I recently bought a Pex tool on e-Bay, thinking I would work with Pex from now on instead of copper. However, turns out the tool I bought works with compression rings rather than the Worsbo system of expansion.
Anybody have any thoughts on whether one of these systems is superior to the other?
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Replies
Wirsbo is now UPONOR¯ http://www.uponor-usa.com
Superior is an opinion & we all have em.
I prefer Wirsbo uh heh I mean uponor
They been around the longest & their profile looks like they want to be the #1 in the game.
"There are about 550000000 firearms in worldwide circulation. That's one firearm for every twelve people on the planet. The only question is...........How do we arm the other eleven?" Yuri Orlov
I would hurry up and resell it on E-Bay, hoping that someone else will not know what he is buying.....seriously!
why is that?
Well, I can only say that the guy who uses the compression fittings must never have used the Wirsbo system or doesn't have Wirsbo products readily available to him.
The compression system is just plain clumsy and more expensive to use than Wirsbo's expanding system. There are many places you just can't reach with the tool for one thing.
With Wirsbo, you can expand a pex end and shove it up into a place that you could never reach with any other tool to make the connection.
If Wirsbo didn't have the patent on the technology, everyone would adopt it.
sounds good to me. One problem is that the expansion tool cost about $300, and the compression tool about $60.
wanna buy a compression tool?
The last Wirsbo kit I bought locally cost me $250 w/ three heads. They sell for more than that on e-bay used!
So....it sounds like an investment you can't lose money on! Use it as long as you want and then sell it for what you paid for it.
There sure seems to be a lot of people bidding on those things.
I can see where your coming from. There system looked great and if I remember correctly they said they were the original PEX system. I liked the fact that there product can be reheated to its clear stage and it returns to its original shape(like removing kinks)when it cools. They had two types of expanders,manual and battery operated. They also followed up with technical information and drawings after the show. Seems like a great company to work with.
I saw the compression demonstrated at the International Builders Show in Orlando last month. They have a great product and because the compression ring becomes the same diameter as the installed end it makes inspection of the joint assembly easily verifable. The other (expansion) system is also very good as they were demonstating there products also.
boy, the last 2 responses are diametricaly opposed.
does someone have first hand negative experience for either of these systems? I use 2 plumbing subs - one uses compression, one expansion - I'm confused (as they are obviously also)
The compression demo also demonstrated PEX with an aluminum center lining and were commenting about some of the excellent properties of this product as it related to installation ease.(and it did look easy) Something to do with less hangers. I'm not sure, but I think there were more that a few vendors pushing there pex products. I'd have to check my info.
What you are referring to is called pex-alum-pex. It is semi rigid and is used in hydronic heating applications.
It works well in tube track type systems because it has low linear expansion and stays put once you get it in the tracks.
Wirsbo Multi Cor is one example. You can't use the expanding tool to install this type of tubing so that is probably why you saw another type of connection system used.