If you are someone that prides themselves in working with their homes plumbing systems by fixing any issues or installing any new pieces, then good on you!  I have always believed that people should try their best to work on any issues their home might have, and once absolutely necessary you can phone in someone else for help.  Generally anything plumbing related can be a scary subject to approach, but once you learn the basics you’d be surprised in how much you can actually fix with a small set of tools.  One of the main tools you will find your self needing is a crimping set.  Because of this I thought I’d do a review of the best PEX crimp tool of 2017!

What is a PEX Crimp Tool Used For?

As I’m sure you know, are used for quite a few different things in general interior plumbing along with repairs and fixes.    PEX is becoming more and more used in indoor plumbing, and especially in toilets.  If you notice a leak or water aroudn your toilet it could be a broken pipe which could be your signal to switch to PEX from copper, or it could be a broken toilet seal.  And of course if you are using PEX pipes for your plumbing needs then you are going to need something to connect and cut these tubes to meet your needs.  There are a few different ways to go about cutting and using PEX tubes, but generally a PEX crimping tool is the best way to go because of how easy and versatile it is.  That being said if you have a serious reconstruction to do, you will need a PEX manifold as well.

Advantages of PEX Pipes

If you are someone that is used to going old school with copper pipes, it’s probably time to start looking at PEX.  Here are some of the advantages of PEX Pipes:

• PEX Pipes are a good deal cheaper than copper pipes.
• PEX is easier and faster to install than copper pipes.
• PEX pipes won’t corrode like copper pipes might in certain situations.

Overall I definitely suggest PEX pipes or copper or PVC.

What Type of PEX Crimp Tool Do You Need?

When you are looking for the best PEX crimp tool, then you definitely need to take a look at your needs, and the different types of tools available.  Once you start looking at your local hardware stores you will see that there are quite a few different types of these PEX tools around.  The main differences between the tools you will see, are the size of the tool itself and the size of the crimp.

Size of The PEX Crimping Tool

When you are inside your walls or under your sink, you start to realize just how little space you have.  Because of this, it can be quite difficult to maneuver your way around to reach what you need to reach.  Because of this lack of space, different lengths of PEX crimping tools have been developed.  There are some that are designed to be one handed and for very tight spaces, and there are others that are made for larger more open spaces and are easier to use.

Size of The Crimping Clasp

Along with the actual size of the tool itself, there are some tools that crimp the pipe into different tube sizes.  Generally they range for 1/4 inch – 1 inch.  Of course this is important to know to make sure you match up the pipes to the correct size and that you use the correct size for whatever appliance you are working on.

My Three Reviews of the Best PEX Crimp Tool of 2016

Because there are so many crimping tools on the market, it can be hard to know which one to pick.  Thankfully for you guys, I have been through this path, and I have tried a few different tools.  Because of this, I will leave you with my three favorite PEX crimping tools.

Conbraco PEX Crimp Tool Multisize Head

I think this Conbraco PEX tool is one of the best on the market today! It is the set standard of not only quality but of craftsmanship as well.  This is a very popular crimper because of it’s functionality.  As we mentioned before, it is very important to know which crimping size you need for a certain job, well thankfully with the Conbraco tool, it has five different interchangeable sized heads (3/8 inch, 1/2 inch, 5/8 inch, 3/4 inch, and 1 inch).  This gives you the ability to work on just about any PEX pipe without having to go out and buy a different sized tool.

Overall I think this is a great tool, and I definitely recommend this tool to anyone who wants to do home plumbing!

IWISS PEX Cinch Crimping Tool

My next review for the best PEX crimp tool would be the tool made by IWISS.  IWISS is an electrical and industrial tool company that has been around for about fifteen years.  Their tools really have been known for their quality and their durability, which is just what you need for a tool that is gonna be in all sorts of situations.  This tool is designed to be used with stainless steel crimps and copper crimps, which are the majority of the connectors you will find in stores anyways.

The IWISS PEX tool has the following features and specifications:

• Used with stainless steel and copper clamps
• Works with clamp sizes of 1/2″ and 3/4″
• Works with Sharbite, Watts, Apollo, and all US F1807 standards
• Weighs about 2 lbs
• Includes 20 PCS of 1/2″ stainless steel crimps
• Includes 10 PCS of 3/4″ stainless steel crimps

Overall this PEX tool works with a huge variety of sizes of clamps which truly makes it a versatile tool.  Along with this, this crimp tool is factory adjusted which means it doesn’t need any extra fancy tools to adjust and calibrate it before you can being working.  In the end I definitely suggest this tool to anyone that is looking at doing some plumbing work in their home, it gives you the ability to work with pretty much any size without having to purchase another tool.

My Final Thoughts on Picking the Best PEX Crimp Tool

Overall, when you are looking at dealing with some home plumbing, then you will need the right tools.  Overall finding the best PEX crimp tool can be a difficult journey, but hopefully since I have been through it all before I could help to guide you in the right direction.