Manual PEX Pipe Expander Tools Kits with 1/2",3/4",1" Expansion Heads suit for Uponor Propex Expansion Meets ASTM F1960 Standard PEX Coupling Fitting Radiant Heat

Have-not used it yet but it sure looks good, should work just fine.

I’ve failed to make 3 3/4” connections seat fully with this tool now, and I’m going to try one more time to expand the PEX-A enough to seat the fittings completely. I’m glad I looked up how the finished joints should look, because I was only getting past the first barb. It needs to seat all the way to the shoulder.I knew manual tools are hard to use, but this one just feels flimsy at the level of effort needed to do 3/4” Pex. I can’t imagine how hard 1 inch would be. I will try a Chester bar as another reviewer suggested..

The media could not be loaded.  PEX A is the preferred piping method for new homes. PEB B is sold by most big box stores and the piping just slips over connectors and is then clamped. This is a manual PEX A tool which expands PEX A tubing so it will fit over connectors. A PEX ring is added before expansion to add to the clamping force. I did not add the PEX ring in this demonstration because I didn't want to waste a ring. It must be added to all connections.This is a very convenient kit which includes the pipe cutter ad three expansion heads, 1/2, 3/4, and 1 inch. These just screw onto the expansion tool. A tube of grease is included for lubricating the expansion cone, so it moves freely. Lubricating it should not need to be done often. Instructions are pretty minimal. Always start with a fresh cut end. The supplied cutter makes quick work of that and gives a clean cut. Fully open handles to screw on the correct pipe size then insert thePEX pipe. The PEX ring must be in place before expansion. A couple expansions may be necessary to insert the full length.This case has extra positions for additional sizes. These can be used for storing expansion rings in a bag so everything is in one place the next time it is used. This tool is easy to use and will always work. A power expander is nice for hundreds of connections. This works perfectly well for home use and you won't start a job just to find out the battery is dead. This is lightweight, complete and easy to use.

Started off by making cuts at places were I needed joints and extensions [BIG MISTAKE.] only to realize this tool can't even expand a 3/4" pipe wide and deep enough to fit my brass coupling (L or T). Tried expanding my Pex-A pipe with the ring/sleeve for several minutes, no luck. My project is now dead in the water. Need to find something else ASAP.

This is a solid tool set if you need to expand a pipe to squeeze in a fitting. I appreciate it comes in a nice case, so you can keep everything in one place, and the tool and attachments look and feel solidly made. They should last for years of use. The question is if your hands last hah. Of course, manual PEX expanders are always hard to use, if you do this a lot you should probably invest in a battery powered one. But this one felt quite difficult to use, it needed a lot of extra strength to function. Even with easing it into small increment, I barely got my pipe expanded enough to insert the fitting I needed, it was quite a fight. It is a solid tool, and if you only have a few projects to do, this is certainly the cheapest tool on the market and well built considering that. But not the easiest to use.

The manual PEX tools are tough to use no matter what, and they take a lot of time. They’re meant for quick repairs and small jobs. If I had a project with more than about 20 fittings, I’d probably lay down the cash for a battery-operated tool instead.In my case, this acquisition is strictly for a remote site where I just need the tool to be on-hand in the event of an emergency repair. This has a really nice case (key for good storage), and all of the attachments are decent quality. Strangely, the cutters actually have to be stored un-clasped to keep tension on the handles and keep them from falling out, but I’m going to add a piece of Velcro to the case to hold them in properly.Quick hint to make this work: You have to take small bites; you slowly start at the end of the pipe and work inward as you go. Slightly rotate the tool in the pipe after each ‘bite’ to ensure you’re expanding it evenly.Yep, doing each connection is measured in minutes, not seconds.Also, be sure to practice with a short piece of pipe and a fitting if you’ve never used one of these before; most people don’t realize the serious manual labor these tools call for, and doing your first connection on a critical joint is just a bad idea.

I've put in a lot of Uponor/Wirsbo (now known as ProPex or Expansion Pex) using manual tools when it first came onto the market in a big way back 25+ years ago. At that time only Wirsbo made its tools and they were easy to use by one's self for 1/2-3/4" and with a helper for 1". Well, this cheap knockoff doesn't compare.I was able to do 1/2" by myself but 3/4" was difficult to do even with a helper. The problem is, the original is meant to open about 80° and close to 0° giving lots of leverage as the majority of the expansion is done 15-0° portion of the procedure... (and yes, the handles actually pressed together so until one learned the technique one would pinch fingers)...Well this cheap knockoff only closes to about 35° which means there is no no mechanical advantage of having ones arms close in front of themselves to do the majority of the work...For 1/2" I would think most stronger people could do a few joints at a time, but there is no way that unless you are a body builder will you ever be able to use the 1" head or do more than a couple 3/4" joints by one's self.Ultimately, I have returned this tool and got one made by a Pex manufacturer.

Works perfect. Plumed a house with it last weekend!