesn't restrict flow. It's made in the USA, which is nice and rare to see. There is nothing more irritating than your tools failing you when you need them the most, so sometimes you have to pay for the premium stuff.

While this is a pricey item, it's probably the best I've seen and I bought 3 - for myself and others. The operating handle is brass - as it's supposed to be - not black plastic as pictured.

Bought this to replace a brass Rainbird-brand brass shutoff... I ran over it with the car. The brass body was unharmed, but the lever broke off, making the valve useless. Miraculously enough, it didn't leak afterwards, although the spigot was still on.


I've bought other Dramm items over the years, (soaker hoses and aluminum 'sprinkle top' watering tools) and have always been more than pleased with Dramm quality.


Immediately attached this to my garden hose, and LOVED the larger lever, making it possible to operate it with only one hand. (a problem I always had with my previous shutoff valve; the lever was so small and difficult to turn, it required two hands) The larger lever also turns more smoothly than my old one ever did, and I think this would also be helpful to someone with arthritis or a similar ailment.


Will be ordering a second one, for the back yard hose! Being able to turn off water flow from the end of the hose, without having to run to the spigot, is extremely handy and saves water as well. Particularly nice when changing from one watering tool to another, such as when attaching a lawn sprinkler or watering wand.

I am so happy I discovered this shut off valve! The mechanical advantage is superior to my difficult little former lever. It is well worth the money to make turning the hose on and off the effortless task it should be.

I have purchased many hose shut off valves over the years and they don't last. This one is the best made of the lot and I don't expext to purchase a replacement one ever!

Excellent quality. With some care you should be able to pass this along to your grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Functions beautifully and of good construction. After two cheap ones failed I bought this.