Question for plumbers

[Ghoste]

Is there such a thing as solderless fitting of copper pipes?  Just a press fit or crimped on would be how it's done I am guessing?

[Khyron]

if there is I wouldn't trust it.

[stripedelete]

The ones I have used are call Shark Bites.  I lack the vocabulary to give you a good description of the mechanics of the grip.  They are metal on the outside.  The inside is hard, but flexible, one-way, plastic bushing/collar/gasket which is slightly smaller than the OD of the pipe. Push it in and you can't get it out - without a $.03 piece of plastic they call a tool.  

They are expensive but if you're in a tight spot they are worth every penny.  

[Khyron]

[Ghoste]

I've seen the verson with a plastic bushing but someone was trying to tell me there is a way to do it just pipe to pipe metal to metal contact and I said "no way".  But he insisted there is such a thing.

[last426]

Is there such a thing as solderless fitting of copper pipes?  Just a press fit or crimped on would be how it's done I am guessing?

There is a great product, made in England I believe but available at Ace Hardware, that glues copper water pipes together.  Before you shake your head (as I did), check it out http://www.accentshopping.com/product.asp?P_ID=149558.  It is a little expensive but great. Kim

[Ghoste]

Thanks.  Never heard anything of the sort until today.  How does it hold up?

[stripedelete]

Wow.  That sucks for plumbers.

[last426]

Thanks.  Never heard anything of the sort until today.  How does it hold up?

I had no idea either until about 6 months ago.  It works great and makes it much easier -- but you do have to prep properly -- proper grit emery cloth if I remember.  Kim

[John_Kunkel]

Propress is another solderless system but I've heard the tool is way expensive.

[Old Moparz]

  Awesome..

[67440chrg]

Shark bite fittings are good when you need to put a valve or cap on when the water wont stop flowing enough to solder it. I would not put them in a wall and cover them up. I have never heard of the glue joint before now it dont sound right to me. If you dont want to solder switch to pex tubeing it is a proven product. It costs about $100. for a tool to crimp it with but it works well.In the midwest it is used in almost all high end homes and some comercial buildings.One big advantage to useing pex is it will swell several times its own size when it freezes and not burst. There is also a system caled pro press with O ringed fittings you crimp on. It is used in large comercial buildings. It workes very well but the tools are may too expensave.