Using copper piping for plumbing has been a mainstay since at least the 1940s. A marked improvement from old plumbing systems which may have contained lead components, copper is safe and durable. It’s also kind of a pain in the you-know-what. I mean that on multiple different levels: it’s time-consuming to install and it’s expensive compared to iron or PEX or CPVC. Historically, copper piping has been installed by using an open flame to sweat and solder sections together. That’s been changing though, with more plumbers opting to press fittings together with specialized tools. The new Milwaukee Press Tool, #2922-22, is the latest generation of these modern workhorses. In this installment of Tool News Nirvana, we’ll learn more about it and how it could improve your job site. Read More
Plumbing
Ryobi PEX Pinch Clamp Tool Review – Pulling The Trigger On Easier PEX Connections
Until fairly recently, whenever I had a plumbing job to do, it was done with copper. Period. I was aware of the newfangled stuff called PEX, of course, and had heard others tout how easy it is to work with, and how reliable it is. But despite the all-American look of the red, white and blue tubing, it never looked very durable to me. It’s just so…plastic-y. After helping out on a couple of recent jobs where all the plumbing was done with PEX, I was impressed with how easy it is to maneuver into awkward spaces, and how quickly the installations went. With the recent arrival of the Ryobi PEX Pinch Clamp Tool to make the clamping connections, I may be listing my MAP gas torch on eBay. Read More
