Milwaukee M12 FUEL RAPID SEAL ProPEX Expansion Tool with "free" M12 PVC Pipe Cutter HD $600

sdub90

Sep 15, 2023 2:03 PM

231 Comments

Joined Dec 2016

sdub90Sep 15, 2023 2:03 PM

231 Comments

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwa.../314941935

Hackable via this link, comes down to $442. If I had a big plumbing project in mind, I'd be all over this, but probably not worth it for a homeowner/DIYer

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iota

Sep 15, 2023 3:49 PM

670 Comments

Joined Jul 2007

iotaSep 15, 2023 3:49 PM

670 Comments

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Remember that you MUST use PEX-A and the expansion rings which they don't sell at Home Depot or Lowe's, so you'll have to order it from a specialty plumbing supplier.

Also the shear is pointless for PEX - a normal hand tool PEX cutter goes through it like a hot knife through butter, so unless you are doing something like larger heavy schedule PVC you aren't going to need the shear.

EDIT: As of 2025, Home Depot and Lowe's now sell PEX-A pipe and expansion rings (but the rings are cheaper on Amazon), but they didn't widely offer PEX-A stuff as of the time of this comment a few years ago.

Last edited by iota December 30, 2025 at 07:04 AM.

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Tremodels

Sep 15, 2023 5:54 PM

243 Comments

Joined Oct 2019

TremodelsSep 15, 2023 5:54 PM

243 Comments

I redid my entire plumbing. A pex b manual crimp tool is like $60, not any slower than this battery tool, and I did not find at all difficult to use. I would skip this, but if it was a similar deal for a pro press, that would be worth it. I still ran copper to all my drinking water (ice maker / fridge & kitchen sink) and solder joints are slow going.

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Hanger728

Sep 15, 2023 6:13 PM

215 Comments

Joined Jul 2017

Hanger728Sep 15, 2023 6:13 PM

215 Comments

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Quote from iota

:

Remember that you MUST use PEX-A and the expansion rings which they don't sell at Home Depot or Lowe's, so you'll have to order it from a specialty plumbing supplier.

Also the shear is pointless for PEX - a normal hand tool PEX cutter goes through it like a hot knife through butter, so unless you are doing something like larger heavy schedule PVC you aren't going to need the shear.

Both Lowes and Home Depot sell Pex-A pipe and fittings. Both in store and online. They have a full selection of 1/2 and 3/4 fittings and pipe at my local HD.

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Hanger728

Sep 15, 2023 6:14 PM

215 Comments

Joined Jul 2017

Hanger728Sep 15, 2023 6:14 PM

215 Comments

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Quote from Tremodels

:

I redid my entire plumbing. A pex b manual crimp tool is like $60, not any slower than this battery tool, and I did not find at all difficult to use. I would skip this, but if it was a similar deal for a pro press, that would be worth it. I still ran copper to all my drinking water (ice maker / fridge & kitchen sink) and solder joints are slow going.

Pex-B has decreased flow rate compared to Pex-A. Not a lot but it's a consideration.

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iota

Sep 16, 2023 1:07 AM

670 Comments

Joined Jul 2007

iotaSep 16, 2023 1:07 AM

670 Comments

Quote from Hanger728

:

Both Lowes and Home Depot sell Pex-A pipe and fittings. Both in store and online. They have a full selection of 1/2 and 3/4 fittings and pipe at my local HD.

Where are you at - I've never seen any PEX-A fittings in any store but Ferguson's here on the east coast

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Hanger728

Sep 16, 2023 1:12 AM

215 Comments

Joined Jul 2017

Hanger728Sep 16, 2023 1:12 AM

215 Comments

Quote from iota

:

Where are you at - I've never seen any PEX-A fittings in any store but Ferguson's here on the east coast

I'm in California but I just checked random home depots in New York, Philadelphia, and Miami. All of them had pex a expansion sleeves in stock at multiple stores... https://www.homedepot.com/p/Apoll.../303882869

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Mitya

Sep 16, 2023 6:36 AM

169 Comments

Joined Feb 2021

MityaSep 16, 2023 6:36 AM

169 Comments

I just finished repiping my own house with PEX-A. The expansion tool is great but you can buy it on Amazon for $388 without charger and batteries. Also please avoid using the power pipe cutter because it's supper dangerous and absolutely not needed.
https://www.amazon.com/2532-20-M1...B08X1PTG17

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evercl92

Sep 16, 2023 11:47 AM

171 Comments

Joined Nov 2011

evercl92Sep 16, 2023 11:47 AM

171 Comments

Quote from Mitya

:

I just finished repiping my own house with PEX-A. The expansion tool is great but you can buy it on Amazon for $388 without charger and batteries. Also please avoid using the power pipe cutter because it's supper dangerous and absolutely not needed.
https://www.amazon.com/2532-20-M1...B08X1PTG17

A dangerous tool? All tradespeople stop what youre doing right now

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AtoZed

Original Poster

Sep 16, 2023 1:06 PM

65 Comments

Joined Dec 2006

AtoZed

Original Poster

Sep 16, 2023 1:06 PM

65 Comments

This is supposed to arrive today, but I noticed my receipt has both tools invividually priced. I believe with this I can do the hack. I will let you know if it works since at $442 this tool is a steal. My Home Depot (Pittsburgh,PA) has all kinds of PEX A tubing and fittings. If anyone has any good links to video's on working with PEX A, please share. TIA

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Tremodels

Sep 16, 2023 3:03 PM

243 Comments

Joined Oct 2019

TremodelsSep 16, 2023 3:03 PM

243 Comments

Quote from Hanger728

:

Pex-B has decreased flow rate compared to Pex-A. Not a lot but it's a consideration.

Its a very small difference, and both are still much less than copper. The way you handle that is to just use 1 trade size larger when using pex. The difference in cost going up a size with pex is negligible. Of course, don't do something silly like run 3/4" to a sink when 1/2" still exceeds the GPM of the faucet. It's an easy mistake to make because you almost never see copper smaller than 1/2" but in reality 1/2" copper far exceeds what a sink needs and 3/8" would work easy, just no one runs 3/8 copper.

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Mitya

Sep 16, 2023 7:33 PM

169 Comments

Joined Feb 2021

MityaSep 16, 2023 7:33 PM

169 Comments

Quote from evercl92

:

A dangerous tool? All tradespeople stop what youre doing right now

I bet you're not one of them because all the pros I spoke to suggested manual pipe cutter for pex. And the word "safety" was mentioned a lot.

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User18383921

Sep 17, 2023 10:16 AM

2.7K Comments

Joined Dec 2019

User18383921Sep 17, 2023 10:16 AM

2.7K Comments

nevermind

Last edited by User18383921 September 17, 2023 at 03:22 AM.

Zankapfel

Sep 17, 2023 11:51 AM

901 Comments

Joined Apr 2020

ZankapfelSep 17, 2023 11:51 AM

901 Comments

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Quote from Hanger728

:

Pex-B has decreased flow rate compared to Pex-A. Not a lot but it's a consideration.

Pex-A has other advantages as well. For example, you expand the pipe out of place and then slide it onto the fitting. That gives you better access for certain situations where it would be difficult to get the crimper onto the pipe while it's on the fitting in a tight spot. Pex-A also is more likely to have a good seal compared to crimp ring connections with Pex-B (although B is very reliable as well if you get the ring on straight and have the crimper set up properly).

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Milwaukee M12 FUEL RAPID SEAL ProPEX Expansion Tool with "free" M12 PVC Pipe Cutter HD $600

$600

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