Pex A expansion tool

[PhilPB]

I'm redoing the water system and have decided to use Pex A. The battery powered expansion tools seem rather expensive. I've seen manual ones for ~$100. Any Intel would be appreciated.

The reason for Pex A over Pex B is the crimper needs more room than I will have available for some areas.

 

[magna 6882]

I have used pex since it came out and only use a manual expansion tool.

 

[twistedtree]

I've got a Milwaukee expansion tool and like it very much. It was pricey, but for any size of project I think it's worth it. I saw that DeWalt offers one too, so more choice to match up with whatever power tools you might currently have.

 

[bkcorwin]

if you dont buy the electric pex expansion tool you lose a major benefit of the pex system: You can make connections in very small spaces with poor physical access.

With the manual tool you have to use two hands. The electric is worth it.

I have the milwaukee m12 fuel version.

 

[Insequent]

I'm guessing the guys put Pex A in my boat. Ten years later, and I've never had a leak or failure. The stuff is magic, and worth doing the best way possible.

 

[Datenight]

Both our 2012 NP 39 and our 2020 NP 45 have pex plumbing. I have also done 2 houses with the Uponor (pex expansion) system. I wanted a Milwaukee M 12 but could not justify the price. However I am always watching Craigslist for a deal.

The manual usually works fine. Some confined spaces on the boat require making joints then feeding the tubing in*. In one case I had to use a Sharkbite where that was not possible. Going into our fourth season the Sharkbite is fine.

Rob

*Someone else also said this on a past thread.

 

[PhilPB]

I am finding it hard to justify $400-$500 tool cost for a rather small job. I'm surprised that they don't make a less expensive corded version. I'm going to see if any tool rental places have them to rent. It looks like $100-$200 for a manual rotating tool may be the way to go even if it makes it a more painful process.

 

[rwidman]

Why not rent the good tool for the duration of the project?

 

[PhilPB]

Why not rent the good tool for the duration of the project?

I have called a few rental places in my area and they don't have them for rental. I'm going to try the rest today

 

[Ken E.]

Ditto the comments on the Milwaukee expansion tool. Yes, expensive but very handy for tight spots and one-hand operation. You might be able to find a used one on ebay, or buy new and sell it later

 

[ktdtx]

Not a lot of experience with PEX (yet) but slowly gearing up to replace some of the PVC in my house with PEX. I found this tool to place clamps and it doesn't require as much room as the manual clamping tools. Just familiarizing myself with it and haven't done any real work yet but it seems like a good tool.


I also found an adapter (there are a lot of these) that allows me to use my Makita batteries

 

[twistedtree]

Not a lot of experience with PEX (yet) but slowly gearing up to replace some of the PVC in my house with PEX. I found this tool to place clamps and it doesn't require as much room as the manual clamping tools. Just familiarizing myself with it and haven't done any real work yet but it seems like a good tool.


I also found an adapter (there are a lot of these) that allows me to use my Makita batteries

Did you mean to include a link to the tool?

 

[ktdtx]

Did you mean to include a link to the tool?

Yes, I sure did.



https://www.amazon.com/Ryobi-18-Vol...hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4583726554410242&psc=1

 

[bkcorwin]

Thats a different style of pex fitting than most are talking about here. Crimp/Clamp style fittings are what you use in that Ryobi. Basically oetiker clamps. You need the right fitting for that clamp method.

The PEX-a expansion tool that most people are talking about here is for uponor propex fittings. They are not the same though I believe both will work with pex-a.

 

[Airstream345]

I've been considering replacing all of the FW plumbing with Pex and also have some tight spots. That Ryobi is really interesting...although not the same as PEX A it's a cheaper tool than the expansion style and still works in tight spaces.

 

[twistedtree]

One reason I prefer the ProPEX expansion fittings is that they are non-metallic. I think that's an advantage on a boat compared others. Granted, the band clamps that I have used are stainless, but still, completely non-metallic is attractive.


And for those trying to understand the different types of PEX, here's what I understand:


Uponor/ProPEX is the expansion type of "band" that seals the tubing to the fitting. It is ONLY usable with PEX-a, and the fittings are different from those used with compression bands. You MUST use ProPEX/Uponor fittings.


Everything else is some form of compression band clamp, with a couple of different systems. I have used the Watts system which looks to be what the Ryobi is designed for. There are also copper rings that get compressed and you use a go/no-go gauge to confirm it's fully compressed. There are probably others too. These can be used with either PEX-A or PEX-B tubing, and they work with "standard" PEX fittings.

 

[Airstream345]

...and other two advantages for PEX A I gleaned from the eleven-teen YouTube videos I've watch on this topic are:

• The band continues to tighten forever.
• There is no reduction/restriction in the ID of the system as the ID of the fittings are the sames as the PEX pipe.

 

[bkcorwin]

Another great one is that with pex A you can rotate the fittings after the connections have been made.

 

[PhilPB]

I'm definitely going to use Pex A. Currently researching and ordering all additional materials for the job (Saniflex holding tank hoses, additional water tank, new water heater, new head, fixtures). Of course there will be additional items added to the list....Pex Expander Tool !

 

[RichardM]

I am finding it hard to justify $400-$500 tool cost for a rather small job. I'm surprised that they don't make a less expensive corded version. I'm going to see if any tool rental places have them to rent. It looks like $100-$200 for a manual rotating tool may be the way to go even if it makes it a more painful process.

You can just buy it and sell it when you’re done. It’s really easy to sell lightly used tools and you won’t lose a lot of money. It’s usually what I do when I need a tool that I won’t use after a job and in the end, often cheaper than renting. Plus you can keep it as long as you want…

 

[PhilPB]

You can just buy it and sell it when you’re done. It’s really easy to sell lightly used tools and you won’t lose a lot of money. It’s usually what I do when I need a tool that I won’t use after a job and in the end, often cheaper than renting. Plus you can keep it as long as you want…

You're right. The more videos and research I'm doing, the power expander is the best way to go especially since I will be doing the project solo.

 

[Endeavor GB 32]

I installed a hydronic heat system on a 46 GB in 2011, using Uponor pex pipe. I purchased a cheap manual compression tool and assembled the system using compression fittings. It leaked like a sieve! (Cheap tool = P.O.S.) I then re-did the system using Uponor expansion fittings. I was lucky enough to discover that the place I worked at the time had a Milwaukee expansion tool that I was able to borrow. Not only was it 100% leak free, the real advantage on a boat, where fittings are often in awkward out-of-the-way places, is that there is a window of time (maybe 10 seconds?) after you expand the tubing before it contracts enough that you can no longer fit it onto the fitting. So a fitting located in a corner under a locker with very tight access can have the tubing expanded out in the open and then inserted on the fitting in the tight spot. If I ever had to do PEX install on a boat again I would not consider any other method. +1 (5?) on either renting the tool or buy then re-sell. Good luck with your project!
Regards,
Scott

 

[PhilPB]

Finished calling the rental centers in my area and they don't rent the expander. I had virtually the same response from all of them "you need to buy one, sorry".
I like the idea to buy one and then sell it after but I am now scouring the internet for used ones.

 

[va3mrj]

I'm redoing the water system and have decided to use Pex A. The battery powered expansion tools seem rather expensive. I've seen manual ones for ~$100. Any Intel would be appreciated.

The reason for Pex A over Pex B is the crimper needs more room than I will have available for some areas.

Pex is great I converted my 1974 Trawler, but I used the crimp ring and crimper. I also did a new home with the expansion tool, but the rental shop would only lend it to a licenced plumber.

 

[Blewbird]

Tips for installing Pex.

Don't connect directly to the hot water heater with pex, and don't allow your uv sterilizer to shine into the Pex, uv light shortens the life of the Pex. I replaced the CPVC with pro Pex in the boat I worked on. The boat bought both the 12v and 18v Milwaukee expansion tools.

 

[IraJonesAMS]

Pex Tubing on vessels

Not sure if house hold pex tubing would meet certain CFR's or any ABYC recommendations. I use shark bite connections on the pex tubimg in my home and they work great. I assume they would work just a well on a boat.

 

[PhilPB]

Finished calling the rental centers in my area and they don't rent the expander. I had virtually the same response from all of them "you need to buy one, sorry".
I like the idea to buy one and then sell it after but I am now scouring the internet for used ones.

I'm going to update my own post. I bought a Milwaukee cordless Pex A expander tool, now waiting for it to show up probably within 3-5 days. It's interesting though, Home Depot and Lowes in my area only carry Pex B, not Pex A. Found plenty of resources online for Pex A pipe and related material.

 

[Ken E.]

Supplyhouse.com is a good source for Pex A, as well as for Uponor fittings and harder-to-find items like valves.

 

[PhilPB]

Supplyhouse.com is a good source for Pex A, as well as for Uponor fittings and harder-to-find items like valves.

Great website. I am adding all piping items to my cart. So far this week I've ordered Pex expander, head, & water heater. Next is additional water tank and installation of everything.

 

[Iggy]

It is a good site. I called them once, they were very helpful! Shipping was fast too.

I worked with pex using the sharkbite fitting. Not a big fan of them. Then I did a little research on type A & B. I really didn't care for type B and using a GO, NO GO gauge.

I can just see myself with a bad crimp and trying to cut off the band in a tight place. Type A seams very easy to use and a lot less of a chance of doing it wrong. But the tool is pricy.

Thats what I need, another tool!