SharkBite fittings for Copper and PEX

Posted by SteveB on October 12, 2009, 1:23 am

> I just used my adjustable wrench, closed down to the outside dia of
> the pipe to push in the collar to release - I won't loose it as fast
> as the special tool, and I already own several. (as well as a 5/8"
> open end wrench that would also do the job))

I figgered as much, but I was up against a time deadline, and I did not want
to be making trips up and down the mountain, so I just grabbed one.

Steve

Posted by RicodJour on October 12, 2009, 9:58 am

On Oct 12, 12:52=A0am, cl...@snyder.on.ca wrote:

> wrote:

> >> >I always sweated copper, but I want to try PEX for my next upgrade.
> >> > The cold water spigot at the front of the house is at street pressur=

> >> > but
> >> > the backyard spigot is after the PRV. I'd like to tab into the stree=

> >> > pressure pipe and get the higher pressure in the backyard.
> >> > All I need is 2 connections: a Tee and a coupling - along with about=

35'

> >> > of tubing.
> >> > According to the video at this site (starting at about 4:15) SharkBi=

> >> > connections can be used with copper and PEX.
> >> >http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DiwvAzcJpM0k
> >> > So, assuming I have room to get this fitting into the existing pipe,=

> >> > there any reason I shouldn't use the SharkBite Tee to tap into exist=

ing

> >> > pipe?
> >> >http://www.pexsupply.com/Cash-Acme-U362-1-2-x-1-2-x-1-2-Tee-4456000-p
> >> > I know $8 for a Tee is expensive, but it's way cheaper than a crimpi=

> >> > or
> >> > clamping tool.
> >> > Any advice is welcome. Thanks!
> >> I used them, and I liked them. The line I had to replace was UNDER a
> >> cabin,
> >> and it would have a pure dee bitch to do with other means. The stuff i=

> >> easy to work with, just make sure you do a clean cut. I cut my tubing =

with

> >> a hack saw. I had doubts, but tried it because of the location and the
> >> inability to get in there and cut out the burst frozen section and swe=

> >> together again without major risk. I like them.
> >> Steve

> >Thanks all! SharkBite it is then!
> >Reply: =A0Do not forget to buy the little dollar or two "tool" (piece of
> >plastic) that allows you to disconnect the pieces. =A0It will be worth i=

t if

> >you need to take them apart, as I did, or down the line if you want to
> >modify. =A0I was seriously skeptical, but I'd use them again in a heartb=

eat

> >after the guy at HD demonstrated them. =A0Even my wife was skeptical, an=

d she

> >could do it with the demo pieces. =A0The only thing =A0I did differently=

was use

> >a compression fitting T instead of a SharkBite T because it was about $7
> >cheaper. =A0But then my buddy and I couldn't get enough force on the nut=

s to

> >get the compression fitting to close tight enough. =A0We were up at the =

cabin,

> >and had limited tools, just a pair of big Channel Locks and a pair of Vi=

> >Grip pliers. =A0Two old farts were just not strong enough. =A0We ended u=

> >putting the Channel Locks in one of the holes of one of our car's rims F=

ROM

> >THE INSIDE, and using that for enough of a stopper to get that last quar=

ter

> >turn that closed off the water flow. =A0It was one solid hour of Larry, =

Moe,

> >and Curly minus one. =A0Hooking and unhooking, turning water on and off.=

=A0That

> >is where the little plastic widget came in handy. =A0Knowing that now, I=

> >have spent the extra $7. =A0We were both sore for two days afterwards pu=

lling

> >like hell. =A0I bruised the palm of my hand real good. =A0( I take couma=

din.)

> >You're gonna love them. =A0But, as the other person posted, get a REALLY
> >REALLY clean end. =A0Use some aluminum oxide paper to get it right. =A0T=

> >better that O ring seals, the better the whole thing works, and if you h=

ave

> >one little burr, and cut the O ring ......................
> >Steve

A number of the fittings I've bought recently came with the C-shaped
removal tool. They may have been Tee fittings.

R

Posted by DerbyDad03 on October 12, 2009, 9:17 am

> > >I always sweated copper, but I want to try PEX for my next upgrade.
> > > The cold water spigot at the front of the house is at street pressure=

> > > but
> > > the backyard spigot is after the PRV. I'd like to tab into the street
> > > pressure pipe and get the higher pressure in the backyard.
> > > All I need is 2 connections: a Tee and a coupling - along with about =

35'

> > > of tubing.
> > > According to the video at this site (starting at about 4:15) SharkBit=

> > > connections can be used with copper and PEX.
> > >http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DiwvAzcJpM0k
> > > So, assuming I have room to get this fitting into the existing pipe, =

> > > there any reason I shouldn't use the SharkBite Tee to tap into existi=

> > > pipe?
> > >http://www.pexsupply.com/Cash-Acme-U362-1-2-x-1-2-x-1-2-Tee-4456000-p
> > > I know $8 for a Tee is expensive, but it's way cheaper than a crimpin=

> > > or
> > > clamping tool.
> > > Any advice is welcome. Thanks!

ith

> > a hack saw. I had doubts, but tried it because of the location and the
> > inability to get in there and cut out the burst frozen section and swea=

> > together again without major risk. I like them.
> > Steve

> Thanks all! SharkBite it is then!
> Reply: =A0Do not forget to buy the little dollar or two "tool" (piece of
> plastic) that allows you to disconnect the pieces. =A0It will be worth it=

> you need to take them apart, as I did, or down the line if you want to
> modify. =A0I was seriously skeptical, but I'd use them again in a heartbe=

> after the guy at HD demonstrated them. =A0Even my wife was skeptical, and=

she

> could do it with the demo pieces. =A0The only thing =A0I did differently =

was use

> a compression fitting T instead of a SharkBite T because it was about $7
> cheaper. =A0But then my buddy and I couldn't get enough force on the nuts=

> get the compression fitting to close tight enough. =A0We were up at the c=

abin,

> and had limited tools, just a pair of big Channel Locks and a pair of Vis=

> Grip pliers. =A0Two old farts were just not strong enough. =A0We ended up
> putting the Channel Locks in one of the holes of one of our car's rims FR=

> THE INSIDE, and using that for enough of a stopper to get that last quart=

> turn that closed off the water flow. =A0It was one solid hour of Larry, M=

oe,

> and Curly minus one. =A0Hooking and unhooking, turning water on and off. =

=A0That

> is where the little plastic widget came in handy. =A0Knowing that now, I'=

> have spent the extra $7. =A0We were both sore for two days afterwards pul=

ling

> like hell. =A0I bruised the palm of my hand real good. =A0( I take coumad=

in.)

> You're gonna love them. =A0But, as the other person posted, get a REALLY
> REALLY clean end. =A0Use some aluminum oxide paper to get it right. =A0Th=

> better that O ring seals, the better the whole thing works, and if you ha=

> one little burr, and cut the O ring ......................
> Steve- Hide quoted text -
> - Show quoted text -

Posted by SteveB on October 12, 2009, 10:25 am

> > >I always sweated copper, but I want to try PEX for my next upgrade.
> > > The cold water spigot at the front of the house is at street pressure,
> > > but
> > > the backyard spigot is after the PRV. I'd like to tab into the street
> > > pressure pipe and get the higher pressure in the backyard.
> > > All I need is 2 connections: a Tee and a coupling - along with about
> > > 35'
> > > of tubing.
> > > According to the video at this site (starting at about 4:15) SharkBite
> > > connections can be used with copper and PEX.
> > >http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwvAzcJpM0k
> > > So, assuming I have room to get this fitting into the existing pipe,
> > > is
> > > there any reason I shouldn't use the SharkBite Tee to tap into
> > > existing
> > > pipe?
> > >http://www.pexsupply.com/Cash-Acme-U362-1-2-x-1-2-x-1-2-Tee-4456000-p
> > > I know $8 for a Tee is expensive, but it's way cheaper than a crimping
> > > or
> > > clamping tool.
> > > Any advice is welcome. Thanks!

> > I used them, and I liked them. The line I had to replace was UNDER a
> > cabin,
> > and it would have a pure dee bitch to do with other means. The stuff is
> > easy to work with, just make sure you do a clean cut. I cut my tubing
> > with
> > a hack saw. I had doubts, but tried it because of the location and the
> > inability to get in there and cut out the burst frozen section and sweat
> > together again without major risk. I like them.
> > Steve

> Thanks all! SharkBite it is then!
> Reply: Do not forget to buy the little dollar or two "tool" (piece of
> plastic) that allows you to disconnect the pieces. It will be worth it if
> you need to take them apart, as I did, or down the line if you want to
> modify. I was seriously skeptical, but I'd use them again in a heartbeat
> after the guy at HD demonstrated them. Even my wife was skeptical, and she
> could do it with the demo pieces. The only thing I did differently was use
> a compression fitting T instead of a SharkBite T because it was about $7
> cheaper. But then my buddy and I couldn't get enough force on the nuts to
> get the compression fitting to close tight enough. We were up at the
> cabin,
> and had limited tools, just a pair of big Channel Locks and a pair of Vise
> Grip pliers. Two old farts were just not strong enough. We ended up
> putting the Channel Locks in one of the holes of one of our car's rims
> FROM
> THE INSIDE, and using that for enough of a stopper to get that last
> quarter
> turn that closed off the water flow. It was one solid hour of Larry, Moe,
> and Curly minus one. Hooking and unhooking, turning water on and off. That
> is where the little plastic widget came in handy. Knowing that now, I'd
> have spent the extra $7. We were both sore for two days afterwards pulling
> like hell. I bruised the palm of my hand real good. ( I take coumadin.)
> You're gonna love them. But, as the other person posted, get a REALLY
> REALLY clean end. Use some aluminum oxide paper to get it right. The
> better that O ring seals, the better the whole thing works, and if you
> have
> one little burr, and cut the O ring ......................
> Steve- Hide quoted text -
> - Show quoted text -

re: The only thing I did differently was use a compression fitting T
instead of a SharkBite T because it was about $7 cheaper.
I'm seriously confused. I must be missing something.

First you said you used a SnakeBite under the cabin, not you say you
"The only thing I did differently was use a compression fitting T
instead of a SharkBite T". Please explain.

re: "But then my buddy and I couldn't get enough force on the nuts to
get the compression fitting to close tight enough."

If 2 guys, even "old" guys can't wrench a compression fitting tight
enough, then there must have been something else wrong.

What am I missing?

reply:

Being there. We had Crescent wrenches, but the ones we had would not open
up enough to grip the nuts. Had we had big enough Crescents, or pipe
wrenches, the thing would have been a breeze. What we had was barely
adequate for the job at hand. We had no vise to help us.

I don't know what was wrong with the tee or our fitup. I have put them on,
and had to torque them far less. Hey, it works, and holds water. What can
I say?

It is not important that you totally comprehend our experience. The
important thing is that I have used the Sharkbite connectors, I like the
SharkBite connectors, will buy them FROM NOW ON, and would recommend them to
anyone who has an install where safety, access, or other factors make
sweating difficult.

HTH

Steve

Posted by RicodJour on October 12, 2009, 11:24 am

> It is not important that you totally comprehend our experience. =A0The
> important thing is that I have used the Sharkbite connectors, I like the
> SharkBite connectors, will buy them FROM NOW ON, and would recommend them=

> anyone who has an install where safety, access, or other factors make
> sweating difficult.

Sounds like you had no problem sweating in that crawlspace... ;)

R

Page 3 of 4 < 1 2 3 > last >>

Similar Threads	Posted
Copper plumbing fittings	February 22, 2006, 11:17 am
copper fittings for use with a pressure gage	September 26, 2005, 2:48 pm
HD's copper pipe fittings with solder already in them??!!	February 13, 2005, 10:54 pm
soldering two copper fittings on a very short length of pipe	July 8, 2008, 10:59 pm
Brass Compression Fittings,Fittings for Pex-Al-Pex good price	November 27, 2006, 12:43 pm
Re: Cured copper in EdenPURE heaters is bogus, says U.S. Copper Development Association	December 3, 2007, 10:09 pm
Re: Cured copper in EdenPURE heaters is bogus, says U.S. Copper Development Association	December 3, 2007, 11:08 pm
Fernco/Mission couplers for copper to copper?	January 28, 2007, 4:56 pm
Are there too many fittings?	November 23, 2005, 12:01 am
PEX fittings	April 25, 2006, 2:50 pm

SharkBite fittings for Copper and PEX - Page 3