Antex Pipemaster Pro - quick review

I wondered if anybody else would spot the use of press-fit rather than push-fit. B-)

It's another, some form of crimp:

Remarkably useless website, doesn't explain how the systems works at all. Plenty of repetitive sales puff though.

"Dave Liquorice" wrote: [snip]

This saves me the problem of explaining it, it's a PDF:

Press fit is * the* standard way of plumbing across Europe. It's just the UK that is backwards.

Another. I'm using Rifeng tube and fittings that are compatible with Wavin Tigris:

These fittings are crimped onto the tube using a hand, hydraulic or electrically operated press. They can't be demounted once fixed.

I hope they use good O rings. I can't help think that push fit is easier and likely to be just as good. Plastic is also rated at a higher working temp and pressure.

That's a plastic pipe based system. The Yorkshire Pegler XPress is copper pipe based. No inserts and crimp sleeves, just slide fiting onto tube and crimp.

On Saturday 27 July 2013 21:37 Dave Liquorice wrote in uk.d-i-y:

Oh bollocks - stupid for me as I'd been reading Conex's web page earlier and had seen press fit! Brain auto parse error...

That would mean no cable should be put in loft, as they are PVC sheathed ?

Also copper isn't getting any cheaper.

Yes noticed that .... perhaps we should invade and claim some mineral rich country in Africa and take over its copper, that is how it used to work

Just to be clear - you think everything that is the standard across Europe is better than anything which differs from that in the UK?

Or are you just being selective to suit your argument?

I know from my own experience just how long lasting properly made solder fittings are. Until push fit have been around for that sort of time I'll reserves judgment. Oh - and then there's the small matter of price.

An end feed 15mm coupler costs just over 15p if you buy 25 from Toolstation. Care to give the equivalent cost for push fit?

The plastic crimp system that Mr Firth pointed to looks to use three.

I doubt it, a similar system is used to put the ends on hydralic hoses working at considerably higher pressures than an domestic water system will encounter.

Higher than what? When I've looked at the specs for plastic it's a bit borderline for use on a conventional (70 ish C flow) CH system with more than two floors. The pressure derates rather quickly with temperature and the recomended distance between supports decreases as well.

Unlike tubes, there's no easily available alternative; maybe steel conduit.

Rodents are a known, small risk with plastic pipe systems (and PVC insulated cables). There are numerous advantages and disadvantages; plastic has no scrap value and is less likely to be nicked. Pay your money and make your choice. A plumber may recommend plastic, since it makes his job easier, but may neglect to mention the disadvantages

IIRC the stuff I used was 10 bar at 90c, the stuff Steve said was 10 barr at 60C.

I'm not going to start crimping stuff now, I don't do enough of it.

Not only that, but there are sometimes where access is hard enough that you don't want to be playing with a blowtorch anyway... rather like my episode a couple of months back:

Quite. Rather the same as asking his advice on which boiler to buy. Or where it should be sited.

Hum Speedfit PEX barrier pipe in central heating: Normal working temp

Hep2o is better max 6 bar at 80 C.

Poly pipe has a similar spec to Speedfit that is around 3 bar at 80 C.

Niether am I, end fed or compression here...

Or rebuild their railways for (over) payment in minerals. That how the Chinese work it. Relevant palms greased, Joe Average gets sweet FA from the deals.

Would it not be more relevant to ask the cost for press fit?

And whether or not you think so, I would like to have some idea of how copper end feed, pre-soldered, plastic, copper push fit, copper press fit, etc. compare.

Obviously the tools for press fit represent a significant cost. And it appears to available in a wider range of diameters. So I suspect the fittings might be less expensive than, say, push fit.

BES Sep 12 catalogue that just happens to be next to me:

15 mm elbow UK Compression £1.55 DZR Compression £1.98 Imported Comp. £1.13 End fed £0.24 Solder ring £0.53 Push fit: Cuprofit 2 £1.89 Tectite Sprint £1.33 Conex £2.46 Conex Press Fit £1.40 Speedfit £1.29 HEP2O £2.30 Polyfit £1.24

Note that is prices from Sep 2012 for one off and probably plus VAT as well.

Why thank you sir.

That is a big range of prices. About 10:1.