On Sat, 5 Apr 2003 23:37:33 -0500, willis stanley
wrote:

OK, I've had a clippard needle valve blow up on me after two weeks of
operation (around 4 psi coming off the regulator). Well, what happened
was it started hemoraging gas and then literally fell apart when I tried
to tighten the connections a bit. Right now I've got the home depot
special rigged up and putting out 1 bubble every 4 seconds or so.
Assuming this won't last (I'm not messing with it so long as it works)
what sort of other needle valve brands are recommended/used out there?
More importantly, if I have to invest in a more expensive needle valve
some time in the future, what would I likely have done wrong to cause
this sort of failure in the clippard?


I have never heard of this happening with a Clippard. You can get a
SwageLock brand metering valve for around $65 but Clippard is pretty
much the gold standard in needle valves. I have never had one leak,
and have gotten them for many other people and never had a problem
with them. I suggest returning it to where you got it from and ask
for a replacement. They are really a pretty simple device. Is it
possible it was missing a gasket somewhere? How did it fall apart?
There's really not a lot of parts there. Next time you assemble the
system be sure to use pipe dope to seal the threads instead of teflon
tape. But don't use it on the regulator/cylinder connection or on the
needle valve. The seal on the Clippard is flawless in my experience.

Semper Fi!

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