Posted by Tony Colella on August 12, 2005 at 07:24:45:
rise2it was correct. In Lowe’s you will find the conversion fitting in a package that contains a black crimp for the pex side of the fitting and a copper crimp for the polyB side of the fitting. Your pex crimp tool will crimp both sides.
As for the brand name on the tools I would have to hussle out to the truck and check. I am not certain off hand.
What I like about them is that they are much, much smaller than what Lowe’s and Home Depot sell (for about $100 there vs about $120 for the set I like in the plumbing supply stores) is that the smaller pair has one side of the tool that slips (almost like it dislocates) towards you instead of forcing you to open the plier like tool up like a butterfly (which the Lowe’s tool did). This allows us to work in much smaller places.
If I remember, I will look for the brand name on them today but I am not certain this is such a factor as much as the style of the tool is.
Posted by Garry (Ohio) on August 11, 2005 at 19:20:03:
I’ve read the archive on Pex pipe and have come to the conclusion that the gray pipe I see in my latest home is polybutylene which is installed in a similar manner to Pex. Before I turn the water on I want to install shut off valves at the various sinks and the toilet. I’ve decided that now is the time to invest in a crimping tool and move away from compression type fittings. Does anybody know if I can use a Pex crimping tool with a Pex crimp ring around polybutylene pipe into which is installed a Pex valve with barbed male end?
Posted by Tony Colella on August 12, 2005 at 07:33:39:
Gary, sorry that for some reason this string has taken my posts in both double and tripled them. For some reason, when Glen (OH) posted, it even put my post under his name???
Not sure why this happened but it does not seem to be happening on other strings I have responded to.
Re: Gray Plastic Pipe vs Pex - Posted by Tony Colella
Posted by Tony Colella on August 11, 2005 at 19:24:20:
You can use a conversion fitting to go from PolyB (gray pipe) to pex using the one tool (for example 1/2 inch tool for both or 3/4 inch tool for both).
I highly recommend you DO NOT buy your crimping tool at Lowe’s or Home depot. They tend to sell bolt cutter sized tools that are USELESS in the confind spaces of these homes.
Go to a plumbing supply store if need be a get the smaller, one hand type size tool. You will thank me.
The polyB fitting are subject to failure and leaking. Tying in with pex is what we do (if not a total replacement).
Re: Just One Man’s Opinion - Posted by Tony Colella
Posted by Tony Colella on August 12, 2005 at 15:18:28:
I find this incredible. How would a compression fitting that swells and constricts with weather changes be better than a metal fitting that is crimped on to a brass fitting?
Re: Gray Plastic Pipe vs Pex - Posted by Garry (Ohio)
Posted by Garry (Ohio) on August 11, 2005 at 21:19:41:
Tony
I’m glad you answered because I wanted to ask you about the “space saving” crimp tool (which you had previously mentioned in some of your past postings) However, I want to be sure I understand the transition concept first. Am I right in assuming that the conversion fitting you are refering to has two barbed ends, one for the PolyB tube and one for the Pex. If so, does that mean that one PolyB crimp ring and one Pex crimp ring is needed?
On the crimp tool issue I would be interested to know the brand you use (and model number if possible). I know it’s somewhat cheeky of me to ask but it would sure shorten my search for a MH friendly tool considerably. If we are butting into the “no advertising” rule on the site perhaps you could email me with the info.