Bluefin Copper Press Tool Review - ProPress for $180!
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- Опубликовано: 20 ноя 2020
- I needed to install a ball valve, but I did not want to wait for all the water to drain. I had to choose between buying a jet sweat or press tool, so I decided on the Bluefin press. There are cheaper press tools, but after my experiences with cheap no name tools I decided not to risk it. The Bluefin press works great and is well made. The press tool works with regular ProPress style fittings from 1/2" to 1". This press tool is a great alternative to an expensive battery powered version where space is not a problem.
Similar manual press tools are also sold under other names, including IWISS and iCrimp. Bluefin also has a press tool for ZoomLock HVAC fittings, and the jaws are interchangeable with this tool.
Buy this press tool:
www.supplyhouse.com/Bluefin-C...
Press fittings I used:
www.supplyhouse.com/Copper-Pr...
Deburring tool (I call it the egg)
www.supplyhouse.com/Hilmor-To...
Tubing cutter:
www.supplyhouse.com/Milwaukee... 
Хобби
That’s what I’ve been looking for. Forget about spending 3-4K on an electric 😆
Ridged now has a compact electric one but it’s still $1300 but that’s a lot cheaper than most electric ones.
Thank you for the video. Very well explained and great inspection of the joint. Safe to say you sold me on it. Can't afford a battery operated but like the idea for home repairs
Great post! I was looking for a more affordable tool for press fittings
Thank you for that-I didnt know a manual version existed
I agree about no name tools from amazon, I bought a pipe bender from Amazon and the tolerances must have been off because it kept throating 22mm pipe, I bought another identical(ish) looking one from a named brand, worked perfectly.
I actually bought this tool only to crimp my 1 inch main water line to Pex A. Once the fitting is pressed i can continue my run with m12 propex tool 1 inch to 3/4 manifolds to 1/2 fittings. It works amazing for what i need. I rather use this than to try and clean deburr flux and solder. Just makes it easier
Glad it worked for you! If it was just a single joint I would have used a pack joint fitting instead. They are expensive (around $30 for a 1" male adapter) but only need two large adjustable wrenches to install. Or just learn to solder. It is pretty easy
@@DragonBuilds it is easy to solder. I just rather do it this way. Personal preference is all. But ya, this tool is great for what i need it to do
I got the Rigid tool for $4000.00. I can't wait to use it. I am waiting to get a house and planned ahead to remove and upgrade to combi boilers.
Yeah, I don't press pipes. However, if I did, I would have to consider investing in the power tool because I've used these manual ones before. No good if you're trying to plumb a house. I'm also still on the fence about propress fittings. Time will tell.
That was an excellent demonstration. Really appreciate you going through all the steps and showing the final application. I am planning on purchasing a small manual hydraulic unit. Do you have any thoughts on the reliability of the press with those units? Thanks.
Most press fittings are designed so they will leak if not fully pressed. As long as your joints don't leak, you will have no problems.
jokes on you you still have to deburr inside and out and with these fittings prep is was more critical.
I have the milwaukee m12 press tool that does ½" - 1¼" and the m18 long throw press tool that does ½" - 4" copper and ½" - 4" XL gas fitting
Awesome! Thanks!
I like the chicken-wire & spray-foam setup they've got going on there!
Yeah the stucco job seems about right for someone who broke the handle off a brand new valve.
i have this and it works decent....you really got to plan ahead because you have to open the jaws fully..
And it takes a ton of strength. I would suggest getting a gym membership along with it.
@@DragonBuilds if you gotta do a connection over your head you better be ready..
@@DragonBuildsif you consider that a lot of strength I would suggest a membership anyway .
It's been 3 years since you put that regulator on with the crimping tool are those still holding up are they not leaking?? Would you still recommend the tool?
Still holding up great with no leaks! I would highly recommend this tool, especially since it is backed by supplyhouse.com customer service (they are great in my experience), but since it does not fit in tight spots soldering is still an essential skill.
I saw your more recent video about the hydraulic Peres tool from Amazon. I almost bought it, until I saw your follow up!
Do you still recommend this bluefin tool?
The Bluefin tool is pretty good but requires more space to use.
@@DragonBuilds thanks. did you ever get the hydraulic unit to work for you?
@@fotopdo No, I could not get the hydraulic IBOSAD press tool to work. The Bluefin, on the other hand, works great as long as you have space to use it.
I saw this bluefin in supply house too and can you confirm this work well on a Tee?. I normally sweat a joint but I have few situations that there are water and wood and I cannot sweat it; therefore, I look into this pro press joint but I wonder how hard for a 65+ senior citizen not in good sharp to press it down. Thanks for the video.
I would not recommend it if you are not in good shape, it takes a lot of force to use. You can rent an electric press tool kit with jaws at many plumbing supply stores, Ferguson offers it for $99/day.
@@DragonBuilds Thank you so much for the information. Thanks for this video and the other one using hydraulic which you take one for the team. Thanks again.
Working on a bathroom and hot water heater relocation here in Long Beach ca. any leaks yet? I’m about to order this thing.
It's been over three years and no leaks whatsoever!
hell of a lot cheaper than the ridgid or millwaukee
Looks like it has been 2yrs. Have you had any leaks yet?
Nope, all the joints are still holding up well.
So I take it that this works with the new Propress Fittings?
It works with all copper press fittings like ProPress and Nibco brands.
Can this be used with viega fittings for galvanized pipes????
No, only for copper.
@@DragonBuilds are there any manual presses out there for iron pipes??
@@punchogunter2362 Not that I'm aware of
@@punchogunter2362 no manual just the battery megapress kits...
LMFAO 😆🤣🤣🤣, easier than you anticipated? Maybe you should have heard the grunting,. Good video though💯👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Lol that's what i was thinking when he said that. Maybe he was expecting to scream at the top of his lungs, but just grunted instead.
Yeah, I have started working out after making this video 🤣🤣🤣,
Even the old Rigid CT400 press gun puts out 32kn/7klbs force. Some new press gun models put out 45k/10klbs force. What kind of force can be generated by these press tools? I'm not being snide. Oh, and the large amount of physical space needed to use this Bluefin could be a deal breaker in so many situations at to make it inappropriate for most uses. On your back reaching up, lying down on your side, etc.? And If that isn't enough, all of that opposable force and wrangling of the handles is not going to unsettle some of those carefully aligned fittings-to-pipe connections? -- you'd better think again. Have you seen any videos on YT where people pressure test copper pipe connections made with these types of clamps? I wonder why? Remember, I'm not talking about PEX connecting/connectors. I'm talking about copper.
This tool can barely do 1" and I am considering buying a real press tool given that small ones sell for around $1200 nowadays. I did pressure test it and it held up to over 100 psi so I guess the Bluefin tool is fine? I bought it for one specific job but I agree that the size is a deal breaker in many situations.
@@DragonBuilds Yeah, I think a serious diy-er looking at the prospect of a lot of current and future copper pipe pipe repairs and replacements would do well to consider investing in a used press tool rig. In the SF bay area, a couple of fitting replacements can run you over $1k easily.
@@melotone3305 Plumbers here charge $150+ an hour. I help several family members and friends maintain their homes and most of them have all-copper water systems.
I can think of jobs I’ve performed where this wouldn’t work. Too big..
@@philipgates988 Absolutely agree with that. So often it's a 'pick your battle' kind of decision. If space were too cramped for the larger rig, I'd have to reconsider my soldering skills and potential difficulty in using flames in that area.
Do they sell go/no-go gauge for propress fitting?
I don't think so
Hi friend. Do you need a hydraulic copper tube crimping tool? Free sample will be provided for you to test. May I contact you further about the details?
Yes, I would appreciate it!
Good video but stucco guy should pay for tool and fitting
Unfortunately the stucco guy refused to cover any damages, but at least the repair was relatively simple. I used the press tool to replace the main shut off valve and softener drain they damaged all in one afternoon.
@@DragonBuildsthat’s wrong. It was working befor he worked on your job his actions caused you additional expense . Any reputable contractor would wofk with you . Time to fire this guy and file complaint against his company.. Even small claims court. This is wrong. Your generation needs to fight when things are very wrong. With old his final payment..at least fof the cost of tool and fitting…WHEN ITS WRONG YOU NEED TO STAND AND FIGHT….I HAVE SONS YOUR AGO. I TAUGHT THEM THIS…I don’t render JUDGEMENT ON YOU. IF HE IS DOING THIS TO you imagine WHAT HES DOING TO OLDER PEOPLE OR NON English SPEAKING…THIS GUY AN ILLEGAL no license that’s probably why your not fighting him. JUST SAYING. SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO FIGHT BACK…😢
How did this end up working for you?
It worked great! Still no leaks 2 years later.
Most supply houses will rent a real press for $50/day and will sell you a press 1" ball valve so you don't have to worry about a threaded joint leaking.
I prefer threaded valves so I can replace them if needed. My local Ferguson rents a press tool for $100 a day. Their rental tool is a Ridgid that can press from 1/2" through 2"
Always go with a threaded Valve., propress ball valves are one time use only
@@MrInfoPhilly there are some times when threaded connections are best. Steam boilers should have threaded connections because of expansion. Ball valves are pretty much not rebuild able so if your threaded valve leaked your options are the same as a press valve. It needs to be replaced. The time it takes to unthread and dope then rethread takes time. Its also not best practice to reuse threads once they have been deformed by tightening. Propress is the best way to join copper over 1 1/4" and all sizes of black iron. The time savings is just incredible. I ran 2000 feet of 1 1/2" L copper in a church and despite the higher cost of the fittings and having to buy the mega press I made more money and got the job done in half the time vs sweating all those joints.
There is a union so the threaded valve is replaceable.
Only place I found to rent in the Dallas area is Sunbelt industrial too rental in Arlington & it was $150/day
How can a company make that thing for $180 and the electric ones cost thousands? Cool idea though. Worth the struggle for how cheap it is
It is a hand tool and not an electric tool, so that's why. It's like comparing a $20 ratchet to a $200 impact wrench.
Useless tool unless your plumbing an area where the pipes are just floating in the air. Those jaws won’t fit around anything that’s indoors
You talk so slow at 1.5x it sounds normal lol
In other words you wasted your money 😂😂😂
it was great and i liked your review UNTIL you stated sharkbites are junk ! a billion dollar company whose product has gone through years of testing, pulling , forcing, breaking to produce a product that is a valuable option, while you have no patience to wait for water to drain
I would not use a sharkbite as a permanent solution, but they're great for temporary repairs.
@DragonBuilds I disagree completely. A sharkbite fitting makes a perfect permanent repair, in face the major reason a sharkbite will fail is improper installation, propress will fail more often as there are more steps to ensure proper installation, if this was the only reason you purchased this tool? Dyi ? A master plumber know that each municipality, jurisdiction, city, state and most importantly, inspectors have different codes ,So a master plumber will say there is a place for the sharkbite, I work for one of the largest utility in the country, we have a department that when a product is introduced we simulate corrosion, age 50 years in a matter of days, we pull, destroy, stretch, and get every fitting or pipe to fail, we used to have a similar product to a compression sharkbite, we discontinued this product due to cost not failure, thank you for your review and hopefully I gave you information you were not aware
Lol. Shark bites are junk. Good luck if you put them behind a finished wall.
@@donackerson5194 I used the Menards plastic copy of Sharkbite on a couple copper and CPVC pipes 12 years ago. They are out in the open on the basement ceiling between the joists. But they have never leaked. So they could be buried in a wall and be just as leak free. I am now using Pex with stainless crimp rings. Should they never be in a finished wall either?
Yeah, I remember when I trusted sharkbites lol
Great idea.... till you get on your first job and realize you have no room to open up the handles to make the press. Very limited use no matter how reliable they may be. For those complaining about the high sticker price for the cordless, you get what you pay for!!! Isn't that what we tell the customer? Yet some how that doesn't apply to you.... Rookie.... Go work your butt off, then go buy the RIGHT tool. Then work gets easier. Stop fighting the install to save a buck. Work smarter not harder.
I bought this for a one-time situation where I needed to replace a main shut off and the curb stop wasn't closing all the way. Most of the time, I prefer solder anyways.
Dude, take a chill pill. This guy is not in the trade, but a DYI homeowner. Make no sense to drop $3k to $4k on tool that might use once or twice. Either call the plumber or solder it.
@Joseph we have enough soft men creating hard times for the rest of us. You can go sit down over there n hold his hand if that makes you feel better while the rest of us go yo work.
@@Joseph-eh4rs High quality tools (like Milwaukee instead of Ryobi) are justifiable when necessary, but there was absolutely no need for a $2000 tool to make one joint. I'd still recommend this press tool for occasional use when the water won't stop flowing. For everything else, I solder.
If installed correctly Shark Bite is fine. This tool is garbage.
I found this tool is pretty good, I would never trust a Sharkbite.
No way this is legal lol. I would never trust a contractor that showed up with this bullshit. I have a rigid press that does up to 1 1/4" and and another that does up to 2 inch. They are beasts. There is no way I'd ever trust this hand crimper lok
There are hand crimpers for Pex stainless and copper rings for Pex B. And hand expansion tools for Pex A. They cost $20-100. Should they not be trusted? Only the battery operated multi hundred dollar Ryobi or Milwaukee tools should be used?