Press tools....

kcopp

Looking to make the jump... Ridgid or Milwaukee?

Ironman

Don't overlook Rems. High quality, German made with many accessories including jaws that cut threaded Rod, cables, etc.

http://www.remstoolsusa.com

I love mine.

Hilly

I have used ridgid and milwaukee a couple of times. The Milwaukee was very nice to handle. If I ever purchase it'll be Milwaukee I'm pretty sure... The purchase receptors go off for me when I see Milwaukee 'Red' though. Ha
I found the ridgid be big and bulky, but it was still perfect to use for new installs where room wasn't an issue.

Charlie from wmass

I went rigid but any three are good. What do you have locally and how is that supply house with standing behind warrantees?

kcopp

I was also told today that the Milwaukee force logic is not approved to be used on Viega fittings.... Some local inspectors were giving contractors a hard time.
I don't know of anyone who carries the Rems tools.

Harvey Ramer

Love my Milwaukee.

SWEI

kcopp said:

I was also told today that the Milwaukee force logic is not approved to be used on Viega fittings.... Some local inspectors were giving contractors a hard time.

The Viega rep told me the same thing about a year ago. Milwaukee says differently -- I'd call and let them know what you're running into. Is there an ASTM or DIN spec for press fittings? That would settle it.

Hilly

I heard this for a wholesaler last year. Actually a wholesaler told my buddy when he went to borrow the Milwaukee tool and counter guy told him for the above stated reason that they didn't have it any more. I contacted Milwaukee and Veiga and both told me that the tool was fine and they had no issues. I later found out the Milwaukee tool was only at the Wholesaler originally on a loan to try and get contractors to try their model and eventually purchase it.

gerry gill

I have three- two Milwaukees with no problems and one ridgid, thats been in the shop for repairs twice..you can read into that what you wish

Ironman

kcopp said:

I don't know of anyone who carries the Rems tools.

R.E. Michel carries them. If you use the link I posted, you can call Teel and find out who else sells them or purchase from them directly if there's no one in your area.

NYplumber

1.25in and below, get the Milwaukee. For larger jobs the rp340 is the way to go.

As for fittings and press tools not being compatible... sounds like someone wants to sell more of one brand then the other. The ridgid heads fit right into my Milwaukee.
The benefit of the Milwaukee m12 is that if you own their other tools you have plenty of charged batteries around. Very ergonomic tool.

kcopp

There is a huge price difference between the new 18v Rigid (200b) and the 12v and 18v Milwaukee.
Just concerned about durability.

jm0711

I have owned a REMS press tool for about 8 years now. Rock solid reliable. The threaded rod cutter is a must have if you work with it regularly.

I had a Ridgid before that which was very good too. The thief that stole it agreed.
jm

Aaron_in_Maine

I have a m12 Milwaukee it works great. Just took a Veiga class at a local wholesaler and now wished I had sprung for the 18 volt so I could get the mega press. The Veiga rep said he was told the rigid jaws fit the Milwaukee tools by Milwaukee.

DZoro

I made the jump with M12. Love, love, love it! So far, it's been 7 months and no issues yet. Should have done it years ago! Super fast, get the tubing cutter also!!!

SWEI

More jaws coming from Milwaukee later this year as well.

Jez1978

Rothenberger, would be my fav.. had a bit of trouble with Rems. Also Viega, i would be careful, they will force you to only purchase their pressfittings. GD Press Fittings for example wouldnt be allowed to be pressed with a Viega tool.

delta T

going on two years with three rigid tools, not a single issue yet. No repairs needed, no joints leak (with the exception of one example where the mfg agreed it was a defect in the fittings and nothing to do with installation or the tool, I don't use that brand of fittings much anymore). The RP200 is a bit bulky and awkward at times, though I am often surprised at the places I can fit it. Great battery life, something I suspect it has in strides over the m12.

Jez1978

delta T said:

going on two years with three rigid tools, not a single issue yet. No repairs needed, no joints leak (with the exception of one example where the mfg agreed it was a defect in the fittings and nothing to do with installation or the tool, I don't use that brand of fittings much anymore). The RP200 is a bit bulky and awkward at times, though I am often surprised at the places I can fit it. Great battery life, something I suspect it has in strides over the m12.

Which brand of Fitting was it? GD Press fittings from Swiss Fittings AG?

kcopp

I ended up going w/ the Ridgid rp240 18v.
I have been pretty happy w/ it. It did break on me and Ridgid made sure it was repaired asap and they lent me another tool while mine was down.
I did need to do some 1 1/2" press fittings so I borrowed a friends 18v Milwaukee, as my tool only goes up to 1 1/4".
The head on the Milwaukee does not articulate as the RP200 does so that is a plus for the Ridgid.

GW

Good comments, we have the original big Ridgid 18v, several small Ridged small battery units, and one of our guys used his own Milwaukee...it is quite small and nimble compared to the small Ridgid

Rod cutting: has anyone tried a Milwaukee mini band saw? Try it, you'll like it.

hot_rod

GW said:

Good comments, we have the original big Ridgid 18v, several small Ridged small battery units, and one of our guys used his own Milwaukee...it is quite small and nimble compared to the small Ridgid



Rod cutting: has anyone tried a Milwaukee mini band saw? Try it, you'll like it.

I have rod cutting tongs for my REMS press tool, quick and clean.

ratio

The little Porta-Bands are the bee's knees. That and the awesome DeWalt radio/charger have made me truly consider retooling from Makita, which I've had nothing but good experience with and have a dozen batteries for. But they have neither a mini portaband nor an awesome radio/charger.

rick in Alaska

I have the dewalt 18 volt portaband. I love that tool. I use it for unistrut, all thread, copper pipe, steel , and abs pipe. Between that and my milwaukee 12 volt fuel impact, I am not sure which is my favorite tool. Still don't do press though. Too much capitol to come up with. And, I am old school. Still like threading pipe, and soldering.
Rick

HydroNiCK

Is there really a difference between the Milwaukee Viega press and the Pex press machine? And. is viega discontinuing 5/8 pex al pex? If so can I use the Milwaukee Viega press on Blue Fin 5/8 pex al pex?

https://www.milwaukeetool.com/Products/Power-Tools/Plumbing-Installation/Press-Tools/2674-22P

https://www.milwaukeetool.com/Products/Power-Tools/Plumbing-Installation/Press-Tools/2674-22C

Ironman

I've got two REMS press tools which have been very reliable. I also have the tongs that cut threaded rod, but I recently purchased a DeWalt threaded rod cutter which is awesome. Milwaukee just came out with one, also. If you do a lot of rod, you really should get one.

I've got a great deal on a new Milwaukee M12 that goes up to 1 1/4" and included a free m12 tubing cutter. It can also do 1/2" and 3/4" MegaPress with the optional tongs, plus Zoomlock.

It's supposed to be delivered today, so I'll see how it does next week.

GroundUp

I've got a Ridgid RP200-B pencil type tool for up to 1.25" and an RP 340 for bigger stuff as well as a Nibco PC-200M pencil type and I wouldn't trade any in over the other. They are all quality items and have never had any trouble with any, aside from the Ridgid batteries not going long on a charge. Can usually get a couple days out of them but the Nibco uses a Makita battery and will go weeks on a charge, the downside is that the Nibco only goes to 1". All of which have been flawless with Viega fittings. I have considered the Milwaukee but when compared to the others, there is no benefit IMO. With all that said, I still sweat 90% of my work so it looks respectable- I may not be the right one to provide press tool reviews

Intplm.

Have used both Milwaukee and Ridgid. Head To Head, the ridgid did perform better. Over a three month period last summer we used the smaller press tools from both companies. Ridgid was favored at the end of summer.

Comments were that they performed very similarly. Battery life cycle time and feel of use was favored in the Ridgid tool. The tools used were the smaller tools that press up to 1-1/4. I forget the model numbers.

HydroNiCK

Das Rems! I like the Rems tool but its out of my budget. Which Milwaukee between those two I posted? I just need a tool to press pex al pex sleeves onto blue fin. Do both milwaukee versions press A and B pex al pex?
https://www.coptool.com/pex-system-rundown-uponor-propex-vs-viega-pureflow/

EBEBRATT-Ed

@Ironman
I have a Rems Amigo threader for over 20 years. Can't beat the quality

GroundUp

PAP sleeves? Pureflow jaws will crimp the SS pex collars on any A, B, or C pex, not copper rings as they are larger diameter but last I checked there is no such thing as crimp collars for PAP

HydroNiCK

GroundUp said:

PAP sleeves? Pureflow jaws will crimp the SS pex collars on any A, B, or C pex, not copper rings as they are larger diameter but last I checked there is no such thing as crimp collars for PAP

Press..

GroundUp

HydroNiCK said:

GroundUp said:

PAP sleeves? Pureflow jaws will crimp the SS pex collars on any A, B, or C pex, not copper rings as they are larger diameter but last I checked there is no such thing as crimp collars for PAP

Press..

Those are for pex. Not pex al pex.

Charlie from wmass

#GroundUp those are the rings used for all viega pex, even the pex al pex.

STEAM DOCTOR

You just need to strip the al off the pex-al-pex

HydroNiCK

Why is this getting confusing? Maybe I'm not asking the right questions? Can I use a standard copper crimp ring and standard manual crimper on pex al pex? Can i use standard sharkbite homedepot pex crimper and ring on pex al pex ? Can i use it if i strip the tubing down an remove the al pex part from the pex? If I cant use a plain copper ring... Do I just have to add the additional sold seperatley inserts to the jaws in order to use a press sleeve for pex al pex and i'm good to go? If I can't do the above mentioned and I need special pex-al-pex specific manual crimpers or electric tool like the Milwaukee's i posted please read the next paragraph..

...does anyone have experience with the two milwaukee tools I just posted? One milwaukee says it has Viega crimp jaws the other says it has Pex crimp jaws.
Now, does that just mean each only works with its respected fittings for example the Viega works with only Viega fittings like the one I attached.

OR will they both only work with their respective (sleeve already built in/attached to fitting name branded)fitting AND will work with my own configuration of a press sleeve and fitting like this...to further clarify for example will the Milwaukee with Viega jaws press pre configured Viega PURE FLOW Press system fittings and random press sleeves and fittings lying at the bottom of my tool box BUT just cant use it/ WONT Press preconfigured name branded PEXPress fittings? OR will it only really just be configured to press Viega PURE FLOW pex fittings?
Someone please help out a lowley plumber with big dreams of making one pex al pex joint before he dies. Forget wiping lead..I want to tell my grandkids i connected pex-al-pex I'm about to leave pex-al -pex land and fire up the B-tank..

Charlie from wmass

NO

Charlie from wmass

Refer to the IOM with your PEX brand of choice.

HydroNiCK

PEXPress Pure flow system pre-configured fitting


Random no name brand fitting and press sleeve




ViegaPureFlow pre-configured sleeve fitting

Ironman

This is the pex-al-pex fitting that most brands (except Viega) use. They use different pressing tongs than copper crimp rings.

Ironman

This is what they look like after pressing. Notice this is ASTM 1281 tubing.