Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » PEX pipe installation, Sharkbite vs. Crimp fittings
| PEX pipe installation, Sharkbite vs. Crimp fittings [message #141341] |
Sun, 28 August 2011 11:58  |
idrob
Messages: 645
Registered: January 2005
Location: Central Idaho
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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I am rebuilding a 75 Travel Trailer with copper plumbing which has been frozen and thus stretched so it is essentially not repairable. I know the early GMC's also used copper. My 76 was gray polly pipe.
At any rate for those of you who may be thinking of copper replacement, or even replacing the gray poly stuff, here are some things to think about.
I love the press on and reusable Sharkbite (home depot) fittings, but they are somewhat expensive and take up more room in some tight locations. I have another plumbing job to do on my Mobile in AZ this winter, so I could justify the purchase of a $95 crimp tool to use the less expensive crimp fittings.
The main two problems with the crimp tool and fittings are:
a) the space required to open the tool handles up to form the crimp. It will not fit in tight spaces at all. I was able to work around the problem mostly, but there is one area in the rear of the unit which is impossible to get the tool into. I will have to use the Sharkbite fittings there, so I can press them onto the PEX.
b) the crimp rings must be located 1/4 inch from the end of the pipe, in order to have them cover the two sealing rings on the fittings. The crimp tool is heavy, and hard to position properly on the ring without knocking it out of the 1/4 inch alignment spec. There is very little tolerance for error on the required crimp ring spacing. In essence you are working blind when you close the tool jaws. I had to cut off several rings with a Dremil tool when I found they were out of position.
For those of you close to a Home Depot, you can rent the crimp tool from them for a few dollars a day. That is not an option for me as it is a 200 mile round trip to a Home Depot.
Home Depot also sells a "pocket PEX crimper" about $25. Good tool, but requires you to close it with a set of Vice Grips, and each ring may take several "bites" of the Vice Grips to do. So, not very convenient either.
So, my opinion is that if you have the room for the larger press on Sharkbite type fittings use them. The cost is justified and if they are properly pressed onto the pipe (the only caution I have) they seal, work and are a great option for most all plumbing repairs and even some original work.
Rob Allen
former owner of '76 x-PB
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| Re: PEX pipe installation, Sharkbite vs. Crimp fittings [message #141345 is a reply to message #141341] |
Sun, 28 August 2011 12:42  |
Dennis S
Messages: 3046
Registered: November 2005
Karma: 2
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Senior Member |
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Rob,
Thanks for the suggestions.
My 23 ft, 73, has the original copper tubing. I have removed the city water fill and overhead to deal with one problem and had some swelling of the kitchen drain lines which required repair. Over time I would like to replace all the lines with PEX.
Dennis
| idrob wrote on Sun, 28 August 2011 11:58 |
I am rebuilding a 75 Travel Trailer with copper plumbing which has been frozen and thus stretched so it is essentially not repairable. I know the early GMC's also used copper. My 76 was gray polly pipe.
At any rate for those of you who may be thinking of copper replacement, or even replacing the gray poly stuff, here are some things to think about.
I love the press on and reusable Sharkbite (home depot) fittings, but they are somewhat expensive and take up more room in some tight locations. I have another plumbing job to do on my Mobile in AZ this winter, so I could justify the purchase of a $95 crimp tool to use the less expensive crimp fittings.
The main two problems with the crimp tool and fittings are:
a) the space required to open the tool handles up to form the crimp. It will not fit in tight spaces at all. I was able to work around the problem mostly, but there is one area in the rear of the unit which is impossible to get the tool into. I will have to use the Sharkbite fittings there, so I can press them onto the PEX.
b) the crimp rings must be located 1/4 inch from the end of the pipe, in order to have them cover the two sealing rings on the fittings. The crimp tool is heavy, and hard to position properly on the ring without knocking it out of the 1/4 inch alignment spec. There is very little tolerance for error on the required crimp ring spacing. In essence you are working blind when you close the tool jaws. I had to cut off several rings with a Dremil tool when I found they were out of position.
For those of you close to a Home Depot, you can rent the crimp tool from them for a few dollars a day. That is not an option for me as it is a 200 mile round trip to a Home Depot.
Home Depot also sells a "pocket PEX crimper" about $25. Good tool, but requires you to close it with a set of Vice Grips, and each ring may take several "bites" of the Vice Grips to do. So, not very convenient either.
So, my opinion is that if you have the room for the larger press on Sharkbite type fittings use them. The cost is justified and if they are properly pressed onto the pipe (the only caution I have) they seal, work and are a great option for most all plumbing repairs and even some original work.
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Dennis S
73 Painted Desert 230
Memphis TN Metro
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| Re: PEX pipe installation, Sharkbite vs. Crimp fittings [message #141348 is a reply to message #141345] |
Sun, 28 August 2011 13:10 |
zhagrieb
Messages: 676
Registered: August 2009
Location: Portland Oregon
Karma: 0
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I re-plumbed my 26' with PEX and crimp fittings. I was able to do the tight spots by planning my sequence so I could do the hard to reach joints out in the open with room to swing the tool, then place them into position. I preassembled some sections, such as under the bathroom sink, with PEX garden hose type fittings at either end of the assembly so I could prefab the entire section then put it in place and hand connect it. No leaks!
Glenn
Glenn Giere, Portland OR, K7GAG
'73 "Moby the Motorhome" 26'
[Updated on: Sun, 28 August 2011 14:24] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: PEX pipe installation, Sharkbite vs. Crimp fittings [message #141357 is a reply to message #141341] |
Sun, 28 August 2011 13:58 |
Chr$
Messages: 2690
Registered: January 2004
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Karma: 1
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Senior Member |
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Rob, I used the Lowes PEX grip fittings. They are large and expensive, but I felt they gave me some flexibility and ease of repairs. I placed them all in locations that are easy to get to except for the wall shower faucet I added, but then those are just behind a panel.
-Chr$: Perpetual SmartAss
Scottsdale, AZ
77 Ex-Kingsley 455 SOLD!
2010 Nomad 24 Ft TT 390W PV W/MPPT, EV4010 and custom cargo door.
Photosite: Chrisc GMC:"It has Begun" TT: "The Other Woman"
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| Re: [GMCnet] PEX pipe installation, Sharkbite vs. Crimp fittings [message #141363 is a reply to message #141355] |
Sun, 28 August 2011 14:23 |
idrob
Messages: 645
Registered: January 2005
Location: Central Idaho
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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That is the "pocket PEX tool" I mentioned in my original post. It requires a Vice Grip tool to close the jaws and may take several "bites" to complete the crimp. It is smaller than the big Crimp tool I purchased, but still hard to use in close quarters. I have one of them.
Rob Allen
former owner of '76 x-PB
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| Re: PEX pipe installation, Sharkbite vs. Crimp fittings [message #141364 is a reply to message #141348] |
Sun, 28 August 2011 14:25 |
idrob
Messages: 645
Registered: January 2005
Location: Central Idaho
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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| Glenn Giere wrote on Sun, 28 August 2011 11:10 |
I re-plumbed my 26' with PEX and crimp fittings. I was able to do the tight spots by planning my sequence so I could do the hard to reach joints out in the open with room to swing the tool, then place them into position. I preassembled some sections, such as under the bathroom sink, with PEX garden hose type fittings so I could prefab the entire section then put it in place and hand connect it. No leaks!
Glenn
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Glenn: that is what I had to do also, some pre fabrication and very careful planning, but still there are some areas that I could not get to in any way with the crimp tool, nor would pre fabrication work. So, I am using Sharkbite press on fittings in those spots.
Rob Allen
former owner of '76 x-PB
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| Re: PEX pipe installation, Sharkbite vs. Crimp fittings [message #141365 is a reply to message #141357] |
Sun, 28 August 2011 14:27 |
idrob
Messages: 645
Registered: January 2005
Location: Central Idaho
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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| Chr$ wrote on Sun, 28 August 2011 11:58 |
Rob, I used the Lowes PEX grip fittings. They are large and expensive, but I felt they gave me some flexibility and ease of repairs. I placed them all in locations that are easy to get to except for the wall shower faucet I added, but then those are just behind a panel.
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Chris: I think those from Lowe's are similar to the Sharkbite from Home Depot.
Rob Allen
former owner of '76 x-PB
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| Re: [GMCnet] PEX pipe installation, Sharkbite vs. Crimp fittings [message #141367 is a reply to message #141365] |
Sun, 28 August 2011 14:48 |
Ken Henderson
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
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Senior Member |
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What's wrong with Flair-It fittings? I've used a lot of them on
polybutylene (which the GMC came with), and a few on PEX, with never a leak.
They're available at Lowes & 'most any mobile home parts place at fairly
reasonable prices.
http://store.flairit.com/c-51-flair-it-pex-and-polybutylene-plumbing-system.aspx
Ken H.
On Sun, Aug 28, 2011 at 3:27 PM, Rob Allen <profmail@wildblue.net> wrote:
>
>
> Chr$ wrote on Sun, 28 August 2011 11:58
> > Rob, I used the Lowes PEX grip fittings. They are large and expensive,
> but I felt they gave me some flexibility and ease of repairs. I placed them
> all in locations that are easy to get to except for the wall shower faucet I
> added, but then those are just behind a panel.
>
>
> Chris: I think those from Lowe's are similar to the Sharkbite from Home
> Depot.
>
>
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
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| Re: [GMCnet] PEX pipe installation, Sharkbite vs. Crimp fittings [message #141371 is a reply to message #141367] |
Sun, 28 August 2011 15:27 |
idrob
Messages: 645
Registered: January 2005
Location: Central Idaho
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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Ken: Nothing at all wrong with them. All plastic, slightly difficult to push the PEX over the one barb on the fitting, about the same cost as the Sharkbite fittings and a bit smaller. I have used a couple that I had on hand on the job I am working on now.
Rob Allen
former owner of '76 x-PB
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| Re: [GMCnet] PEX pipe installation, Sharkbite vs. Crimp fittings [message #141480 is a reply to message #141341] |
Mon, 29 August 2011 07:43 |
Steven Ferguson
Messages: 3447
Registered: May 2006
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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Rob,
I have a used once crimp tool, and some sleeves I'd be happy to part with
for $50, you pay shipping.
On Sun, Aug 28, 2011 at 9:58 AM, Rob Allen <profmail@wildblue.net> wrote:
>
>
> I am rebuilding a 75 Travel Trailer with copper plumbing which has been
> frozen and thus stretched so it is essentially not repairable. I know the
> early GMC's also used copper. My 76 was gray polly pipe.
>
> At any rate for those of you who may be thinking of copper replacement, or
> even replacing the gray poly stuff, here are some things to think about.
>
> I love the press on and reusable Sharkbite (home depot) fittings, but they
> are somewhat expensive and take up more room in some tight locations. I
> have another plumbing job to do on my Mobile in AZ this winter, so I could
> justify the purchase of a $95 crimp tool to use the less expensive crimp
> fittings.
>
> The main two problems with the crimp tool and fittings are:
>
> a) the space required to open the tool handles up to form the crimp. It
> will not fit in tight spaces at all. I was able to work around the problem
> mostly, but there is one area in the rear of the unit which is impossible to
> get the tool into. I will have to use the Sharkbite fittings there, so I
> can press them onto the PEX.
>
> b) the crimp rings must be located 1/4 inch from the end of the pipe, in
> order to have them cover the two sealing rings on the fittings. The crimp
> tool is heavy, and hard to position properly on the ring without knocking it
> out of the 1/4 inch alignment spec. There is very little tolerance for
> error on the required crimp ring spacing. In essence you are working blind
> when you close the tool jaws. I had to cut off several rings with a Dremil
> tool when I found they were out of position.
>
> For those of you close to a Home Depot, you can rent the crimp tool from
> them for a few dollars a day. That is not an option for me as it is a 200
> mile round trip to a Home Depot.
>
> Home Depot also sells a "pocket PEX crimper" about $25. Good tool, but
> requires you to close it with a set of Vice Grips, and each ring may take
> several "bites" of the Vice Grips to do. So, not very convenient either.
>
> So, my opinion is that if you have the room for the larger press on
> Sharkbite type fittings use them. The cost is justified and if they are
> properly pressed onto the pipe (the only caution I have) they seal, work and
> are a great option for most all plumbing repairs and even some original
> work.
> --
> Rob Allen
> former owner of '76 x-PB
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
--
Steve Ferguson
Sierra Vista, AZ
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| Re: [GMCnet] PEX pipe installation, Sharkbite vs. Crimp fittings [message #141518 is a reply to message #141480] |
Mon, 29 August 2011 11:11 |
idrob
Messages: 645
Registered: January 2005
Location: Central Idaho
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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| Steven Ferguson wrote on Mon, 29 August 2011 05:43 |
Rob,
I have a used once crimp tool, and some sleeves I'd be happy to part with
for $50, you pay shipping.
On Sun, Aug 28, 2011 at 9:58 AM, Rob Allen
|
Thanks Steve, but I already have the Home Depot one and will keep it. Maybe someone else out there would like it though.
Rob Allen
former owner of '76 x-PB
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