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PEX CRIMPERS

Glenn Sossin_2
Glenn Sossin_2 Member Posts: 592
in THE MAIN WALL
Viega bought Vanguard last year.

Comments

  • U2WATCHER
    U2WATCHER Member Posts: 9
    PEX CRIMPERS

    I AM IN NEED OF A SET OF PEX CRIMPERS. I KNOW VERY LITTLE ABOUT THIS NEW SYSTEM. SO WHAT BRANDS ARE GARBAGE, WHAT BRANDS ARE THE BEST.I AM GOING TO USE PEX INSTEAD OF COPPER TO RUN BASEBOARD. COPPER IS TO EXPENSIVE NOW. I HAVE USED COPPER ALL MY LIFE.I DONT WANT TO SWITCH,I HAVE TO THOUGH.
  • Timco
    Timco Member Posts: 3,040


    Check out Vanguard. That's what I use & like it. I use pex for domestic water and some re-pipe projects, but mostly copper for hydronics...

    Tim
    Just a guy running some pipes.
  • Mike C_7
    Mike C_7 Member Posts: 4
    side issue

    Just a very very gentle reply, if I may. Lowe's (at least around here, in Long Island) had been recently running some promotion of M-type 3/4 : $15/10ft. I just bought a couple of these and got surprised at the register (displayed price tag was 18$). I assume you did look around in many parts for possible deals on copper, but I felt like I wanted to very modestly share that with you. I have no idea either whether that could start to be interesting (some plumber friends of mine had been astonished, though, when I told them that). I do not work for Lowe's !! :) I am unfortunately unable to help out with PEX questions... I am still sticking with copper. It is true that many people around are pushing for PEX... Good luck !


  • Home Depot Employee
    Home Depot Employee Member Posts: 329
    Your point?

    Nothing negative meant here only sensibility-

    $1.50 to $1.80 per ft for 3/4" "M".
    $0.32-$0.45 per ft for pex

    Is there any reasoning to your post?

    You may choose to stick to copper but, dont be surprised when you lose that job, thats all.

  • Timco
    Timco Member Posts: 3,040


    Are those prices for hpex? You need hpex or pex-al-pex for radiant / hydronics. Wirsbo is the brand of hpex you want to get prices on for heating. Vanguard crimpers will work great for heat type or domestic pex. If you want to spend a bit more, check into Wirsbo expander type system. The fittings are true pipe size, unlike regular brass or plastic pex fittings...

    Tim
    Just a guy running some pipes.
  • Home Depot Employee
    Home Depot Employee Member Posts: 329
    yes

    5/8-3/4" Heat Pex (with barrier)
  • Timco
    Timco Member Posts: 3,040


    That's pretty cool. The HD's out here do not even carry check valves, let alone any hydronic heating components. Not even furnaces anymore...

    Tim
    Just a guy running some pipes.
  • Timco
    Timco Member Posts: 3,040


    I could swear I just bought some vanguard pipe...is that old pipe or does the pipe still say vanguard?

    T
    Just a guy running some pipes.
  • Home Depot Employee
    Home Depot Employee Member Posts: 329
    They did

    Viega bought Vanguard to not only have and have control of the popular Maniblock, but more inportantly to introduce "B" pex into their line to compete with lower $ tube and this was the easiest way for them to do it.

    Depending on region, Vanguard labeled pipe is still available and can be purchased.
  • nugs
    nugs Member Posts: 77
    pex crimpers

    Our company has tried and used pretty much every pex pipe and crimpers from viega to watts etc. By far the easiest to use and the system with the most options has to be uponor "wirsbo" The system allows you to make expand the joint outside of the space where space to fit in the tool is minimal. Yes the too costs a lot more but it's a good investment.
  • schiller
    schiller Member Posts: 60


    what ever type you buy, get the more costly version labled for "close quarters", you dont need nearly as much space to open and close them and they will speed up the job.
  • jim lockard_3
    jim lockard_3 Member Posts: 5
    wirsbo

    With the Wirsbo pex system you expand the pipe, and then remove the tool and slip the pipe on the fitting. As for the cost of the tool with 3 dies 1/2 3/4 and 1" you will find it to be very competive with others. J.Lockard
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    And how much

    are those copper to pex adapters going for ? Maybe 10 times more than a simple 3/4 ell ? How many pex to copper adapters would you estimate for a simple baseboard job ? Maybe 10 ?

    I'll guess the overall price of an all copper baseboard job might be closer to pex pricing than you think , unless there's a real long run of piping and the amount of pex/copper fittings are at a minimum .
  • john_83
    john_83 Member Posts: 76


    have used both types wirsbo and vanguar/viega. Have to say the crimp stlye is faster and easier and considering the lack of fittings it takes to get from a to b you dont get alot of flow with the smaller fittings. Plus i employ a bunch of guys and it a lot easier to have a pair of 3/4 -1/2 crimpers on each truck, than say a manual expander that is not very service friendly gets tiring after awhile. And a battery expander is very expensive.
  • hunter
    hunter Member Posts: 1
    Why not use both



    I usually slip a crimp ring on, then expand the pipe one or two times so it easily slips over the brass fitting, then crimp. It's a great method when installing baseboard heat when the 5/8" pex comes through the floor at an odd angle.
    Also, will there be any long term harm to expanding for example, 3/4" pex onto a 1" fitting, or say 1/2" pex to a 1" fitting if it get's you out of a jam? Not that I have done this many many times.
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