Pex crimp tool?

[joebedford]

Anybody use this tool successfully?

http://www.homedepot.com/p/SharkBite-3-8-in-1-2-in-and-3-4-in-PEX-Crimp-Tool-23383/205435373

I know there are better tools but I hope (fingers crossed) that I will only have to use this once (replace leaky hot water heater bypass)

[joebedford]

I wonder if this will fit.

http://www.sharkbite.com/product/male-elbows/

Hmmmm.

[LittleBill]

i used a similar tool from lowes

and the band clamps

prolly used over 400 so far, 0 leaks ever. i love pex

http://www.supplyhouse.com/PEX-Clamp-Tool-Clamps-560000

[stillthinking99]

Joe, i used pex crimp fittings a while back and couldn't get it to not leak. A plumber friend of mine loaned me his professional grade crimper and got it not leak. I was left with an uneasy feeling about pex fittings. A week or so ago i discovered pex has a new system that does not crimp, it has a plastic band that squeezes the fitting. No more crimper, the new tool opens the end of pipe by flaring and you quickly put them together before it closes. I'm sold on the new way and my plumber friend told me its all he uses now...leak free.
I think Milwaukee makes a batt powered flare tool or the cheaper hand tool works.

[Chris_Bryant]

I haven't used that particular one, but I have used the older version of theat style- they are not all that easy to use, and take a fair bit of space (not good for close quarters).
I would try an Ace to see if they have the Oetiker style clamps and will rent the tool for them- or Lowes carries that tool for $38- much more reasonable than the $62 Home Depot wants.

[joebedford]

Unfortunately I have to crimp pipe onto the water heater bypass valve - no possibility of Sharkbite fittings 😞

[handye9]

Haven't used one, but, I can see where it may work better than the more expensive (and larger) tools. I have one of the larger (about the size of a bolt cutter) crimpers. There many places in an RV where it would be impossible to get that big crimper into the work area.

With that smaller tool, you could get it into a very tight space, and squeeze it at an angle, with a channel lock plier.

Another option, might be to use some Shark Bite fittings. No crimper required.