Pex crimp tool advice

[sti491]

Just plumbed a water softener in my condo that has Pex pipe borrowing a crimp tool. Want to buy one of my own. I see you can buy different wrenches for different sizes, or a kit that has inserts for different size pipe. The latter sounds good because I have all sizes covered... but do those work as well as the dedicated size crimp tools? Also some are straight and some have the jaws at a 45 degree angle. I am wondering which is preferred?

I don't mind spending $50- $100 to get a good quality tool(s), but this is for occasional use not pro-commercial use, although I want a tool that will clearly make leak free connections and be easiest to use.

Also, can the same wrench be used for copper, black and SS clamp rings? What is the difference in these ring types?

Any comments. recommendations or suggestions are welcome.

 

[kingston]

I almost exclusively use the Upanor Wisbro expander.

 

[sti491]

Re: Pex crimp tool advicew

That expander is a very interesting tool! However, it appears it would be difficult or awkward to use for in-wall pipe connections between studs in tight spots.... where cutting a pipe, putting a ring on it and crimping may be much easier? Maybe I am wrong. From the job I just did, I think using an expander would have been harder. Here are pics of my project, which was installing a water softener in a very tight condo laundry room. I added the trim and painted the old cheap wood panneling and ceileing too..

 

[sti491]

here is the finished project:

 

[Provincial]

I find that for repairs and odd new construction it is more practical to use the Shark Bite rings and tool. If you do a lot of connections, the solid rings are much better, as they are lots cheaper, but the tool is much more expensive. The Shark Bite tool is reasonable (at about $30.00 vs. $100.00) but the rings are more expensive. The SB rings crimp very easily, which is a plus in hard-to-reach situations.

Solid rings are a no-brainer for a professional plumber.

 

[rlitman]

Solid rings are a no-brainer for a professional plumber.

Really? The expander connections are as reliable as it gets. I'm personally barely comfortable with PEX, and am not comfortable with solid rings. They leave no springiness to make up for expansion and contraction like Oetiker clamps do.