Bought a Wirsbo manual expander to do my plumbing. OUCH! Bought on e-bay for a ‘bargain’ at around $300 clams. Wow, what a proprietary corner they got you. The tool is simple (looking) and my reaction is that it ain’t worth $100 brand new. The power expander is like $1500!! Ultimately it’s worth it and I can resell on e-bay for much of what I paid leaving me w/ a ‘rental’ cost of a nominal amount. Wirsbo is a nice, quality system, though. Any comments on the tool’s cost?
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
Learn how to plan, fabricate, and install a chute to conveniently send your dirty clothes from an upstairs bathroom or hallway to your laundry room below.
Highlights
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Replies
I paid the same price ($300) for the manual expander with three dies at my local plumbing supply house last year.
I got the 3 dies, too.
Consider yourself lucky.
I paid ninety bucks new for a crimper at my supply house...why go the expander route I figured <shrugging my shoulders>.
Crimpers were sure easy and convenient to use. There wasn't really any areas I couldn't fit it or make it work so...
"the most amazing buddhist prayer song I have ever heard during my trip through the hidden mystique countries like Nepal and India. I've heard it playing everywhere in Kathmandu - buses, ashrams, hotels,streets, etc... "author unknown
how it sounds^-->http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2shskL0AYuE
http://WWW.CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
Long after starting my project, I ran into a guy at the plumbing store that used the crimp method and was pretty happy w/ it. I bet someone knows the +/- of both. I suspect the crimp method has a downside else we wouldn't have the 'cadillac' method at all. It just doesn't seem to be worth the money ... I figure they have you cornered w/ proprietary products and so they sock it to ya.
I believe the down side is that its hard to use in certain hard to reach areas. It worked for me in every location and I had some hairy locations.
I figured if there was a wierd location that I'd figure something out for the extra $200 the expander would cost me : )
I also know that crimp rings and fittings are found just about every where so....
My guess is that the expander is a stronger connection but I can't really say for sure. the crimped connections I don't see letting go however.
"the most amazing buddhist prayer song I have ever heard during my trip through the hidden mystique countries like Nepal and India. I've heard it playing everywhere in Kathmandu - buses, ashrams, hotels,streets, etc... "author unknown
how it sounds^-->http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2shskL0AYuE
http://WWW.CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
Oh...one other thing...I looked on Ebay before I started and saw plenty of expanders for sale for under $200 at the time I was doing my work (about 3 months ago)..the crimpers...for ninty bucks? I just bought that at my supply house right here in town.PS..My local Lowes has all the PEX supplies you will need. I went to the plumbiung supply house though instead.
"the most amazing buddhist prayer song I have ever heard during my trip through the hidden mystique countries like Nepal and India. I've heard it playing everywhere in Kathmandu - buses, ashrams, hotels,streets, etc... "author unknown
how it sounds^-->http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2shskL0AYuE
http://WWW.CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
I'll sell you a spare set if you need another. $200 for the set with 3 heads.
Moved to a place with no Uphonor to be had, it's all crimped here.
Joe H
I say it is a fair price if you were in the busness other wise i would buy self sealing fittings calld shark bite for conceald locations and then in acessable one of the cheaper models in plastic