PEX Tool Kit
For most individuals that are not experienced at working with PEX materials in plumbing systems, you will need to get together all of the tools that will be necessary during the construction or repair of your system. There are a number of different types of tools that are commonly found in post PEX tool kits. These tools include
PEX Cutters
PEX cutters are used to cut the piping material when you make connections in your system. Many attempt to use cutters that are built for other types of material including PVC pipe. Though often times these cutters will work, you have to keep in mind that when you are cutting your PEX pipe, you are attempting to cut as cleanly as possible so that your fittings fit snugly and the crimping rings fit easily as well. There are many different types of PEX cutters that may be included in PEX tool kits, and some of them will be built specifically for different sizes of pipes. When you go to make your cut, you will first cut one half of the pipe, and then will cut the other half, both will be cut using a very smooth squeezing motion so that you do not jerk the pipes around
Crimping Tools
Crimping tools are used to cinch down crimping rings over the pipe and fittings in the connections of your PEX system. They will be required for any system that will use crimp connections instead of threaded connections. Threaded connections will save money and time, but will not be as sturdy as crimp connections and are more prone to leaks. Crimping tools that are included in PEX tool kits may come in a variety of different sizes, or may include one crimping tool that has a number of different settings for different sizes of pipe. Included in the crimping tool class are decrimping tools which are used to loosen the crimp rings and slide them off, effectively freeing the pipe and the fitting for times when you are looking to fix leaks or for other repairs that require you to disassemble portions of your system.
Drills and Drill Bits
Some PEX kits will also include drills and drill bits that are designed to bore holes through wood. This is required in many systems. the drill bits will be for different sizes of PEX pipe and will ensure that you can quickly and efficiently move your pipes through the wood of your home without having to make a number of different connections to go around beams and other parts of the home.
PEX Crimp Tools
The use of crimp rings and crimp tools are quite common when working with your PEX piping system. This is because crimps are the standard type of connection in most systems that are put together by plumbers. Although the do-it-yourselfer at home might choose a threaded style of fitting that does not require a crimping tool. There are many different types of crimping tools that are often used when putting together a PEX system in your home, some of the more commonly used crimping tools include;
PEX Crimping Tool
The crimping tool is used to crimp the crimping ring over the fitting and the tubing. These tools are usually not all that expensive, but are required for those types of connections. When you choose to use fittings that require a crimping ring, along with a crimp tool, it will be your most used tool when making connections other than your PEX cutter.
Decrimping Tool
The decrimping tool essentially does the opposite of the crimping tool. This will loosen the crimps that you already have in place when you choose to repair your system. Keep ind mind that these tools will only be required when you are taking apart connections, and therefore will probably be repairing some sort of leak in your system.
Crimp Rings
Crimp rings are required for connections that do not have any sort of threading. Typically, they come in a number of different materials including copper and other metal materials. These are placed over the pipe and the fitting using a crimping tool, the will cinch the ring down and then will create an air and water tight seal.
Crimp Tool Kits
Crimp Tool Kits usually contain all of the necessary items to make crimped connection in a PEX systems.Often times they will include a number of different tools that you are never going to use in your average system, but may be useful if you plan on doing more plumbing work in the near future. The truth of the matter is that you can buy each tool separately and you might be able to save some money in the process, but it never hurts to be prepared. The purchase of a tool kit is something that you will have to weigh on your own and decide if it is worth the investment.