This year the PEX Pocket Crimper started to show up everywhere we looked. While the pros are going to use more advanced solutions for most work, like the new lithium-ion powered products from Milwaukee, we keep running into examples of quick jobs, or tight space scenarios that make these portable PEX crimpers a real bargain. To understand a bit more about why they are handy, it’s good to understand how it is they work. The PEX Pocket Crimper is designed and tested to meet the same ASTM (American Society for Testing Materials) specification F-1807 as long-handled crimpers. The only difference is that the crimping mechanism is activated by a standard pair of 10″ locking pliers (Vise Grips).
The PEX Crimpers fit all of the standard polyethylene tubing made to ASTM specifications F876 and F877 as well as polybutylene (poly-B) fittings. This includes common products made by Zurn, Wirsbo, Vanguard, Rehau, Ipex, Qest, and others. The high-grade steel crimpers should last a long time and will even fit common manifolds with 2″ spacing or better. Unlike the conventional long-handled crimpers, there are no small high wear pins to wear and adjust for. As a result, the tool never needs adjusting.
Using the PEX Pocket Crimper
Using the tool is pretty simple. You simply cut the tubing and insert the fitting as you’d expect. After this, you position the tool in place, and crimp it by closing it around the fitting and using a standard 10-inch pair of locking pliers to grab the ends of the PEX Crimpers, squeezing them shut. When the tool is closed enough so that a piece of paper cannot be slid between the jaws, it is completed. You can then check your crimps, if desired, with a Go/No-Go gauge. For each pipe size, one side of the gauge should slip over the ring as shown (“go” side) and the other side, shouldn’t (“no-go” side).
The PEX Pocket Crimper combination kit ($29.95) is made in the USA and comes with a gauge and carrying pouch. The gauge can check 3/8″, 1/2″, and 3/4″ sizes and a 1″ size is also available ($34.95).
For more information, please visit www.pexcrimper.com or buy it at Amazon.com.
