Mr. Wakefield I appreciate your honesty and understanding that home owners can't justify the bells and whistles that pros need/use. There is nothing worse than a professional that turns their nose up at tools that are not brand X. If a homeowner can justify a $1K tool, great, if not you show us there is an affordable option. Thank you for your honesty and understanding.
I'm a homeowner and invested in the Ridgid RP-241 along with the Ridgid V/1 C/1 Ring kit. I use it constantly and fix neighbors leaks and use it to replace ball valves along with other plumbing issues. It's a lifesaver. A very expensive lifesaver.
I'm looking at pricing and it's $2,000 now. At that price point might as well call a pro. I'm sure you know that whenever we fix one thing another breaks, 30 min job ends up taking 8 hours and 4 trips to Home Depot.
I keep a manual press tool on my truck for one reason I've been on a job and had my Ridgid press tool die when I had two 3/4 inch joints to finish. It was an hour and a half drive home and an hour and a half drive back to the job to finish a water heater change out.
I currently have both… the manual pump and the RP241. They both work great… I use the hand pump for extremely muddy or sandy situations under homes. I’m not comfortable dragging a $2,000 machine into scenarios where a pinhole leak has been leaking for a couple days or months
@@RogerWakefield its not that bad, 1/2 -3/4 pipes take 30-40 pumps… the first 20 pumps are a breeze, the last 10 that’s when the head is almost closing and the pressure is tougher. But for a repair it’s not bad. I would never do a new build or repipe with the hydraulic press.
If you’re a plumber, your time is worth risking the tool. If bringing it in allows you to get to 4-5 extra jobs in throughout the lifespan of the tools, it pays for itself. And I guarantee it’ll take whatever you’re dragging it into. I have a clean one and a dirty one, both still work fine and have never skipped a beat.
Thanks for the short and to the point video Roger. Like other comments below, good luck finding that RP115 for $1000, more like $1500 in the kit with 1/2 & 3/4 jaws & 1 battery. Pumping that hydraulic version looks like it would get old before you finish the first press.
My wife and I are landlords. I’m comfortable soldering, but my wife is nervous about the flames. We bought the Ibosad in case she needed to do emergency repairs. When a water heater broke and the valve for it wasn’t closing, she had no trouble applying pressure caps with the hydraulic tool until we could make a better plan. I wouldn’t recommend it for professionals, but it’s a nice backup for the DIY types.
I'd buy the manual one for home, but I'm a sparky (mostly controls & control wiring), not a plumber. One thing I learned over time is the tools you use every day are worth the expense, but if you aren't, either rent the right tool or buy the cheaper one. If it breaks after the job, at least you got the job done. I don't own one of these, but I also don't have to press fittings in my day to day work.
So many plumbers are going with the Milwaukee press now. I have had Ridgid from the time they came to the market, still branded with Viega and Ridgid on the tool. One thing I love about the Ridgid versus the Milwaukee is what I call “The Ridgid click”. The Ridgid seems to be at optimum power from beginning to end, and when it is done, you hear the “click” letting you know it is done. The Milwaukee press tool seems to start out strong, then seems like it is struggling to get to the end of the press and just sort of dies like it has run out of power. I know it didn’t really die, but that “Ridgid click” always makes me feel better for some reason. Call me weird, I guess.
I’ve got the same $100 press tool, I’ve always been worried about the fittings failing some day but 3 years later and no issues (Viega fittings). As a homeowner, I would love to have the Ridgid tool but for occasional usage at home, the Ibosad has worked well for me. Thanks Roger for testing these side by side!
Remodels and apartment maintenance here I have a igang bolt cutter style one(not the cylinder) . Though it's even more arm strength to press with the one I have (around 120 dollars) it's more narrow and I can get it into smaller space. Of course I'd like a 1k rigid but for the once a week I need it my manual one works fine. Also the style I have let's you know when it's done on the tool no guessing like you had. I hate sodering so this is a fantastic option even the manual ones in tightish spaces like under a sink. I would day 70% of my plumbing new shutoff/shower valves cabinets are rotted and we're replacing them. Shower valves you have as much space back towards you as you could need. One thing I do is pre build as much as I can so I don't have issues. I'm always looking for a used rigid for cheap until then.
I am Nevada Handyman. I've been doing plumbing since th 70's, my dad was a big time builder in Sacramento and decided to make me his plumber. I have the IBOSAO tool shown in the video and I love it. If I'm connecting a lot of joints YEAH I'll get tired, that's why I have a laborer. If I did nothing but sweet pipes alll day I would get the high dollar tool. It seems that if I sweet 15 or 20 joints 1 will leak, and the its a nightmare. But with the pro- press I just re clamp it, I don't even turn off the water. Easy - Peasy that's the way I like it.
I've got one of those hydraulic hand lever press. I use it to install a water softener system in the garage. Its great for a DIY without breaking the bank on power presses. The entire system is solid with no leaks. As cheap is it is, the press is well built and will give me years of usage.
As a DYIer I am interested in the manual press tool. If I ever soldered more than 10 joints in a day I would be in the business. To do the occasional repair of a pipe that won't stop dripping what a great alternative. A professional plumber pumping all day would start soldering again.
I'm a plumber for a big company in Ohio I bought a $150 press tool off Amazon and used it for about a week before I went and spent around $2200 on a milwaukee m12 press tool and it was worth every penny
With room, you could easily put a cheater bar on the manual pump. For someone like me who doesn't do plumbing often, but STILL DOES plumbing, the manual one is a good option.
Hey Roger! Thank you so much for this test. I am a home owner and have bought such a manual press, since I had to replace an installation under my bathroom. It was in a basement room, where my gas central heating is located. I soldered everything together in my workshop, but the connections I had to do on site. 5" away from the gas line - no way I would solder there. Here in Germany you check any new installation with 3x working pressure, which is about 200-250psi. That worked totally fine, but I was not sure, how good my manual press fit would be, compared to a professional tool. With those 6600 psi I sleep much better! Well done, thumbs up! Greetings from Germany Andreas
Currently I'm only pressing with the manual tool. I don't use press fittings much unless I can't get the water to stop completely. It's a cheaper option and I haven't had a call back or a leak because of using the above tool. Again, I solder more and use pex adpers in most cases. If I was a comercial plumber then this wouldn't be an option. the tool only goes up to one inch and would be a chore to have to plumb copper frequently. However, being a residential service plumber it is a good option. I've also had a few plumbing companies that I have worked for get very irrate when draggind a 2200 tool under a house. This solves that problem. Plus it doesn't require batteries. I have found that it does get into tight spaces but your cranking radius sometimes makes crimp difficult or even questionible.
I have been using the IBOSAD set for a couple of years now (its pliers are made a little differently aka HT-1950), first I took it with dies for metal-plastic, then for stainless steel, I have not worked with copper yet. Overall I am happy with the product, but sometimes there are hard-to-reach places where you need a press with a separate pump (they are also sold). Metal-plastic is easily pressed, but stainless steel really requires a decent amount of effort.
I have a manual press and it’s great. Mine does not require as much clearance as the one you have either. I think it’s the same manufacturer. Mind will do 3 different pipe sizes too. That’s all I need.
I bought one of the manual tools as a homeowner. I used it 4 times while I owned the house and it paid for itself 10x. No way I'd do production plumbing with it.
I have one of the hand manual ones but it has extendable handles on it without the handles extended I cannot press it even with half inch. However I have also been disabled since I was 31 I'm 52 now. And I'm a fraction of what I used to be.. I also found with the amount of force you have to put into it half the time your ends are not where you lined them up to begin with.. which does not save you any time at all. In fact it cost you because you have to go back and do everything all over again. New fittings new pipe..
Do those use an o-ring to seal? what's the life of that oring? I do love soldering as its a little bit of art and exercise in cleanliness, rework can be annoying if there's stray water.
I am a homeowner and I bought the RIgid just because of the tight spaces I have to work in and the lack of arm room to operate the manual crimper. Yes, it is more expensive, but if my house burns down because my torch got a little too close to my 1911 framing, that would really piss me off!
Can you leave a link to where you can find the Ridged propress tool for $1000? Cheapest I’ve seen then are $1600 and most places are around the $2000 mark. I rented the 18 volt Milwaukee kit for $50/day from a local plumbing supply shop. As a homeowner, that’s a great option for a decent size project.
Bosaio also makes an electricians press tool for crimping terminal ends on cable. I use it rather regularly at work, and have never had a better crimper. Darn sure beats the pin and anvil type.
I have the hydraulic one that has different heads instead of dies. So far works great. Ended up ordering the Rigid RP 115 and the thing didn't even work. Just made noise and rollers didn't move. Just gonna stick with the hydraulic hand pump one. Returning the defective rigid.
I purchased a lot of tools over the years for crews in the field. Sometimes the inexpensive ones are great, but you need to go to who stands behind it when issues come up. If you need repairs or replacements quickly, the cheaper tool may not be the best option.
@@RogerWakefield I’ve purchased several tools from Harbor Freight. Torque wrenches and power type hand held drain cleaners. Tools like this from HF work for home jobs, if I was in a professional capacity I would most likely go with something like Rigid, Milwaukee or SnapOn to name a few. I am slightly careful with the torque wrenches in that I set the limit slightly under what is stated because I’m not sure of the calibration. What I have works for a DIY home mechanic. The Rigid compression tool you were demonstrating is the way to go for that function. Trying to operate the handle on the cheaper one would get tiring quick! I don’t hesitate to get a pro when it’s over my skill level.
Unrelated question to your video. I live in China and our house has a crazy low kitchen sink... I'm positive hobbits lived in this house before. I have a bad back that makes irritating just to wash dishes. I've searched the internet here to find an elevated sink but to no avail. I don't want replace the cabinet just want to buy an elevated sink to sit in top of the current cabinets. Any ideas how to accomplish this?
I'm in basically the exact position you described. I do occasional plumbing repairs. But I couldn't justify spending $1,500 to $2,000 for a press fitting tool. (Prices have dropped since then.) So I bought one of the manual tools online. I've done about a dozen small repairs. There was a small learning curve to figure out how tight you needed to get it to press. But when I had a connection with a small leak, I was able to easily just put the manual tool back on the connection and tighten it until the leak stopped. Thus far, I've been quite happy with it. There are two minor issues that you didn't mention though. The first which was a big plus for the manual tool to me was the lack of a battery. If I were going to use the tool daily, a battery would be no big deal. But I wanted a tool that can sit on the bench for weeks or months but be ready to go when I need it. (And with plumbing, I'll probably need it for an emergency.) So I didn't want to be dependent on the state of a battery's charge. The second issue is that some of these manual press tools are simply too big to be able to get onto the perpendicular connection of a T connector at all. And most seem to have trouble with that connection from certain angles. Thus far, I've been able to plan/work around this limitation. But if you don't know about it, it could cause major issues during a repair.
There are also manual-hydraulic tools with iron jaws that are narrower than the aluminum jaws on the one tested here. They are supposed to be able to get into those tees. They cost maybe $50 more online than the aluminum ones.
I’m a plumber and have the 115. Works wonders, I can maneuver it any which way. I get in tight spots and I also cut pipes live and just press a ball valve with ease. Worth every penny
Mr Wakefield, you are smart, I will give you that. However, press-fit still has seals. Rubber O-ring seals have one design flaw - they are made of rubber. You know what attackes rubber and causes it to desintegrate over time? Chlorine. You know what is, almost universally, put in potable water? Chorine. I will stay with Uponor fittings and pex (where I can. I know some things, like hyrdronics piping, sometimes needs copper/soldering/press-fit).
@@Matt-mt2vi intresting. I work as a maintenance tech for a non-profit (group homes). I to pumbing/eletrical/appliance repairs and general maintenance like patching/painting walls, cleaning dryer vents and replacing lock, etc. So, I am not a plumber. However, I have seen the mess those sharkbite fittings make when they fail or you have to remove them, not a fan. They almose universally have bad rubber orings. I have been debating whether or not to get pro-press equiptment or Upinor equiptment. I would like both ofc, but my company will not pay me for buying such tools, only the fittings I use. I may serviously consider pro-press if they use something better than rubber gaskets/orings.
I have a different manual unit that is more like a large set if pliers. The handles extend out for more leverage, not too hard to crimp. I could not justify the cost of a battery tool for the few times I need it. I did invest in a battery pex expansion tool though,.
The manual press is good for someone only using it at home for plumbing repairs every once in a while, if you work in trades the battery powered is 100% the way to go.
They make the manual-hydraulic press tool with steel jaws too, narrower than the aluminum jaws on the one you tested, it may get into a tee that the aluminum one could not.
Man, I've been trying to land an apprenticeship for 2 months but none of the local companies will call back and the union forgot about me I think. Really wanting to make the switch and become a plumber, but the market seems to be tough.
Move to Pittsburgh.... Second toughest exam, ample job opportunities and the employer has to pay for school. You can transfer just about anywhere if you become a journeyman/master in Allegheny county Pa Edit: I am specifically referring to non union opportunities... The union is a Uncle out nephew in situation here in Pittsburgh.... I'm sure it's similar in other areas..... I personally don't care for unions and any experience you gain while not in the union doesn't mean squat to the union..... If you really want to be a union cuck it's best to jump through the hoops.... If you just want to work and learn, get a job with someone that is willing to pay you while you gain experience.
Same thing happened to me when I tried to become a pipefitter. Called a lot of companies and made many a trip to the Union making sure that I had everything I needed to be part of their apprentice recruiting program. In the end 6 months later I had to take a full time job offer elsewhere just to pay the bills. I will say it did nothing to change my views on unionization.
@@Hybris51129 yeah it's weird, people here are saying they can't get anyone for apprenticeships but the problem seems to be their HR teams not calling candidates back.
I am a home owner and a commercial maintenance tech by trade. I use the other version that has the same jaws as the rigid. I actual bought the rigid Jaws and made them work with hydraulic press tool. I would love a battery press tool but can’t justify the price since I just do a few water heater replacements a year.
Where would any fluid connection in a house ever reach over 100 psi ? The only place I could see either of these connections fail would be with a hard freeze in a water system.
40 year elevator constructor now retired for 12 years. I just love quality tools. I have some Milwaukee drills and grinders that are still going strong after 40 years. I have worn out some DeWalt stuff but they gave many many years of service. Some of the stuff from online is not tradesman quality but will work well for a DIY application. My hole hawg right angle drill is a Chicago electric and has probally drilled less than 200 holes up to 6" in 20 years. Still works as good as a Milwaukee ever did. Buy the best tool you can afford or save up and get the good stuff. I often buy open box or reconditioned tools when they are priced right. My M18 pex expander set I got for less than $400 with batteries, charger and heads (open box).
Lower production, therefore, higher cost to produce and distribute. Everybody has a drill, driver, saw, etc. Press and expansion tools are pretty much limited to plumbers and motivated DIY people.
A lot of pipes are located where you’d have a hard time pumping manually than pressing a button. And with that, battery operated tool will win in time, which means plumbers (and plumbing/hvac companies) can make more money.
If you're in a hole up to your gumboots in water trying to make a repair , the manual tool makes sence , as getting it wet won't be a problem. But for bulk of the work when you just want to get alot done. You can't beat the battery tool.
Man, I did the pros and cons of both of these for repiping a small chunk of my basement between my well pump and water heater about a week ago! I've rented the rigid units before for larger repipes or fixes - this last time I only needed a few fittings but had to drain a big HW heater which might take me more than the 4 hour rental window (or else the price triples) - For $100 I have a press kit that has 1/2, 3/4, and 1" rings ready to go. That specific manual model might not do T fittings though - so be warned. There is another version of that manual pump that has typical "jaw" style press (black head) that can do every fitting just fine - the latch mechanism can get in the way pending what brand of fittings you get (Viega tend to be more compact T's etc, local supply houses like Ferguson carries a different brand where the T is might bigger might be OK). I've started to see these in refrigeration/hvac/gas settings as well!
im an HVAC/ plumbing contractor for 30 years, i still cannot get myself to spend four- grand on a propress tool. i sweat 95% of the time, and PEX the other times. i use the mid-grade PEX crimper, used with the solid crimp rings
as a plumber i have had the same isobad tool for 4 years and had no problem with it don't use it now because the company has a upgrade with jaws that open like the Milwaukee press tool and replaceable dies that do 1/2 -1 in propress and veiaga pex think it was 185 have used for 2 years no leaks.
I bought one of the cheap Amazon press tools as an apprentice and most of the licensed guys did not even have a propress and so I was able to save us a lot of time by bringing my tool along
I bought in Milwaukee copper press M12 tool for about $2000. It’s the best $2000 I’ve ever spent. Also copper press fittings are type K copper it doesn’t get any better than that.
I've got the IBOSAO. Just used it yesterday. For the price it rocks. It appears well made from heavy steel construction. Just 6 or 7 pumps and my fittings were set. No leaks and I still have $900 in my wallet. I've got the Milwaukee Uponor Propex tool and the crimp ring tools and I'll be damned if I'm going to spend the crazy money for one of these battery operated tools.
@@RogerWakefield I've been using it for about six months. I've only been doing repairs and modifications to existing systems so I probably crimped less than 100 fittings but so far no leaks and no situations where the tools size or shape was a problem. The final pump or two takes a bit of effort but I'm a bigger guy and I just lean on it and it hasn't been a problem.
😅 well I don't see any problem using it every once in awhile. If I was using it everyday or every few days, pumping it every time would get annoying quickly....the electric makes it easy
I've heard this saying, but have never seen this happen in practice. All the condos built in the last 10 years here use the Pro Press due to the speed and consistency, so I imagine there is a large enough sample size if there was a reliability issue.
Theres a channel that tested the propress fittings, but they took the o ring out...... just the crimped fitting was enough to not leak.... if it did it was a super slow drip..... the o ring is there almost just as a 2nd backup seal.... cant remember which channel tested it now
I have a manual press tool. I needed to make 4 crimps and wasn't going to spend the big money on a powered press. That being said, if I was doing press on any kind of regular basis I would go with the battery powered one hands down. Manual crimping is not where it's at.
This question is totally off topic of the video. Im kinda reaching out for any assistance. So i originally applied for hvac at this contractor company. But they decided to make me a plumber apprentice, and i said sure. So… being that said, the man told me i must apply for a plumber apprentice license at tsbpe, so… i did. Now i was reading a lot… and it’s definitely not like tdlr where u request, pay, then boom u get it in the mail. I read theres fingerprints needed? Then already paid for the request and still havent gotten nothing in the mail. And then i called a bunch of times for assistance and tsbpe is not so great on reaching out. They dont answrr even on there work hours/business hrs. How an i suppose to get a license? Do i just gotta go therr in person from dallas to Austin and get that bad boy?
I have a press gun just cause it makes my job easier. As a plumber i wouldn't want to do the manual one cause sometimes I'm in a tight spot and it would be difficult to operate.
I bought a manual one, different brand, but looks the same. I’m just a homeowner and can’t justify $1000-$2000 for the battery powered unit. 100 bucks to know I don’t have to solder was well worth it to me. I might do a handful of repairs in a year. If I was a plumber I’d buy the battery one in a heartbeat.
I see you tested what it the pressure for the sweat joint, then again, what is the penetration of the soldering? Is there a test on the life of the o'ring
@@RogerWakefield Thanks Roger. I just watched your test on soldered joints and compared all the results.As a homeowner who already has the soldering tools, I’m going to stick with what I know.Sweating my take me more time,but the cost savings of fittings,tools and doing the job myself is worth it. Thanks again for taking the time to make these comparison test videos.
I have the manuel press. I am a handyman and I use this tool maybe twice a year. I like it. I one thing I would like improved is some gage that tells you you have pumped up enough pressure to press the fitting. Do not make the mistake I made once. I used a 3/4" die on one side and a 1” die on the other. It will leak. As I was putting away the press tool to get out my torch I noticed the mistake.
The Ridgid one would be great for production. Spending $100 to put one of the manual tools on the truck in case a battery goes down would be priceless.
great test ! My point of view is I been plumbing 37 yrs am 67 years old only do a little bit of work I might spend 100 for a tool like that but not 1000 I just solder and put money in my pocket by not buying expensive tools and fittings
I thought it was -eye-bo-sod-. Im probably wrong. It works very well. I've got one! And actually the one that I have is updated, it's a much narrow jaw that clamps similar to the ridgid. Much better in tight areas
I can’t justify a Ridgid , but would if I were in the business…. I use solder if I can do the fit up “off line” and Sharkbites for the rest. The downside to propress is that it’s one and done. You can’t undo and redo like solder or shark bites. Also, I have 15 year plus Sharkbites on my system that are over 15 years old and no issues. Also, I have a pRV reducing pressure from over 90 to 50 psi which saves wear and tear on the washing machine, dishwasher, etc.
i had a plumber come to press fit a valve just him showing up costed $150 so yeah if i knew tools like that existed i would of just spent 100f or the tool an 20 for fitting i needed to replace an do it myself
If your house reaches 6600 psi for water pressure, you have way more issues than an Amazon Manual Press Tool costing $100; but know some companies that have great rates and work ethics and able to fix all the water leaks/burst pipes in your house😉
Quick Fitting with double O ring is the winner if you don't want to solder. 1600 blow out is more than 16 times what anybody will ever see in their home. Keep your 1k press tools and big$$$ fittings. Enough please Rog with these uselss test. How about a freeze test? Or a machine that can vibrate a pipe while under pressure. Real world stuff. YOU CAN DO IT.
![Top 5 Best Pro Press Tools You Can Buy Right Now [2024]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/E_zOSk2o1-M/mqdefault.jpg)
Mr. Wakefield I appreciate your honesty and understanding that home owners can't justify the bells and whistles that pros need/use. There is nothing worse than a professional that turns their nose up at tools that are not brand X. If a homeowner can justify a $1K tool, great, if not you show us there is an affordable option. Thank you for your honesty and understanding.
That’s the whole reason for this video☺️
I appreciate your thoughts
Legal option?
Yeah, ya get tool snobs.
I'm a homeowner and invested in the Ridgid RP-241 along with the Ridgid V/1 C/1 Ring kit. I use it constantly and fix neighbors leaks and use it to replace ball valves along with other plumbing issues. It's a lifesaver. A very expensive lifesaver.
I'm looking at pricing and it's $2,000 now. At that price point might as well call a pro. I'm sure you know that whenever we fix one thing another breaks, 30 min job ends up taking 8 hours and 4 trips to Home Depot.
I keep a manual press tool on my truck for one reason I've been on a job and had my Ridgid press tool die when I had two 3/4 inch joints to finish. It was an hour and a half drive home and an hour and a half drive back to the job to finish a water heater change out.
I currently have both… the manual pump and the RP241. They both work great… I use the hand pump for extremely muddy or sandy situations under homes. I’m not comfortable dragging a $2,000 machine into scenarios where a pinhole leak has been leaking for a couple days or months
How is the manual press underground? I imagine in tight spots, pumping it up to pressure is a nightmare
If they are anything like my hydraulic hole cutter, you probably can get one that has a head connected by a hose.
@@RogerWakefield its not that bad, 1/2 -3/4 pipes take 30-40 pumps… the first 20 pumps are a breeze, the last 10 that’s when the head is almost closing and the pressure is tougher. But for a repair it’s not bad. I would never do a new build or repipe with the hydraulic press.
If you’re a plumber, your time is worth risking the tool. If bringing it in allows you to get to 4-5 extra jobs in throughout the lifespan of the tools, it pays for itself. And I guarantee it’ll take whatever you’re dragging it into. I have a clean one and a dirty one, both still work fine and have never skipped a beat.
Bro your blowing more caca than a Crack head after eating Taco bell
Thanks for the short and to the point video Roger. Like other comments below, good luck finding that RP115 for $1000, more like $1500 in the kit with 1/2 & 3/4 jaws & 1 battery. Pumping that hydraulic version looks like it would get old before you finish the first press.
My wife and I are landlords. I’m comfortable soldering, but my wife is nervous about the flames. We bought the Ibosad in case she needed to do emergency repairs. When a water heater broke and the valve for it wasn’t closing, she had no trouble applying pressure caps with the hydraulic tool until we could make a better plan. I wouldn’t recommend it for professionals, but it’s a nice backup for the DIY types.
Sharkbite is easier
I'd buy the manual one for home, but I'm a sparky (mostly controls & control wiring), not a plumber.
One thing I learned over time is the tools you use every day are worth the expense, but if you aren't, either rent the right tool or buy the cheaper one. If it breaks after the job, at least you got the job done. I don't own one of these, but I also don't have to press fittings in my day to day work.
So, quick question, plex, or copper with press fitting?
So many plumbers are going with the Milwaukee press now. I have had Ridgid from the time they came to the market, still branded with Viega and Ridgid on the tool. One thing I love about the Ridgid versus the Milwaukee is what I call “The Ridgid click”. The Ridgid seems to be at optimum power from beginning to end, and when it is done, you hear the “click” letting you know it is done. The Milwaukee press tool seems to start out strong, then seems like it is struggling to get to the end of the press and just sort of dies like it has run out of power. I know it didn’t really die, but that “Ridgid click” always makes me feel better for some reason. Call me weird, I guess.
I'm with you on that .. as soon as I hear that pressure release sound I know the press is complete and I feel confident it's done
I had to buy the Milwaukee to keep everything color coordinated with the tool totes and coffee thermos and uniforms and trucks and stuff. 😅
I didn’t hear a click when he used the Ridgid press…? Maybe it’s something you feel but not hear?
Hope you marked each one. Looks easy to get them mixed up after pressing.
I’ve got the same $100 press tool, I’ve always been worried about the fittings failing some day but 3 years later and no issues (Viega fittings). As a homeowner, I would love to have the Ridgid tool but for occasional usage at home, the Ibosad has worked well for me. Thanks Roger for testing these side by side!
Remodels and apartment maintenance here I have a igang bolt cutter style one(not the cylinder) . Though it's even more arm strength to press with the one I have (around 120 dollars) it's more narrow and I can get it into smaller space. Of course I'd like a 1k rigid but for the once a week I need it my manual one works fine. Also the style I have let's you know when it's done on the tool no guessing like you had. I hate sodering so this is a fantastic option even the manual ones in tightish spaces like under a sink. I would day 70% of my plumbing new shutoff/shower valves cabinets are rotted and we're replacing them. Shower valves you have as much space back towards you as you could need. One thing I do is pre build as much as I can so I don't have issues. I'm always looking for a used rigid for cheap until then.
Been rocking the ibosad ht1950, came with dyes viega pureflow pex too, almost 2 years in shes holdin up and going strong.
I am Nevada Handyman. I've been doing plumbing since th 70's, my dad was a big time builder in Sacramento and decided to make me his plumber. I have the IBOSAO tool shown in the video and I love it. If I'm connecting a lot of joints YEAH I'll get tired, that's why I have a laborer. If I did nothing but sweet pipes alll day I would get the high dollar tool. It seems that if I sweet 15 or 20 joints 1 will leak, and the its a nightmare. But with the pro- press I just re clamp it, I don't even turn off the water. Easy - Peasy that's the way I like it.
I've got one of those hydraulic hand lever press. I use it to install a water softener system in the garage. Its great for a DIY without breaking the bank on power presses. The entire system is solid with no leaks. As cheap is it is, the press is well built and will give me years of usage.
As a DYIer I am interested in the manual press tool. If I ever soldered more than 10 joints in a day I would be in the business. To do the occasional repair of a pipe that won't stop dripping what a great alternative. A professional plumber pumping all day would start soldering again.
I'm a plumber for a big company in Ohio I bought a $150 press tool off Amazon and used it for about a week before I went and spent around $2200 on a milwaukee m12 press tool and it was worth every penny
With room, you could easily put a cheater bar on the manual pump. For someone like me who doesn't do plumbing often, but STILL DOES plumbing, the manual one is a good option.
Hey Roger! Thank you so much for this test. I am a home owner and have bought such a manual press, since I had to replace an installation under my bathroom. It was in a basement room, where my gas central heating is located. I soldered everything together in my workshop, but the connections I had to do on site. 5" away from the gas line - no way I would solder there.
Here in Germany you check any new installation with 3x working pressure, which is about 200-250psi. That worked totally fine, but I was not sure, how good my manual press fit would be, compared to a professional tool. With those 6600 psi I sleep much better!
Well done, thumbs up!
Greetings from Germany
Andreas
Currently I'm only pressing with the manual tool. I don't use press fittings much unless I can't get the water to stop completely. It's a cheaper option and I haven't had a call back or a leak because of using the above tool. Again, I solder more and use pex adpers in most cases. If I was a comercial plumber then this wouldn't be an option. the tool only goes up to one inch and would be a chore to have to plumb copper frequently. However, being a residential service plumber it is a good option. I've also had a few plumbing companies that I have worked for get very irrate when draggind a 2200 tool under a house. This solves that problem. Plus it doesn't require batteries. I have found that it does get into tight spaces but your cranking radius sometimes makes crimp difficult or even questionible.
I have been using the IBOSAD set for a couple of years now (its pliers are made a little differently aka HT-1950), first I took it with dies for metal-plastic, then for stainless steel, I have not worked with copper yet. Overall I am happy with the product, but sometimes there are hard-to-reach places where you need a press with a separate pump (they are also sold). Metal-plastic is easily pressed, but stainless steel really requires a decent amount of effort.
I have a manual press and it’s great. Mine does not require as much clearance as the one you have either. I think it’s the same manufacturer. Mind will do 3 different pipe sizes too. That’s all I need.
I bought one of the manual tools as a homeowner. I used it 4 times while I owned the house and it paid for itself 10x. No way I'd do production plumbing with it.
After watching a couple of these videos I’m sold on the press fittings impressive as hell. Thanks again I’m loving these videos 🙌🏽
Great to hear!
I have one of the hand manual ones but it has extendable handles on it without the handles extended I cannot press it even with half inch. However I have also been disabled since I was 31 I'm 52 now. And I'm a fraction of what I used to be.. I also found with the amount of force you have to put into it half the time your ends are not where you lined them up to begin with.. which does not save you any time at all. In fact it cost you because you have to go back and do everything all over again. New fittings new pipe..
Do those use an o-ring to seal? what's the life of that oring? I do love soldering as its a little bit of art and exercise in cleanliness, rework can be annoying if there's stray water.
I am a homeowner and I bought the RIgid just because of the tight spaces I have to work in and the lack of arm room to operate the manual crimper.
Yes, it is more expensive, but if my house burns down because my torch got a little too close to my 1911 framing, that would really piss me off!
Can you leave a link to where you can find the Ridged propress tool for $1000? Cheapest I’ve seen then are $1600 and most places are around the $2000 mark.
I rented the 18 volt Milwaukee kit for $50/day from a local plumbing supply shop. As a homeowner, that’s a great option for a decent size project.
That's like a mini propress only does 1/2 in and 3/4
Amazon sells that exact one for $1200. Only comes with 1/2 and 3/4 jaws.
Bosaio also makes an electricians press tool for crimping terminal ends on cable. I use it rather regularly at work, and have never had a better crimper. Darn sure beats the pin and anvil type.
I have the hydraulic one that has different heads instead of dies. So far works great. Ended up ordering the Rigid RP 115 and the thing didn't even work. Just made noise and rollers didn't move.
Just gonna stick with the hydraulic hand pump one. Returning the defective rigid.
I purchased a lot of tools over the years for crews in the field. Sometimes the inexpensive ones are great, but you need to go to who stands behind it when issues come up. If you need repairs or replacements quickly, the cheaper tool may not be the best option.
Great point! Do you have an inexpensive tool that out performs one of the name brand ones?
@@RogerWakefield I’ve purchased several tools from Harbor Freight. Torque wrenches and power type hand held drain cleaners. Tools like this from HF work for home jobs, if I was in a professional capacity I would most likely go with something like Rigid, Milwaukee or SnapOn to name a few. I am slightly careful with the torque wrenches in that I set the limit slightly under what is stated because I’m not sure of the calibration. What I have works for a DIY home mechanic. The Rigid compression tool you were demonstrating is the way to go for that function. Trying to operate the handle on the cheaper one would get tiring quick! I don’t hesitate to get a pro when it’s over my skill level.
Unrelated question to your video. I live in China and our house has a crazy low kitchen sink... I'm positive hobbits lived in this house before. I have a bad back that makes irritating just to wash dishes. I've searched the internet here to find an elevated sink but to no avail. I don't want replace the cabinet just want to buy an elevated sink to sit in top of the current cabinets. Any ideas how to accomplish this?
you should do a video on testing rubber vs braided washing machine hoses.
Interesting idea! I'll write it down
I'm in basically the exact position you described. I do occasional plumbing repairs. But I couldn't justify spending $1,500 to $2,000 for a press fitting tool. (Prices have dropped since then.) So I bought one of the manual tools online. I've done about a dozen small repairs. There was a small learning curve to figure out how tight you needed to get it to press. But when I had a connection with a small leak, I was able to easily just put the manual tool back on the connection and tighten it until the leak stopped. Thus far, I've been quite happy with it.
There are two minor issues that you didn't mention though. The first which was a big plus for the manual tool to me was the lack of a battery. If I were going to use the tool daily, a battery would be no big deal. But I wanted a tool that can sit on the bench for weeks or months but be ready to go when I need it. (And with plumbing, I'll probably need it for an emergency.) So I didn't want to be dependent on the state of a battery's charge. The second issue is that some of these manual press tools are simply too big to be able to get onto the perpendicular connection of a T connector at all. And most seem to have trouble with that connection from certain angles. Thus far, I've been able to plan/work around this limitation. But if you don't know about it, it could cause major issues during a repair.
There are also manual-hydraulic tools with iron jaws that are narrower than the aluminum jaws on the one tested here. They are supposed to be able to get into those tees. They cost maybe $50 more online than the aluminum ones.
I've had a similar press tool from Ibosad for a couple years now. It's been great.
I’m a plumber and have the 115. Works wonders, I can maneuver it any which way. I get in tight spots and I also cut pipes live and just press a ball valve with ease. Worth every penny
You're right, it's a lot of tool for the money!
Mr Wakefield, you are smart, I will give you that. However, press-fit still has seals. Rubber O-ring seals have one design flaw - they are made of rubber. You know what attackes rubber and causes it to desintegrate over time? Chlorine. You know what is, almost universally, put in potable water? Chorine. I will stay with Uponor fittings and pex (where I can. I know some things, like hyrdronics piping, sometimes needs copper/soldering/press-fit).
Ok u can stay with the poisoning.. from the plastic's leeching 👍
same here. i have a manual pro-press toll, but never used it. PEX has proved itself to me
The O-ring is not your basic rubber, it's epdm which resist rot and chemicals such as Chlorine.
@@Matt-mt2vi the seals on ac service valves are also edpm. They do break down over time. Not saying I wouldn't use propress tho
@@Matt-mt2vi intresting. I work as a maintenance tech for a non-profit (group homes). I to pumbing/eletrical/appliance repairs and general maintenance like patching/painting walls, cleaning dryer vents and replacing lock, etc. So, I am not a plumber. However, I have seen the mess those sharkbite fittings make when they fail or you have to remove them, not a fan. They almose universally have bad rubber orings. I have been debating whether or not to get pro-press equiptment or Upinor equiptment. I would like both ofc, but my company will not pay me for buying such tools, only the fittings I use. I may serviously consider pro-press if they use something better than rubber gaskets/orings.
I have a different manual unit that is more like a large set if pliers. The handles extend out for more leverage, not too hard to crimp. I could not justify the cost of a battery tool for the few times I need it. I did invest in a battery pex expansion tool though,.
I’d love to know where u got the ridgid press for 1000 dollars. Home Depot wants over 2 for it
It was on Amazon for a short time..
Can you do the same test for the PEX-A hand powered expanding tools sold on Amazon ?
Vevor sells an 18v tool kit up to 2 inch for 750 with 2 batteries and a charger. still pricey for a homeowner. they have a manual kit for 80 bucks.
The manual press is good for someone only using it at home for plumbing repairs every once in a while, if you work in trades the battery powered is 100% the way to go.
I'm curious what a typical soldered connection would have held at (and to be clear, soldered not brazed)
You’re in luck! I’ve tested both solder and braze, just go to my channel and search for pressure test
Has anyone any experience of using them on stainless pipe for marine use, I have a fair bit of 1.5" pipework to do on my boat?
They make the manual-hydraulic press tool with steel jaws too, narrower than the aluminum jaws on the one you tested, it may get into a tee that the aluminum one could not.
Man, I've been trying to land an apprenticeship for 2 months but none of the local companies will call back and the union forgot about me I think. Really wanting to make the switch and become a plumber, but the market seems to be tough.
Do you happen to live in Fort worth Tx?
@@emugaming4486 no unfortunately. I'm up in the Colorado area.
Move to Pittsburgh.... Second toughest exam, ample job opportunities and the employer has to pay for school. You can transfer just about anywhere if you become a journeyman/master in Allegheny county Pa
Edit: I am specifically referring to non union opportunities... The union is a Uncle out nephew in situation here in Pittsburgh.... I'm sure it's similar in other areas..... I personally don't care for unions and any experience you gain while not in the union doesn't mean squat to the union..... If you really want to be a union cuck it's best to jump through the hoops.... If you just want to work and learn, get a job with someone that is willing to pay you while you gain experience.
Same thing happened to me when I tried to become a pipefitter. Called a lot of companies and made many a trip to the Union making sure that I had everything I needed to be part of their apprentice recruiting program. In the end 6 months later I had to take a full time job offer elsewhere just to pay the bills.
I will say it did nothing to change my views on unionization.
@@Hybris51129 yeah it's weird, people here are saying they can't get anyone for apprenticeships but the problem seems to be their HR teams not calling candidates back.
I am a home owner and a commercial maintenance tech by trade. I use the other version that has the same jaws as the rigid. I actual bought the rigid Jaws and made them work with hydraulic press tool. I would love a battery press tool but can’t justify the price since I just do a few water heater replacements a year.
there is a vevor press tool for less than 800.00 ,it's head does"nt swivel and it's kind of heavy ,check it out Rodger.
The real question is, will the fitting company warranty any failure with the hand press tool?
I'm guessing no?
Where would any fluid connection in a house ever reach over 100 psi ? The only place I could see either of these connections fail would be with a hard freeze in a water system.
40 year elevator constructor now retired for 12 years. I just love quality tools. I have some Milwaukee drills and grinders that are still going strong after 40 years. I have worn out some DeWalt stuff but they gave many many years of service. Some of the stuff from online is not tradesman quality but will work well for a DIY application. My hole hawg right angle drill is a Chicago electric and has probally drilled less than 200 holes up to 6" in 20 years. Still works as good as a Milwaukee ever did. Buy the best tool you can afford or save up and get the good stuff. I often buy open box or reconditioned tools when they are priced right. My M18 pex expander set I got for less than $400 with batteries, charger and heads (open box).
Now explain why press tools (battery) are so expensive???
Just a piss you off and make you ask stupid questions
Lower production, therefore, higher cost to produce and distribute. Everybody has a drill, driver, saw, etc. Press and expansion tools are pretty much limited to plumbers and motivated DIY people.
A lot of pipes are located where you’d have a hard time pumping manually than pressing a button. And with that, battery operated tool will win in time, which means plumbers (and plumbing/hvac companies) can make more money.
They are worth every penny
@@LegitJerome Lol. That's because the prices are so high! I am not a plumber but I would definitely buy a battery tool is it was $100-$200.
Viega marketed a hand pump hydraulic propress tool as well. I don't know what happened with it because you cannot find anyone selling it.
If you're in a hole up to your gumboots in water trying to make a repair , the manual tool makes sence , as getting it wet won't be a problem. But for bulk of the work when you just want to get alot done. You can't beat the battery tool.
I own proPress it paid for itself in 4 jobs - Always Use real Viega fitting and Blue stripe copper I have been Propressing since 2006
Can you explain the color system for copper?
@@bbdaman blue type L
when I first glanced, I thought I read Viagra fittings...LOL
Pipe thickness….same O.D. So fittings work with pipe types M…L…and K
Man, I did the pros and cons of both of these for repiping a small chunk of my basement between my well pump and water heater about a week ago! I've rented the rigid units before for larger repipes or fixes - this last time I only needed a few fittings but had to drain a big HW heater which might take me more than the 4 hour rental window (or else the price triples) - For $100 I have a press kit that has 1/2, 3/4, and 1" rings ready to go. That specific manual model might not do T fittings though - so be warned. There is another version of that manual pump that has typical "jaw" style press (black head) that can do every fitting just fine - the latch mechanism can get in the way pending what brand of fittings you get (Viega tend to be more compact T's etc, local supply houses like Ferguson carries a different brand where the T is might bigger might be OK). I've started to see these in refrigeration/hvac/gas settings as well!
Im sorry but in what place did you buy. the ridge tool for a thousand dollars. My new millwa One coast almost 3800
im an HVAC/ plumbing contractor for 30 years, i still cannot get myself to spend four- grand on a propress tool. i sweat 95% of the time, and PEX the other times. i use the mid-grade PEX crimper, used with the solid crimp rings
as a plumber i have had the same isobad tool for 4 years and had no problem with it don't use it now because the company has a upgrade with jaws that open like the Milwaukee press tool and replaceable dies that do 1/2 -1 in propress and veiaga pex think it was 185 have used for 2 years no leaks.
I bought one of the cheap Amazon press tools as an apprentice and most of the licensed guys did not even have a propress and so I was able to save us a lot of time by bringing my tool along
Cool, thanks. Not a pro, I like the manual. They make the arms extendable now
Thank you
best budget press tool is the apollo one that hooks to any 1/2 impact gun...around 400$ but its built well..
Interesting. Those fittings are at least as good as 1/2" Type M's burst strength. L and K would survive a bit better.
Were those brass fittings? I have a manual tool (not hydraulic) and there is no way it would ever press brass fittings.
I use a Milwaukee press. Don’t sure why you would ever solder ever again. You can shut water off fix leaks and be out in a very short amount of time.
I bought in Milwaukee copper press M12 tool for about $2000. It’s the best $2000 I’ve ever spent. Also copper press fittings are type K copper it doesn’t get any better than that.
Anybody know how long the "Pro-press" 0-ring seal will last under the affects of chlorine?
I've got the IBOSAO. Just used it yesterday. For the price it rocks. It appears well made from heavy steel construction. Just 6 or 7 pumps and my fittings were set. No leaks and I still have $900 in my wallet. I've got the Milwaukee Uponor Propex tool and the crimp ring tools and I'll be damned if I'm going to spend the crazy money for one of these battery operated tools.
How long have you had it?
@@RogerWakefield I've been using it for about six months. I've only been doing repairs and modifications to existing systems so I probably crimped less than 100 fittings but so far no leaks and no situations where the tools size or shape was a problem. The final pump or two takes a bit of effort but I'm a bigger guy and I just lean on it and it hasn't been a problem.
😅 well I don't see any problem using it every once in awhile. If I was using it everyday or every few days, pumping it every time would get annoying quickly....the electric makes it easy
Some experienced techs suggest that o-ring based seals won't last nearly as long as soldered.
Depends on the type copper used
I've heard this saying, but have never seen this happen in practice. All the condos built in the last 10 years here use the Pro Press due to the speed and consistency, so I imagine there is a large enough sample size if there was a reliability issue.
Theres a channel that tested the propress fittings, but they took the o ring out...... just the crimped fitting was enough to not leak.... if it did it was a super slow drip..... the o ring is there almost just as a 2nd backup seal.... cant remember which channel tested it now
Bought the manual press , did 3 jobs no leaks . Used the money from the 2 jobs and bought the Milwaukee press. Now my employe uses the manual one.
I have a manual press tool. I needed to make 4 crimps and wasn't going to spend the big money on a powered press. That being said, if I was doing press on any kind of regular basis I would go with the battery powered one hands down. Manual crimping is not where it's at.
Probably my favorite plumbing tool, easy too! Love Pex A though, maybe even easier
This question is totally off topic of the video. Im kinda reaching out for any assistance. So i originally applied for hvac at this contractor company. But they decided to make me a plumber apprentice, and i said sure. So… being that said, the man told me i must apply for a plumber apprentice license at tsbpe, so… i did. Now i was reading a lot… and it’s definitely not like tdlr where u request, pay, then boom u get it in the mail. I read theres fingerprints needed? Then already paid for the request and still havent gotten nothing in the mail. And then i called a bunch of times for assistance and tsbpe is not so great on reaching out. They dont answrr even on there work hours/business hrs. How an i suppose to get a license? Do i just gotta go therr in person from dallas to Austin and get that bad boy?
I have a press gun just cause it makes my job easier. As a plumber i wouldn't want to do the manual one cause sometimes I'm in a tight spot and it would be difficult to operate.
For DIY, the IBOSAD is perfect. But being my son is a plumber I think I would borrow the Milwaukee press tool instead. :)
That sounds like a better first choice 🤣
I'd like to see you do a video on different types of pexb crimpers
I lil that idea🧐 what about pex a expansion?
I bought a manual one, different brand, but looks the same. I’m just a homeowner and can’t justify $1000-$2000 for the battery powered unit. 100 bucks to know I don’t have to solder was well worth it to me. I might do a handful of repairs in a year. If I was a plumber I’d buy the battery one in a heartbeat.
Why do you press the fittings twice with the Ridgid machine?
One on each end of the pipe
I love my pro-press however I do have the manual Just in case i damage the expensive one. I have achieved the same results with both
Where can I find a ridgid pro press for 1000$ inch thought they were 2000
Depends on where you buy it
@@RogerWakefield I’ll have to shop around thank you Roger for the video and the reply . 👍
I appreciate you watching!
I’m curious what the failure point is for a sweated joint.
Tested it!
I see you tested what it the pressure for the sweat joint, then again, what is the penetration of the soldering?
Is there a test on the life of the o'ring
@@RogerWakefield Thanks Roger. I just watched your test on soldered joints and compared all the results.As a homeowner who already has the soldering tools, I’m going to stick with what I know.Sweating my take me more time,but the cost savings of fittings,tools and doing the job myself is worth it. Thanks again for taking the time to make these comparison test videos.
I have the manuel press. I am a handyman and I use this tool maybe twice a year. I like it. I one thing I would like improved is some gage that tells you you have pumped up enough pressure to press the fitting.
Do not make the mistake I made once. I used a 3/4" die on one side and a 1” die on the other. It will leak. As I was putting away the press tool to get out my torch I noticed the mistake.
Another comment said they found one similar to what Roger showed but it has an indicator when it was fully pressed.
The Ridgid one would be great for production. Spending $100 to put one of the manual tools on the truck in case a battery goes down would be priceless.
great test ! My point of view is I been plumbing 37 yrs am 67 years old only do a little bit of work I might spend 100 for a tool like that but not 1000 I just solder and put money in my pocket by not buying expensive tools and fittings
You should test the vevor electric press tool. cost me like 850$
I went with the Rigid second hand for my DIY projects then sold it to pass it on to the next guy. Was worth it for the projects.
We just bought one , and is amazing how fast it's working with one of those.
The Ibosad or the Ridgid?
@@RogerWakefield Ridgid
How long will the rubber epmd last? Because copper will last a long time. But will the rubber match that time.😁
I thought it was -eye-bo-sod-. Im probably wrong. It works very well. I've got one! And actually the one that I have is updated, it's a much narrow jaw that clamps similar to the ridgid. Much better in tight areas
I don't why you said the rigid was around a thousand dollars. Please share that site so I can buy it.
It was on amazon for around $1,000 when we researched this video...who knows if it's still the same price now
I can’t justify a Ridgid , but would if I were in the business…. I use solder if I can do the fit up “off line” and Sharkbites for the rest. The downside to propress is that it’s one and done. You can’t undo and redo like solder or shark bites. Also, I have 15 year plus Sharkbites on my system that are over 15 years old and no issues. Also, I have a pRV reducing pressure from over 90 to 50 psi which saves wear and tear on the washing machine, dishwasher, etc.
No way! I suggested this a couple months to you guys after buying one to redo my laundry room.
Thanks for your suggestion😎😎
Great Video Roger ! I always wondered
No problem! Is there another tool like this you’d like to see?
Stayed tuned for the next comparison where we test a Wards mountain Bike with a Ducati motorcycle.
i had a plumber come to press fit a valve just him showing up costed $150 so yeah if i knew tools like that existed i would of just spent 100f or the tool an 20 for fitting i needed to replace an do it myself
If your house reaches 6600 psi for water pressure, you have way more issues than an Amazon Manual Press Tool costing $100; but know some companies that have great rates and work ethics and able to fix all the water leaks/burst pipes in your house😉
Quick Fitting with double O ring is the winner if you don't want to solder. 1600 blow out is more than 16 times what anybody will ever see in their home. Keep your 1k press tools and big$$$ fittings. Enough please Rog with these uselss test. How about a freeze test? Or a machine that can vibrate a pipe while under pressure. Real world stuff. YOU CAN DO IT.
0:07 don't expose it to leaks with press fittings 🤦🤔
For real lol
For a DIY guy it maybe worth renting the electric tool while a pro will regularly use the electric and keep the hand tool on the truck as a backup.
I was wondering if tool places actually rent these units.
@95ffd yes! I was able to rent the m12 milwaukee easy but they usually make you put several hundred dollars down in case it gets damaged/lost
Iswiss makes one like the manual pex tools by viega. Is is just a squeeze.