volleyball
Well-known member
How do you connect your fittings to PEX?
PEX connectors
- Thread starter volleyball
- Start date
Doc
Well-known member
with the copper compression rings.
OccupantRJ
Well-known member
I use Oetiker clamps. One crimper for several sizes. For other hoses, I also use two ear clamps, same crimper.
Last edited:
LifeLongWNYer
Well-known member
I've been listening to a Saturday morning talk show and they started talking about "Shark Bite" fittings a couple of weeks ago. What are they?
metaleltr
Well-known member
They are a push connect fitting that connects to copper pex or cpvc, super easy to use, they seal with an o ring, makes plumbing in tight areas a breeze, wouldnt recommend for vast use as they are over $5 per fitting
Jbullfrog
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I have a Pex expander and use the plastic rings.
Upwards of 8$+ a fitting is a joke.
pex is like .30 a fitting. The crimp tool is like 60 bucks
denis4x4
Well-known member
Several years ago there was a bad batch of Shark Fittings and I had to have eight replaced at my expense because the plumber and the supply house wouldn't cover the labor.
rburke65
Well-known member
In the last 2 years I have had occasion to use the Shark Bite fittings with no problem. Can be very useful in a given situation.
southalabama
Well-known member
Got a few to do go with sharkbite. If your doing more than a couple buy the tool. See a new reason for a new tool.
Dick in Wisconsin
Well-known member
We were watching This Old House on public TV. They are working on a house in the Boston area. Plumber showed the host how to put a sleeve over the end of the PEX, expand the PEX and sleeve with tool on the end of a drill, put a plastic fitting into the PEX, and the "memory" in the PEX caused the PEX to "shrink" back down tight onto the fitting making a water tight seal.
Is it that simple? Was this SharkBite or something else? It seemed pretty easy. Is it really that easy? Or am I missing something?
Is it that simple? Was this SharkBite or something else? It seemed pretty easy. Is it really that easy? Or am I missing something?
borgdog
Well-known member
Just watched that same This old house episode, yes it is that easy but the pneumatic tool they used is not cheap, there is a more reasonable manual version. I use the copper compression rings available at the big box stores, just add easy and works great.
Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk
Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk
Dick in Wisconsin
Well-known member
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
No. That is what Jbullfrog was talking about. A Shark bite is a simple push on device. It assumes the pipe was cut square, deburred and cleaned. The can be removed with a special tool. As mentioned, they are VERY expensive, but for a DIY, they can be a life saver !
The battery operated expander tool is several hundred dollars ! I think they make a manual expander, but it is still pretty expensive. I bought my copper ring crimper for under $100.
The down side of PEX is that on retro-fits, you use a lot of elbow and other fittings because you don't have the room to make the proper curved corners. Besides, rolls take a "set" and it is next to impossible to get them to "relax" again. Maybe if you put the coil in the sun on a summer day ...
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
Last edited:
borgdog
Well-known member
A copper ring slips over the pex, the fitting is inserted, then the ring is compressed with the special tool snugging the pex around the fitting. There is a slip guage to check to make sure it is compressed enough.
Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk
spoonsports86
Well-known member
i just finished redoing some of my lines in my kitchen and bathroom. my house is over 40 years old and has nothing but copper pies so i had to cut and fix a few parts ''Sharbite'' fittings saved my life along with soem pex tubing
yes they are pretty expensive but worked wonders and helped me get my wated runing again
yes they are pretty expensive but worked wonders and helped me get my wated runing again
jvitez
Well-known member
I've never used Shark-Bite, but used quite a few copper to PEX adaptors. Sweat the adapter to the copper pipe, and crimp on the PEX.
There are two styles of PEX connections: crimp rings and Wirsbo/Uponor expansion rings, the latter to be used with their pipe only. Crimp rings come in copper compression rings or stainless steel pinch rings. The pinch rings are more expensive, but the crimping tool won't release before it's fully crimped, so no chance of an incomplete compression. The copper ring tools have come down in price a lot over the last few years I've noticed, so you can use both, but I do like the security of the pinch rings. If I was professional plumber or doing a major remodel, I'd use the copper compression rings for the cheaper cost.
There are two styles of PEX connections: crimp rings and Wirsbo/Uponor expansion rings, the latter to be used with their pipe only. Crimp rings come in copper compression rings or stainless steel pinch rings. The pinch rings are more expensive, but the crimping tool won't release before it's fully crimped, so no chance of an incomplete compression. The copper ring tools have come down in price a lot over the last few years I've noticed, so you can use both, but I do like the security of the pinch rings. If I was professional plumber or doing a major remodel, I'd use the copper compression rings for the cheaper cost.
Dick in Wisconsin
Well-known member
Thanks! The YouTube was very helpful.
OccupantRJ
Well-known member
For small repairs or retrofits, you can use the straight 5 foot sticks of pex from the big box stores so you don't have to fight the memory. Makes it a lot easier to deal with. I keep a couple sticks in my storage barn for those off hours events that occur.
Last edited:
CharlestonJoe
Well-known member
The Pex crimper tool has come down a little in price. I also noticed that some of the box stores are carrying 20 ft sticks of pex now. You can coil it up in the store enough to put it in your truck or whatever then it straightens back out easy enough to work with. I made the mistake of buying the coil/roll of pex ONCE, never again, fighting the memory of the coil is a beeitch.
The pex fittings do add up, they are not .30 cents a piece. I recently did a repair job which included, replacing water heater connections, a hose spigot line and 2 (hot/cold) 20 ft runs that fed the rest of the house. The materials were over $300 ! It was roughly $60 in pex pipe, the rest was fittings and 4 cut off valves. I installed a shut off in the main line coming into the house, two shut offs at the hot water, I like a shut off on both the cold and hot line and I put a shut off in the line to the outside spigot so the owner can turn it off for the winter.
The pex fittings do add up, they are not .30 cents a piece. I recently did a repair job which included, replacing water heater connections, a hose spigot line and 2 (hot/cold) 20 ft runs that fed the rest of the house. The materials were over $300 ! It was roughly $60 in pex pipe, the rest was fittings and 4 cut off valves. I installed a shut off in the main line coming into the house, two shut offs at the hot water, I like a shut off on both the cold and hot line and I put a shut off in the line to the outside spigot so the owner can turn it off for the winter.
OP
volleyball
Well-known member
Everyone should have a couple of 1/2" and 3/4" sharkbite end caps. You cut you pipe and put that on to cap it off. Then release and remove when you are ready to make a repair. You can save them for your next project.
I too saw the TOH and the expander tool. Looks like $400 to get you started. I do think they would last longer using this method.
The extra cost of sharkbites is offset by not having to buy extra fittings to redo all your leaks if you are not food at soldering or have barely enough room to reach the joint let alone solder or crimp it.
I too saw the TOH and the expander tool. Looks like $400 to get you started. I do think they would last longer using this method.
The extra cost of sharkbites is offset by not having to buy extra fittings to redo all your leaks if you are not food at soldering or have barely enough room to reach the joint let alone solder or crimp it.
bczygan
Well-known member
There's 4 methods that I know of (All mentioned above). Correction: 6 methods, see below I have the copper compression rings and Shark Bite fittings.
SharkBite:
http://www.sharkbite.com/?gclid=CK3uq8vs37wCFUHNOgodPXUAxw
A cheap way to make a temporary end fitting, if you already have a spare SharkBite fitting with Pex connections on both ends, is to take a short piece of Pex and put a Pex plug in it and insert this into the SharkBite fitting.
SharkBite:
http://www.sharkbite.com/?gclid=CK3uq8vs37wCFUHNOgodPXUAxw
A cheap way to make a temporary end fitting, if you already have a spare SharkBite fitting with Pex connections on both ends, is to take a short piece of Pex and put a Pex plug in it and insert this into the SharkBite fitting.
Attachments
Last edited:
You guys are working too hard .... get a good hair blow dryer or if used with caution a heat gun and in a few minutes of warming you can take the memory out of the pex.
I strongly suggest getting the tools for the shark bite fittings. Then follow the directions.
Mark the depth on the pipe and be sure to insert to that depth. The tool you use to bevel the outside edge of the pipe can be used to mark the depth.
Watch for burrs on a copper pipe and remove foreign material like tape, drywall mud, paint, solder etc.
I strongly suggest getting the tools for the shark bite fittings. Then follow the directions.
Mark the depth on the pipe and be sure to insert to that depth. The tool you use to bevel the outside edge of the pipe can be used to mark the depth.
Watch for burrs on a copper pipe and remove foreign material like tape, drywall mud, paint, solder etc.
CharlestonJoe
Well-known member
Working to hard! Use a hair dryer to take out memory coil??? The 20ft pieces are cheaper and easier!!
jwith68
Well-known member
I plumbed my entire house using the copper crimp rings over all copper or brass fittings. Has been over 3 years now and not a single problem. A friend now has 8 years on his system done the same way, also without issue.
Bondo
Well-known member
Ayuh,.... I've replumbed 3 houses, 'n built 2 hydronic heatin' systems in the last 5 or so years, usin' pex tubin', the ssteel clamp rings, 'n a racketin' crimper,...
No leaks,.... No problems,...
Last edited:
REPO
Well-known member
I have had several late weekend and evening mishaps. I keep a good variety of shark bite fittings on hand now. To me, they are a life saver. Sure, if you have a box store down the street that is open late, it may not be a big deal. I live 45 mins out of town in the country, nothing open on Sundays here either. Yes they are expensive, but are awesome for a quick fix. They also are great for temporary plumbing when doing renovations, etc. as they can be easily taken back apart, and re-used.
With this, I have never had a leak, but I still would not put them inside a wall.
Fueler
Well-known member
I just did my first home Pex job last night. I'm convinced. It took 2 hours to do a job that I know would have been double or triple that in time using Chinese pipe fittings and glued pvc. Then hope not to have to chase leaks!
Did I mention I hate plumbing. Maybe not so much now.
With some clamps here and there I was able to do a much neater looking job than previously with pipe and pvc....and not a darn leak anywhere.
For other newbies..... it's really a whole lot easier than pipe and pvc.
I just tossed out all the pvc fittings that seemed to accumulate over the years from overbuying so I didn't have to make 2 or more trips.
Man handled straightening some of the tubing. Use wifey's hair dryer to coax some of it. Wife got in there and helped me with this job. But then she wanted her shower back working asap.
I went to Menards with a sketch of what I needed to do. Bought a crimper kit and a tubing cutter for $100. Yay, new tool.
I managed to get home with all I needed...and all the pieces needed. Nothing left over and no second or third (arggh) trip for more pieces. Don't think that ever happened before. Just lucky for once I guess.
Good help there that answered some questions and pointed out a better way here and there.
I did have 1 copper tube that I needed to mate up to the pex. I was going to go the sweat fitting route but the guy said try one of these. Link below. Similar to the sharkbite things I suppose (never seen one). I was skeptical but it worked and sealed flawlessly. Perhaps one advantage here is that it doesn't take a special tool to remove it. It has the same locking principal as air line fittings. Push in on the plastic end piece while removing the tubing. cool
http://www.menards.com/main/plumbin...-quick-connect-coupling/p-1713735-c-12709.htm
Did I mention I hate plumbing. Maybe not so much now.
With some clamps here and there I was able to do a much neater looking job than previously with pipe and pvc....and not a darn leak anywhere.
For other newbies..... it's really a whole lot easier than pipe and pvc.
I just tossed out all the pvc fittings that seemed to accumulate over the years from overbuying so I didn't have to make 2 or more trips.
Man handled straightening some of the tubing. Use wifey's hair dryer to coax some of it. Wife got in there and helped me with this job. But then she wanted her shower back working asap.
I went to Menards with a sketch of what I needed to do. Bought a crimper kit and a tubing cutter for $100. Yay, new tool.
I managed to get home with all I needed...and all the pieces needed. Nothing left over and no second or third (arggh) trip for more pieces. Don't think that ever happened before. Just lucky for once I guess.
Good help there that answered some questions and pointed out a better way here and there.
I did have 1 copper tube that I needed to mate up to the pex. I was going to go the sweat fitting route but the guy said try one of these. Link below. Similar to the sharkbite things I suppose (never seen one). I was skeptical but it worked and sealed flawlessly. Perhaps one advantage here is that it doesn't take a special tool to remove it. It has the same locking principal as air line fittings. Push in on the plastic end piece while removing the tubing. cool
http://www.menards.com/main/plumbin...-quick-connect-coupling/p-1713735-c-12709.htm
mygarageone
Well-known member
I used shark bite figs all the time. , tying into a line for a set of new runs makes it so simple when there is still water draining out that / those lines , especially when there copper .
Yes the figs are expensive but com paired to our shop labor rate , the cust comes out way ahead of the game on the labor costs.
Yes the figs are expensive but com paired to our shop labor rate , the cust comes out way ahead of the game on the labor costs.
Techie1961
Well-known member
The copper rings are for PEX pipe and PEX fittings only. The plastic expansion rings are for Wirsbo pipe and Wirsbo fittings only. There is a difference in the fitting engineering but that doesn't mean you can't make it work. Just that it won't meet the engineered intent. The advantage of Wirsbo is that the plastic ring has a lot of memory and maintains the compression really well. The copper rings from PEX don't have memory and only hold what they were compressed to initially. You can retighten the PEX rings a bit but you would need to adjust the tool to do this and don't forget to put it back to its factory setting.
The only real disadvantage to Wirsbo is the cost of the tool. PEX can allow you to do mockups a lot easier though. Once you are done, crimp away.
Personally, I love to use PEX on jobs I do. I have used Sharkbite (and its more generic manufacturer) quite a bit as well. Really nice if you have to take it apart later and don't want to use unions. You don't have to have the special tool to take it apart. I push an adjustable wrench adjusted to the tube size and push the ring in. Not as elegant but works in a pinch.
The only real disadvantage to Wirsbo is the cost of the tool. PEX can allow you to do mockups a lot easier though. Once you are done, crimp away.
Personally, I love to use PEX on jobs I do. I have used Sharkbite (and its more generic manufacturer) quite a bit as well. Really nice if you have to take it apart later and don't want to use unions. You don't have to have the special tool to take it apart. I push an adjustable wrench adjusted to the tube size and push the ring in. Not as elegant but works in a pinch.
OP
volleyball
Well-known member
I was at HD today checking out their stuff and their pex is all sharkbite brand. They have the pex crimp on. I was only familiar with the universal connectors.
I've got to redo my main plumbing in my basement. I ripped it all out to put in new ductwork.
And I want to extend my steel pipe airline to the new area that won't be conditioned. And I think I need to pick one system. Just like I did with my CSST line. It would be nice if you could mix brands like you can with iron or copper but we aren't there yet.
I've got to redo my main plumbing in my basement. I ripped it all out to put in new ductwork.
And I want to extend my steel pipe airline to the new area that won't be conditioned. And I think I need to pick one system. Just like I did with my CSST line. It would be nice if you could mix brands like you can with iron or copper but we aren't there yet.
Techie1961
Well-known member
You kind of can. There are adapters to go from everything to everything. The name brands seem to be a bit of a blur and I suspect it comes down to patents, lack of patents and expired patents. PEX is a brand that is owned by IPEX (I think) that most others now make. Similarly, Sharkbite isn't made by only Sharkbite anymore. Sharkbite is probably the best to go from one type to another. Stick copper in one end and PEX in the other. They all have adapters that go to NPT male and female so you can always go that route if you need. If I was doing my home, I would definitely go with PEX with copper rings. second choice would be Wirsbo with plastic rings, third choice, soldered copper and lastly Sharkbite (cost is the big issue here).
Jbullfrog
ALLIANCE MEMBER
You can get a Wirsbo tool on E-bay for alot less if you know what you are looking at. I got my set for under $100 because the seller thought it was missing an expander. The picture clearly showed it was on the tool. I went with Wirsbo because the local plumber uses it and I can run 4 miles for fittings versus 45 for pex.
dreamingmuscle
Well-known member
$8 is cheap if the plumber your paying a $100 a hour can make the connection in 30 seconds verses 30 minutes.
Also priceless if the copper pipe your trying to connect to is against some wood or other items you don't want to catch fire. (not to forget if the copper pipe has water in it making it almost impossible to sweat the fitting on.) You don't have to sand or clean the copper. Just make sure the end is fairly square and free of burrs. Push it on and connect copper, pvc, pex or wirsbo to it and keep on truckin.
They are great when switching to different pipe materials. No sweating on a copper threaded fitting then trying to tighten down some cheap pvc fitting to it then messing with all the glue and primer. Then waiting 30 minutes for the glue to dry. before you can turn on the water again.
They are pricey but priceless in the right situation.
Glen
CharlestonJoe
Well-known member
Different pex question.
Has anyone used a pex crimp ring on a air hose, I'm thinking the 3/8 ring would fit?
I hate having to put a hose clamp on and then it catches on everything. It's ok if in a pinch but....
Has anyone used a pex crimp ring on a air hose, I'm thinking the 3/8 ring would fit?
I hate having to put a hose clamp on and then it catches on everything. It's ok if in a pinch but....
Bondo
Well-known member
Ayuh,... The 1/2" pex ssteel clamp rings are a Perfect fit on 3/8" rubber air hoses,...
LS6 Tommy
Well-known member
There are crimp rings made specifically for air hoses, too. Oetiker makes all sorts. I don't know which method is cheapest, but the idea of the PEX smooth ring on the hose having a DIY "finished" end without the bulk of a worm gear barrel is enticing.
Tommy
Tommy
OccupantRJ
Well-known member
I have been using two ear clamps on my custom length air hoses recently, and crimping them with end nips. I used them in the air piping thread.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=227948
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=227948
jwith68
Well-known member
Never tried it, but I would think it would work fine if the OD of the hose was within a fairly tight size range. The crimp rings really don't crimp that much.
I'm 100% with you on hose clamps, hate them air hoses, water hoses, etc. that need to be handled regularly. What I use instead are series 101 Oetiker clamps.
http://www.oetiker.com/en/~/media/D... 154/02-2014-TDSPG 101 151 153 154ENUSL.pdf
These are still nice and smooth (and won't slice your hand open like the tail end of a worm drive clamp), but have more clamping range and don't require a special tool to crimp them. There are special tools for them, but they are not required, once you get a feel for working with them. They also come in size ranges to accommodate hose of literally any OD, where you only have 4 choices with very small variation with PEX rings.
On edit, looks like there are other Oetiker users out there as well, that type faster than me. In my defense, I did refill my cup of coffee mid-post.
Last edited: