Crimping vs Soldering Copper Pipe

[snooker1]

Never crimped copper pipe I have always soldered. However, I watched a guy install a water heater and he crimped all the copper pipe, seemed to be faster than soldering, anyone have any experience with crimping copper and any Pros or Cons vs soldering.

 

[tucker80]

Was he using pro press?

 

[crackerdave]

Soldering looks neater if you know how to do it without overheating the joints and you wipe off the excess solder.

 

[snooker1]

Was he using pro press?

Ridgid battery operated crimper.

 

[tucker80]

It was pro press. We use it almost exclusively. The setup cost is pretty high and the fittings cost more. But there are huge labor savings. There is also a 50 year warranty on most manufacturers fittings.

 

[27metalman]

Nothing wrong with Pro Press, Viega, and the other similar brands of press fittings. Not economical for the happy homeowner though... Tool is expensive. Also, buyer beware --- The fittings are not interchangeable with other brands of the press tool (gun). Some are, some are not. You have to know what you're getting into. As stated above, the savings comes with labor costs and all the money you save on flux, solder, but time mostly. They make systems for black pipe and stainless, too.

 

[tucker80]

The mega press makes reno and cutting in EASY on the black iron.

a little bit of the stainless press.