Pex crimpers and ring types?

[Jkwilson]

Seems that most people I see use the cinch type rings for pex plumbing in their rig. I’ve always used the crimp type in home and farm plumbing. Is there an advantage to the cinch rings in the tight spaces on an RV?

I recently acquired a pex pocket crimper which seems like an ideal tool to carry for repairs on the road. I already have plenty of crimp rings stocked at home that I could carry with me as well.

Just curious if I should consider carrying the cinch rings and tool instead.

[colan]

This is a six of one and half a dozen of another. Both are equally effective. I would use what you have.

I see some copper crimp rings, a lot of stainless steel clamps, and occasionally PEX A with expanded PEX reinforcing rings.

The advantages of the clamps are one installation tool for all sizes and easier removal.

I use the clamp type except when the fitting is tucked away in an almost impossible to reach place, then I use SharkBite fittings.

[Country Campers]

Jkwilson

Could you please supply a link for the "pocket crimper"?
This may be of interest to some here, I am interested.

Brian

[boyscout]

Jkwilson Could you please supply a link for the "pocket crimper"? This may be of interest to some here, I am interested. Brian

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWOVqg2zvkU

... or this instead :

https://www.amazon.com/Milwaukee-267...s%2C160&sr=8-1

[Jkwilson]

Jkwilson

Could you please supply a link for the "pocket crimper"?
This may be of interest to some here, I am interested.

Brian

Boyscout got the link. I’ll describe it. It’s essentially just the crimping block portion of a crimper. It has ears off one end where you supply the crimping power with a pair of vise grips. It’s actually a little better in a tight space than a standard crimper since you have some flexibility in the angle you use the vise grips. Makes for a small tool that doesn’t take up much space. I wouldn’t set off to do a plumbing job with it being the only crimper I had, but as a “just in case” toolbox addition it seems good.

[TucsonJim]

Back to the original question. The only benefit I see in the cinch rings is that they are easier to remove during a field repair. Rob (Cate & Rob) has documented a way to remove cinch rings with a small pair of nippers. When I want to remove a standard ring on my home plumbing, I typically have to break out a Dremel tool to cut through the band.

[CloseToRetirement]

Back to the original question. The only benefit I see in the cinch rings is that they are easier to remove during a field repair. Rob (Cate & Rob) has documented a way to remove cinch rings with a small pair of nippers. When I want to remove a standard ring on my home plumbing, I typically have to break out a Dremel tool to cut through the band.

I’m with Jim on the Dremel. I use the SS cinch rings and use my cordless Dremel to cut the raised cinch point. I have been able to get into some fairly tight spots and cut cinch rings. My needle nose pliers finish the job of removing the ring from the pipe.

[Beachcamper]

Back to the original question. The only benefit I see in the cinch rings is that they are easier to remove during a field repair. Rob (Cate & Rob) has documented a way to remove cinch rings with a small pair of nippers. When I want to remove a standard ring on my home plumbing, I typically have to break out a Dremel tool to cut through the band.

That solution of using the nippers worked really well. Got them at Harbor Freight to try out on the faucet replacement for the bath. Maybe post that again it is a good solution for field repairs.

[Cate&Rob]

Attached is a summary of the plumbing tools and spare parts that I carry. All the spare parts and even the tools would fit into one small toolbox, the size of a shoebox.

As noted earlier, the main benefit of the cinch rings is their ease of removal. There is a picture of the small crimpers that I use to grab the end of the stainless steel wrap and peel it off the retaining latch. Side cutters will also work . . . but, not as well. The solid copper rings have to be cut with a dremel tool or similar which leaves bits of copper everywhere.

The pocket crimpers noted earlier in this thread will only work with the copper rings. I am not sure that getting the two jaws of the tool into place and squeezing them together multiple times with vice grips is an "easier" process than the single crimp with the cinch ring tool. The cinch ring tool is sold as "one handed" . . . but I have found that it usually takes two hands to get the wide spread handles started. A version of this tool that could truly be used with one hand would be better.

Rob

[boyscout]

As noted earlier, the main benefit of the cinch rings is their ease of removal. There is a picture of the small crimpers that I use to grab the end of the stainless steel wrap and peel it off the retaining latch. Side cutters will also work . . . but, not as well. The solid copper rings have to be cut with a dremel tool or similar which leaves bits of copper everywhere.

TucsonJim Beachcamper CloseToRetirement (hope I've flagged everyone who commented on using nippers to cut the steel PEX clamps)

I've followed Cate&Rob advice and been grateful for it. I have small nippers purchased on Rob's advice and used them as I started my soft-hose replacement recently. It worked, but it was still a fiddly PITA (let's see if THAT escapes the cuss filter! ) Moments ago I saw something on YouTube that might be easier. I haven't tried it, and maybe Rob has and rejected it, but it looks simpler and faster.

The video below begins with removal of the copper rings (how easy that is with the right tool). At around the 50-second mark it shows the steel crimp rings, using the crimping tool to cut the crimp off the crimp ring. Genius... I look forward to seeing if mine does that so easily.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNslIrWk1-w

EDIT: Here's a link to a product that *specifically* says it's a cutter as well as a crimper.

https://www.supplyhouse.com/sh/contr...duct_id=PXCLTL

[howson]

boyscout / Mark,
I'm a sucker for tools, but if the criteria is to cut back the old pex tubing at least 2" from the previous connection, why mess around with specialty tools as shown in the video? A clean cutter is required, but after that a Dremel should work just fine while holding the removed assembly with a pair of needle nose. Especially since you can do it outside of the camper.

Am I missing something?

Howard

[boyscout]

boyscout / Mark,
I'm a sucker for tools, but if the criteria is to cut back the old pex tubing at least 2" from the previous connection, why mess around with specialty tools as shown in the video? A clean cutter is required, but after that a Dremel should work just fine while holding the removed assembly with a pair of needle nose. Especially since you can do it outside of the camper.

Am I missing something?

Howard

Not usually, but

- I'd bet that there are people who don't carry around a Dremel,

- Someone who needs to cut off clamps probably also has to put clamps on... one tool that does both is A Good Thing, and

- Betcha a beer that I could crunch off a clamp faster with that tool than you could Dremel one off. Where and when do we arrange TV coverage and proof it?!

[Cate&Rob]

It is interesting that our biggest discussion on on these things is how to get them off . . . not how to put them on . . . what does that tell you? LOL!

The advantage of unwrapping the crimp ring with the small end nippers is that these can get into a very small space. It is often obvious that these rings were installed at a sub-assembly because the crimp is at a location inaccessible after final assembly. Another advantage (if you need to re-crimp this exact location) is that there is no risk of cutting the Pex while removing the crimp ring this way.

Cutting the clamp (if easy to do) would be a good alternative if this does not damage the Pex tubing. I don't like the dremel alternative because of all the bits of metal that fly around and this inevitably cuts the Pex underneath.

boyscout Mark . . . I'll take that beer bet with my unwrap method .

Rob

[howson]

Betcha a beer that I could crunch off a clamp faster with that tool than you could Dremel one off. Where and when do we arrange TV coverage and proof it?!

Sounds like fun--especially after a few "sodas" and conversation at our next get together.

[boyscout]

boyscout Mark . . . I'll take that beer bet with my unwrap method . Rob

I actually own two pairs of little nippers. The first was pretty much useless at your advised method of grabbing the wrapped end of the clamp to peel it up and I thought, "What was Rob smoking?" Then I noticed that the face / topmost part of the pincers curved down towards their cutting edge a little so, far from my grinder, I bought another pair with a flatter face that worked better. It was still a struggle at times to grab the tip of that wrap though, so I'll be happy to drink your beer after I drink Howard's. In very special circumstances I do drink more than one.