Pex Crimp Tool

[NewbeeMC9]

This may be old news, however, I saw these in HD yesterday,

About $35 and come with gauge.

Use vice grips to squeeze.


http://www.amazon.com/Pex-PPC1-PEX-Pocket-Crimper/dp/B000BQRQIW


Discovery is part of the fun of ignorance.

[bevans6]

when I re-did my bus plumbing I used PEX pipe and Sharkbite press-on fittings.  I was sceptical, but so far they have been perfect.  I used them on the Pex, I mated to some older piping of hard white plastic, and I used them on hard copper in my house for a repair.  As long as the hard copper is clean, they sealed up fine.  I have taken advantage of the ability to undo the joint to quickly drain water for instant winterizing.  I'll be very interested to see how they do long term.

Brian

[JackConrad]

Brian,
   I used the sharkbite type fittings from Lowes on a 102A3 I did for a customer.  I found that if the fitting was removed and re-installed too mnay times they would develop a small leak (easily replaced with a new fitting to stop the leak). I think the frequent removal of the PEX caused excessive wear on the Oring inside the fitting. I think I had 1 or 2 fittings that this occurred on.  Jack

[belfert]

I second the Sharkbite fittings.  I had one that leaked, but not sure if it was leaking from threaded end or the PEX end.  I returned it for a new one and no more issues.

I initially used crimp fittings and Oetiker crimp rings.  My travel trailer had Oetiker crimp rings and no leaks at all.  My plumbing leaked everywhere when I used the Oetikers.  I ended up ripping it out and starting over with Sharkbite fittings.  (My first trip we had to turn on the pump to flush the toilet and turn it right back off or water would leak like crazy.)

[gumpy]

I initially used crimp fittings and Oetiker crimp rings.  My travel trailer had Oetiker crimp rings and no leaks at all.  My plumbing leaked everywhere when I used the Oetikers.  I ended up ripping it out and starting over with Sharkbite fittings.  (My first trip we had to turn on the pump to flush the toilet and turn it right back off or water would leak like crazy.)

Oetiker's are designed for ABS and are used in sprinkler systems. They won't work on PEX, as you found out.  Worm gear clamps won't work on PEX, either.
PEX crimp rings are a heavier continuous ring that is crimped all around the ring. Not totally impossible to remove without damaging the PEX, but nearly so. BTDT. 

[belfert]

Oetiker's are designed for ABS and are used in sprinkler systems. They won't work on PEX, as you found out.  Worm gear clamps won't work on PEX, either.
PEX crimp rings are a heavier continuous ring that is crimped all around the ring. Not totally impossible to remove without damaging the PEX, but nearly so. BTDT. 

I suspect my installation or something was bad, not necessarily the Oetikers.  Worm gear clamps will work for temporary.  That is what I used to replace some of the Oetiker clamps until I got home and replaced everything.

Why does Watts sell Oetikers for PEX if they don't work?  (I didn't get mine from Watts)  No problems with them in my travel trailer.  I still wouldn't recommend Oetiker clamps based on my experience.

[Hartley]

I found the 3/4 and 1/2 Inch crimpers in a pawn shop. The same big plier crimpers that electricians use work great with the Pex crimp rings and I have never had a leak.

The rings are the solid style and compress the full 360 degrees onto the tubing. Any other kinds of rings simply don't seem to work right. I always use the real suggested fittings and have had no problems other that having enough room to work with the 1 1/2 foot long handles on the crimpers.

Pex doesn't burst when frozen either !!!!

Dave....

[BG6]

This may be old news, however, I saw these in HD yesterday,

About $35 and come with gauge.

Use vice grips to squeeze.

. . .then go to Home Despot, buy a ring cutter, some more rings, and a big crimper, after you discover that the pocket crimper isn't as good as claimed . . .

Seriously, think about this.  It takes a lot of force on the handles of the big crimper to do the job.  After getting that much force with the pliers a couple of times, your hands are going to ache like crazy, and you'll start short-stroking, getting just enough pressure to deform the ring and jam it in place, but not to squeeze the PEX enough to get a seal.  That means you need to cut the ring and start over.

DO NOT ask how I know this!!!

[chris4905]

I used the Flair-It system with the Pex Tubing when I did our bus.

Eight years ago, and not a leak yet through out the entire bus.

I like them because they screw on, they don't crimp, so no crimp tool needed.  I actually tighten the screw-on seal until it "squeaks" and then stop, not over tightened and tight enough for no leaks.

http://store.flairit.com/c-51-flair-it-pex-and-polybutylene-plumbing-system.aspx

Chris

[RTS/Daytona]

I used QEST fittings with PEX tubing- available at almost EVERY RV store or in EVERY RV catolog. The QEST system uses nylon cones and and anti-slip rings - brings almost everything back to a VERY interchangeable NPT (national pipe tread) - so things are super simple and interchangeable - very unique system - I've NEVER had a failure. - very re-useable

[Just Dallas]

Removed

[bevans6]

I'm not sayin' I've done it or that you should, but the Sharkbite fittings are indeed certified for underground applications and as "manufactured joints without access panels", which to me means inside walls.   http://www.sharkbiteplumbing.com/sharkbite-certifications and http://www.sharkbiteplumbing.com/pdf/sharkbite/SB_ASSE1061.pdf

20 years from now we'll know for sure, but i won't be the one caring.  I'll be in an old folks home terrorizing the staff...  

edit:  Dang, I hate it when i get curious about things  like this.  I went to the PEX site and they actually show a picture of an approved connection using what sure looks to me like a single ear stepless oetiker clamp.   http://www.oetiker.com/content.asp?l=4&idNavig=569 and http://www.pexinfo.com/

Brian