PEX crimp tool?

[paulsharvey]

I need to crimp a new toilet supply on a 1/2" pex line, the old valve was dripping. First, yes, I Hate PEX, worst pipe ever made, but it is what it is. I have already tried a shark bite, and although it seems to grip, it leaks around it, so maybe the crap PEX is out of round? Anyways, I will hopefully never work on anything PEX again, anything new, I always use CPVC/PVC, so I don't want the "best" PEX crimper, but just want a cheap one that works. Any recommendations. Thinking about getting the iCrimp, but figures I'd ask first. Around here, PEX is only used on manufactered homes, anything else is CPVC/PVC

 

[bcp]

I have one of that style and it works well. No leaks on maybe 30-50 uses.

Bruce

 

[quicksandfarmer]

If you're just doing a small number of crimps I prefer a block-style tool like this:

Masterforce® PEX Block Style Crimp Tool

Masterforce® block style crimper for use with 3/8", 1/2", 3/4" and 1" copper crimp rings

www.menards.com

It works better in tight spots and gives you more latitude to make sure it's aligned properly to avoid spoiling the crimp by getting it crooked. It's a lot slower than a lever arm style but that won't matter for a small job.

I don't understand the PEX hate, I've never had anything but good experience with it.

 

[Oaktree]

I don't understand the PEX hate, I've never had anything but good experience with it.

Me neither. I re-did the plumbing in my house with it maybe 5 years ago and my experience was good too. I did have to pre-assemble a few sections in cramped locations that I couldn't work the crimpers in.
Don't remember what I bought for crimpers...they were in the markdown bin at Lowes...good timing, just when I needed them.

 

[paulsharvey]

I just much prefer the simplicity of solvent glue PVC and or CPVC. Now, it's been 24 years ago, but when I worked for a plumbing outfit, we did field threaded galvanized gas and air; some roll and some stick copper, and a ton of CPVC. PVC/CPVC is basically idiot proof, every fitting can be found anywhere from a Dollar General to Walmart, and the only issue is, for a homeowner type, every time you need your glue, the dang can has dried up from the last time.

It might be a regional thing? Down here, PEX is generally considered a sub-par material, limited to manufactered homes, although it has snuck into the productionsingle family home market to so degree.

 

[bcp]

There was another flexible tubing, used for many years in mobile homes, that had problems, but it wasn't PEX.

Bruce

 

[4570Man]

I don’t know what pex did to get on your bad side but pex is the best water tubing ever made. We can agree to disagree on that. Are you sure you actually have pex not polybutylene? They look similar but aren’t the same product. I usually use expansion pex but I have one of those chinch band pliers that I bought to make some repairs when driving back home wasn’t a feasible option. Since then I’ve made probably 75 connections with it and none of them leaked.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

There was another flexible tubing, used for many years in mobile homes, that had problems, but it wasn't PEX.

Bruce

If it was the gray stuff it had the same OD as CPVC and I have glued CPVC couplings directly on it under a sink in my old single wide trailer that I had at the time to add cutoff valves and it was still working leak free about 8 years later when I sold it.

 

[Racer4]

I don’t know what pex did to get on your bad side but pex is the best water tubing ever made. We can agree to disagree on that. Are you sure you actually have pex not polybutylene? They look similar but aren’t the same product. I usually use expansion pex but I have one of those chinch band pliers that I bought to make some repairs when driving back home wasn’t a feasible option. Since then I’ve made probably 75 connections with it and none of them leaked.

I love using pex. I redid all of the water lines in my house with it. Just don’t use metal fittings if you have well water.

 

[deserteagle71]

All the water lines in the new housing in this area is PEX. Seems to work great.

There was another flexible tubing, used for many years in mobile homes, that had problems, but it wasn't PEX.

Bruce

That stuff was called Qest. Water lines in my house (34 years old) are all Qest. I've never had a water leak. My understanding is that chlorinated water systems would react with the Qest tubing, making it brittle and to eventually fail. I believe because of this Qest was outlawed as house water line use in the mid-90s. Since I'm on my own well there is no chlorine or any other oxidizing chemical in the water and that's probably why my Qest tubing is still good.

Only problem I've had is that when I want to modify something in my water system, adapters from Qest to PEX or whatever are difficult to find anymore. Local hardware stores haven't carried them for years so I have to find them on line.

 

[David in KY]

To add some confusion to the mix:

There is PEX A and PEX B. I'll let you research that independently. However know that the big box stores only sell PEX B. Plumbing supply houses sell PEX A.

The tool to install PEX A involves placing a special sleeve on the end of the tube, using an expander tool, which temporarily widens the opening, then inserting the fitting or valve before the tubing contracts to its original diameter.

The tool to install PEX B, which is what is being discussed in this thread, basically crimps or locks a compression ring onto the outside diameter of the tube, sealing it against the fitting.

A main advantage of PEX A (among others) is that the diameter of the fittings is the same as the tubing, therefore not introducing any restriction to flow at the connection. With PEX B, the fitting inside diameter is smaller than that of the tubing, and actually present some restriction to flow at every fitting.

This may be negligible is a repair scenario, but may be important in a overall system design, say for a whole house installation.

 

[IndyIan]

Maybe just rent or borrow a decent crimper?
I did my whole house with pex nearly 20 years ago, not a leak yet. I got a 1/2, 3/4 combo crimper from home depot, but IIRC it was $100 back then. Pulling lines from the basement without kinking them was a workout.

 

[5030]

Only PEX I have is my in floor heating system in the shop and it's O2 barrier PEX. I don't like it either, PEX in general. I much prefer solvent weld rigid plastic piping.

 

[caver]

I plan to put Pex A in my cabin build. Originally I was going with copper.

 

[Oaktree]

I love using pex. I redid all of the water lines in my house with it. Just don’t use metal fittings if you have well water.

What kind of problems do you have using well water? I would imagine it varies by region and what minerals, etc. are in the water locally. The fittings I used appeared to be brass, never had a problem with that before...brass fittings have been used forever with copper pipe.

 

[Oaktree]

Pulling lines from the basement without kinking them was a workout.

I just used 8' straight sections when I did mine. No runs long enough that I'd need to use couplings, just tees/elbows. I see they also sell it in coils, how quickly does it straighten out when uncoiled? I can see how that could make pulling lines "interesting".

 

[4570Man]

What kind of problems do you have using well water? I would imagine it varies by region and what minerals, etc. are in the water locally. The fittings I used appeared to be brass, never had a problem with that before...brass fittings have been used forever with copper pipe.

Copper tubing has been known to corrode away and eventually leak if the well water is acidic. The pex fittings are much thicker than copper tubing. I don’t think it would ever be a problem but you could use the plastic ones if that’s a concern.

 

[kenmac]

all I use anymore is pex and here's the tool I use

ONE+ 18V Lithium-Ion Cordless PEX Tubing Clamp Tool (Tool Only)

 

[kennyd]

iWiss/iCrimp have fantastic crimpers for just about everything, a great value compared to many brands. I have them mainly for connector (electric) assembly and they are great. Some AMP/Tyco crimpers are in the hundreds of dollars and unaffordable for the hobbyist and small business. If I needed a PEX crimper, this is the first place I'd look.

 

[bdhsfz6]

I use PEX extensively. I particularly like the fact that it can freeze with no damage.

I had an old copper waterline from the barn out to a hydrant in the pasture. It was only buried 24" deep due to rock ledge. We rarely get 24" of frost here anymore but occasionally, the darn thing would freeze. The last time I had to dig it up to make repairs, I replaced the whole run with PEX. That was 8 years ago and it's frozen twice since then, but it thaws with no damage.