Any word on Barnes and Jones 1/2" NPT Vari-Vent for winter 2018/19

rrg

It's that time of year and looking for better venting on the one pipe main.
Looks like The big mouth will not fit without cutting the ceiling.

So I am looking for the 1/2 Barnes and Jones 1/2" vari-Vent.
Did they stop making them or where can I purchase one?

I see Amazon is out.
Thank you very much.
rrg

Sailah

Call factory and harass. Nicely.

They are the unsung venting hero especially for balancing mains.

Shalom

I called them last week. They will make them for you. Unfortunately their price is a lot higher than what is listed on Amazon. Don't remember if he said 102 or 122, but it's listed on Amazon for 75, same as the Big Mouth. I had no clearance issues, so I just with with the BM. (The two mains are 3 and 5 radiators respectively, so it shouldn't really need much balancing.)

Also Amazon is out of the Big Mouths again. I have my two so far, but need another two for my parents' house. Any idea if they'll have more soon?

Edit to add: It just occurred to me. The Big Mouth has that threaded outlet (because it started out as a trap). Could you make a series of discs, threaded to fit in there, with calibrated holes of varying sizes, which would serve the same purpose for tuning mains as the Vari-Vent?

Sailah

Just so we're clear i don't work for barnes and Jones anymore so i can't affect pricing. I'm dismayed that the Vari Vent is that much. It was artificially cheaper when i first made it for Gerry Gill but we had an excess of the 1/2" NPT shells already in stock. It does require being hand TIG welded, complicated threaded vent, 100% stainless. So i guess they've decided that's the normal price. If you look at their compact trap, which is used in military sterilizers and commercial steam cooking equipment, it's probably that expensive plus the vari vent has that machined cap.

Along those lines i can't make discs for the Big Mouth but you could easily accomplish this by threading in a ball valve. Close to vary venting, cheap.

Shalom

Oh, I'm sure it's a fair price for the amount of work that goes into making it, it's just at that price point I'm better off with another BM. (And I knew you aren't there anymore, that "you" was meant generally for the forumites.) Might update the price in the forum store though, that still links to Amazon (although they're perpetually out of stock: didn't you once say that they only stocked one at a time?)

Didn't think of the ball valve though. That's a good idea,

Neild5

I ordered 4 from the last batch and at that time Amazon said order soon only 14 left.

Sailah

B&J says there are 100 en route and 100 behind that so expect stock soon.

Sailah

Shalom said:

Oh, I'm sure it's a fair price for the amount of work that goes into making it, it's just at that price point I'm better off with another BM. (And I knew you aren't there anymore, that "you" was meant generally for the forumites.) Might update the price in the forum store though, that still links to Amazon (although they're perpetually out of stock: didn't you once say that they only stocked one at a time?)

Didn't think of the ball valve though. That's a good idea,

I think Erin needs to correct forum store we don't have anything to do with that.

The Vari Vent was a sorta custom product and wasn't worth "stocking" at Amazon. I'm sure they would send stock in if there was interest. It saves quite a bit on shipping using Amazon vs B&J UPS though so if you order from factory for things like 1/2" NPT Big Mouths, Vari Vent etc you need to pay shipping.

Shalom

Yeah the price he quoted me was including shipping, so there's that. They are kinda heavy in weight. I'll keep an eye out for the next batch, thanks.

Dave0176

I keep about 5 big mouths in stock on my truck all the time.

Erin Holohan Haskell

Sailah said:

I think Erin needs to correct forum store we don't have anything to do with that.

Thanks for the heads up. Our store automatically pulls in Amazon's default list price. I'll keep an eye out when they're back in stock and talk to our developers. Thanks!

brandonf

https://www.statesupply.com/bd2110

Shalom

Looks like the new batch are in, and there's only 18 left. Someone's stocking up.

(oh, and the price is up by $4.99 over the last batch.)

rrg

I got my 2 NPT Vari-Vent 1/2" and that means there are 2 left at Amazon. Great Price if you ask me. Thanks.