Pex- Clamps or Rings

[VeggieBullet]

After a lot of reading it seems like Pex will be the way to go when re-plumbing the whole trailer.
Now two questions for the experienced members:
1) Choice of preference between a)the Stainless Steel Cinch clamps or b)the Copper Crimp Rings.
100 PEX 1/2" Stainless Steel Cinch Pex Clamps #100 | eBay
(100) 1/2" PEX Copper Crimp Rings USA 649X2 Sioux Chief | eBay
2) Fittings: Brass or Plastic? not even sure if they are plastic, they may be other material but it looks plastic to the common user like us.
BTW we got a good deal on ebay for the Kobalt Steel Pex Crimp Tool.

[idroba]

Brass fittings, either crimp system. The crimp ring system uses a larger tool, harder to get into some spots. The crimp system tool is smaller.

[VeggieBullet]

thanks idroba!
just wondering, what are the major differences between them?
According to Lowes is showing the copper rings as a related item to this tool.

[JackP]

I used the cinch rings. One tool can be used on multiple size rings and removal of the cinch rings is easier than crimp rings.

One bit of warning however. I once was on the road and needed to purchase cinch rings. The local Home Depot did not have them.

[bilby05]

I used "shark bite" fittings on our 69 sovereign. They are a little more expensive, but it depends on how many you need. Nice thing about sharkbite is that you can make changes, they remove with a little plastic tool. I am not sure about what it would cost to buy the tools, fittings and clamp rings for the other applications. But I really didn't use all that many and I like being able to make repairs on the road, if something happens to a length of pipe. (you know like wild beavers or plastic eating termites)
best wishes, bill b.

[VeggieBullet]

Hi guys.
thanks for the replies.
We all know how the whole pressure testing works, first one fitting is out, you get it fixed and then under good pressure the next one goes bad and the domino effect kicks in.We fixed our plumbing on our first AS with sharkbite fittings since we were under the impression that it will be just few fittings, once done and doing some numbers and realized that we spent more in patching than replacing everything with pex.
Based on that financial analysis we came to the conclusion that no more patches!

[VeggieBullet]

We were ready to order the pex tubing and we saw the option of Oxygen Barrier or Non Oxygen Barrier...?????

[HiJoeSilver]

Non oxygen barrier is fine for plumbing hot and cold otable water. The Oxygen barrier is used for systems that will have lots of steel or cast iron fittings in them, which you won't have in a trailer, also used for radiant flor heating systems.

[VeggieBullet]

Originally Posted by HiJoeSilver

Non oxygen barrier is fine for plumbing hot and cold otable water. The Oxygen barrier is used for systems that will have lots of steel or cast iron fittings in them, which you won't have in a trailer, also used for radiant flor heating systems.

cool, thanks for the input!
We were trying to figure why the difference in pricing.
now we found these and they look ok and very handy for the fixtures but not sure how will they do with the crimping, Any idea?
thanks again

[VeggieBullet]

sorry forgot the link!
We found these and since we are thinking on placing a valve in every fixture they look handy and not pricy
Lot of 10 PEX 1/2 x 1/2 x 1/2 MPT Poly T Tee Fittings | eBay

[Bill M.]

I guess you will use what the tool you got on ebay is for! It looks like the tool for the stainless steel cinch clamps. About 40 bucks at Lowes. They work fine. Never used the copper rings, so I can not compare. I use the brass fittings. I reccomend spending another 10 bucks or so and getting the cutter for the pex from Lowes or HD. A nice, square, clean cut goes a long ways towards making a trouble free connection.

[Zeppelinium]

I use the copper rings. I've done four complete Airstream plumbing systems and never had even one leak. One of the PEX installations has been on the road for four years and 20,000+ miles and one of the other ones for 3 years and 10,000+ miles.

I also worry about repairs on the road, but it's looking like a failure isn't a significant risk.

Zep

[VeggieBullet]

Originally Posted by Bill M.

I guess you will use what the tool you got on ebay is for! It looks like the tool for the stainless steel cinch clamps. About 40 bucks at Lowes. They work fine. Never used the copper rings, so I can not compare. I use the brass fittings. I reccomend spending another 10 bucks or so and getting the cutter for the pex from Lowes or HD. A nice, square, clean cut goes a long ways towards making a trouble free connection.

Hi Bill
Not you got me worried!
We were under the impression that is a crimping tool, and we were most likely going with the copper rings.
This is the one according to Lowe's
Shop Kobalt Steel PEX Crimp Tool Kit at Lowes.com
And this is the link from the auction that we won...
Kobalt Quick-Cinch PEX Clamp Tool | eBay
So...Now I'm sweating! just order the rings on ebay and don't even know what tool we have

[Zeppelinium]

Originally Posted by VeggieBullet

...We were under the impression that is a crimping tool, and we were most likely going with the copper rings...

it looks exactly like my ring crimping tool.

[CeloNC]

Just finioshed replumbing my '71 Sovereign and recommend the stainless steel cinch clamps because (1) the tool is cheaper and (2) they are easier to use in tight spaces. Having said that, I have not learned of an "east" way to remove them from a fitting. Any suggestions? Thanks, Bill

[VeggieBullet]

Originally Posted by Zeppelinium

it looks exactly like my ring crimping tool.

Hi Zeppelinium!
Thanks for the input, it makes me feel better that we are not ordering all the wrong parts and that it will take me a week once we get them to notice that!!
We are also getting these fittings
1/2 Brass Elbows (25)
1/2 Brass Tees (25)
Copper Rings (100)
so based on your experience would that be enough?

[Bill M.]

Guess you got it right then. From afar it looks a bit like the cinch tool too. I guess you will be going with the copper rings then.

Have had to remove cinched rings from from a fitting several times. Did not find an easy way. I cut a angled cut across the ring with a hacksaw or a dremel with a wheel. Not too hard to do. You can cut most of the way and break it with a screwdriver sometimes. I think there may be a cutting tool for that but I try to keep it down to a minimun and it is not very hard to do with the hacksaw.

[AldeanFan]

Word of Warning

I broke one of my personal rules and borrowed a crimp tool from a friend of my fathers, he didn't tell me it need to be calibrated/adjusted periodically and I had no instructions other than him showing me how it worked on the bench. This is one of the many reasons I never borrow or loan tools.

Everysingle crimp leaked and had to be redone! and you'r not supposed to re-crimp the rings either.

Make sure you use the gauge and adjust as necessary.

[VeggieBullet]

Originally Posted by Bill M.

Guess you got it right then. From afar it looks a bit like the cinch tool too. I guess you will be going with the copper rings then.

Have had to remove cinched rings from from a fitting several times. Did not find an easy way. I cut a angled cut across the ring with a hacksaw or a dremel with a wheel. Not too hard to do. You can cut most of the way and break it with a screwdriver sometimes. I think there may be a cutting tool for that but I try to keep it down to a minimun and it is not very hard to do with the hacksaw.

Hi Bill
Now we are looking for the cutter as you recommended, but the center of the tool looks like a cutter, may be not..

[VeggieBullet]

Originally Posted by AldeanFan

Word of Warning

I broke one of my personal rules and borrowed a crimp tool from a friend of my fathers, he didn't tell me it need to be calibrated/adjusted periodically and I had no instructions other than him showing me how it worked on the bench. This is one of the many reasons I never borrow or loan tools.

Everysingle crimp leaked and had to be redone! and you'r not supposed to re-crimp the rings either.

Make sure you use the gauge and adjust as necessary.

thanks for the warning!
now this doesn't have any instructions, so now what...