Screwfix are selling press fit

[Deleted member 96286]

Screwfix are selling the Romax pressfitting gun with tongs. Hope they start to supply the fittings too.
Posted here in the Arms as not to give Screwfix free advertising 😉

https://www.NoLinkingToThis/p/rothenberger-romax-4000-press-tool/148hh

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Not bad price either just don’t look at the jaws 😀

Least the tool comes with 15,22,28

 

[Harvest Fields]

Haven’t they had that a few months?

 

[Deleted member 96286]

Haven’t they had that a few months?

Didn't know until I did a Google search for the Romax 4000. Hope they start to sell the fittings.

 

[Aire]

I'll stick to my £60 superfire 2 😛

 

[Deleted member 96286]

I'll stick to my £60 superfire 2 😛

One day, your 60 quid gas torch might just cause 60 grand worth of damage 🙄 I've been doing this since 1982, I'm good at soldering, but there's liitle need to continue with soldering now, apart from cost which is often negated by the speed of installation of press fit and copper push fit, plus there's no fire risk, no need for hot work permits, and your business insurance company will be a bunch of happy chappies if you don't need to use heat and it's cheaper.😛

 

[Aire]

One day, your 60 quid gas torch might just cause 60 grand worth of damage 🙄 I've been doing this since 1982, I'm good at soldering, but there's liitle need to continue with soldering now, apart from cost which is often negated by the speed of installation of press fit and copper push fit, plus there's no fire risk, no need for hot work permits, and your business insurance company will be a bunch of happy chappies if you don't need to use heat and it's cheaper.😛

For me I think a press fit will be situational, more for when water is in the pipe and you can't solder or you really don't want to burn a bit of wallpaper. I can't see how the cost of the machine plus the cost of fittings which are around 7x more expensive than endfeed is justifiable. My firm for example pays around 20p for a 15mm elbow, x press elbows are £1.50, buy 100 elbows and that's a big difference.

 

[Deleted member 96286]

For me I think a press fit will be situational, more for when water is in the pipe and you can't solder or you really don't want to burn a bit of wallpaper. I can't see how the cost of the machine plus the cost of fittings which are around 7x more expensive than endfeed is justifiable. My firm for example pays around 20p for a 15mm elbow, x press elbows are £1.50, buy 100 elbows and that's a big difference.

If all you do is solder, then press fit is more expensive and most probably not for you. However compared to Hep20 or copper pushfits like Cuprofit or Tectite, it's competitively priced. My main reason for using press fit and copper pushfits are that I have eliminated heat and the risks that go with it.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

For me I think a press fit will be situational, more for when water is in the pipe and you can't solder or you really don't want to burn a bit of wallpaper. I can't see how the cost of the machine plus the cost of fittings which are around 7x more expensive than endfeed is justifiable. My firm for example pays around 20p for a 15mm elbow, x press elbows are £1.50, buy 100 elbows and that's a big difference.

Plus the time flux gas solder etc

 

[WaterTight]

Genuine question: Why use press fit over copper push fit? The latter doesn't require a £1200 tool to fit them.

 

[Millsy 82]

Genuine question: Why use press fit over copper push fit? The latter doesn't require a £1200 tool to fit them.

Or why use it over solder? On commercial where they specify it due to hot works I understand but on domestic?

 

[Millsy 82]

One day, your 60 quid gas torch might just cause 60 grand worth of damage 🙄 I've been doing this since 1982, I'm good at soldering, but there's liitle need to continue with soldering now, apart from cost which is often negated by the speed of installation of press fit and copper push fit, plus there's no fire risk, no need for hot work permits, and your business insurance company will be a bunch of happy chappies if you don't need to use heat and it's cheaper.😛

Unless the price of fittings drops dramatically I will stick to soldering. It's been 20 years and i haven't torched anywhere yet 🙂. Although i know an apprentice that did.

 

[Aire]

I've came close, luckily I had a fire extinguisher. I did set my tools on fire in the van though, I'm not sure how it happened but I presume it was my blow torch 🙄

 

[Millsy 82]

I've came close, luckily I had a fire extinguisher. I did set my tools on fire in the van though, I'm not sure how it happened but I presume it was my blow torch 🙄

The company I went to work for for a year or so had a lad that had something catch fire by the time the fire brigade turned up he had put it out with an extinguisher on site.

The fire brigade still put 3 windows through and smashed the door getting hoses in. 😱

 

[Riley]

You get non heat works domestically too. I have to say I’m a convert I now use a combination of the two

 

[townfanjon]

If I was 10 years younger I would become a “press fit wanker “ . I have used it on a couple of charity do’s and love it . #tightarseyorkie

 

[Deleted member 96286]

Genuine question: Why use press fit over copper push fit? The latter doesn't require a £1200 tool to fit them.

Basically for security and tightness. I'm a big fan of using tectite and cuprofit, with the former being non demountable and the latter being demountable with a special tool. However, they can leak even if installed 100% correctly and I've had a small number fail on me. I've not had one single leak on Yorkshire Xpress and most of the hospitals, schools and public buildings here are pressfit.
My work is all domestic now, and I see no point in risking my customer's property with a gas torch, when there's now no need to do so.
No flame, no contaminants (flux, pipe compound) in the pipework and speed and ease of use are a few of the reasons why I rarely solder now and use copper press fit and copper push fit. They also look better in my opinion too.
It's not for everyone, but I'm a big fan.

 

[Harvest Fields]

I've came close, luckily I had a fire extinguisher. I did set my tools on fire in the van though, I'm not sure how it happened but I presume it was my blow torch 🙄

I always disconnect my super fire 2 and put the cap back on the gas bottle.

 

[Riley]

Check you out that’s to H&S for me

 

[Deleted member 96286]

I've had a number of Rothenberger propane and map pro gas bottles leak when my superfire 2 has been disconnected. The self sealing valve on these has failed. This is a known problem. I keep the superfire 2 torch on the gas bottle but strapped in a metal case so it doesn't move.

 

[Best]

I've came close, luckily I had a fire extinguisher. I did set my tools on fire in the van though, I'm not sure how it happened but I presume it was my blow torch 🙄

I mentioned this years ago on the old forum, but your post reminded me.
I once nearly set fire to van when I moved stuff around and steel wool burst into flames.
I had a cordless drill battery (old type ni cad) lying loose in van and steel wool must have touched the contacts.
Not sure if new batteries still have open contacts, but just something to be aware of.

 

[Aire]

I always disconnect my super fire 2 and put the cap back on the gas bottle.

I still don't do that now, you'd think I'd have learnt my lesson 😕
This was the remains of my tools, luckily my van didn't go up with them

 

[Aire]

I mentioned this years ago on the old forum, but your post reminded me.
I once nearly set fire to van when I moved stuff around and steel wool burst into flames.
I had a cordless drill battery (old type ni cad) lying loose in van and steel wool must have touched the contacts.
Not sure if new batteries still have open contacts, but just something to be aware of.

Seen that on PB'S YouTube channel too, he showed what happens when steel wool brushes past the contacts of a battery.

 

[Ch4 plumbing]

We use loads and loads of Press fit, mostly Gerberit Mapress which seems to work pretty well for us.

I've found that most problems with it are user or installer error whether that's not de burring the pipe properly or not positioning the jaws on the fittings correctly but with that said I wouldn't use it in the domestic market due to cost and appearance, end feed fittings are a lot cheaper and do look "cleaner" after installation.

Not sure Screwfix would be the cheapest place to buy the fittings from either or that they would hold the amount of stock you might need per job??

 

[hammers4spanner]

I see more people are using these to pipe boilers with, i guess manufacturers are happy with press fit?? Meaning wont come up with an excuse to void warranty.

 

[Deleted member 96286]

I see more people are using these to pipe boilers with, i guess manufacturers are happy with press fit?? Meaning wont come up with an excuse to void warranty.

Most of the guys around here are installing boilers using pressfit. Don't see how copper to copper fittings can void warranty, but I agree with you that there are boiler companies that will probably try it on just to get out of it.

 

[Deleted member 96286]

Another big plus for me with Yorkshire XPress are the chrome fittings. These press direct onto chrome pipe without having to remove the chrome or scribe the pipe. They look really good on a chrome towel radiator.

 

[Millsy 82]

I can see the appeal on boiler swaps but full central heating systems must cost a lot more.

Do the customers not moan about the bulky fittings?

What about getting the press fit gun into some of the stupidly tight spaces we have to get into?

 

[Deleted member 96286]

I can see the appeal on boiler swaps but full central heating systems must cost a lot more.

Do the customers not moan about the bulky fittings?

What about getting the press fit gun into some of the stupidly tight spaces we have to get into?

15mm fittings are keenly priced compared to others except soldered fittings which are always going to be cheaper than anything else. The price jumps with 22mm and above. Press fit can be used with water in the pipe, soldered fittings need dry pipelines. There is also no flux, solder or pipe compounds that can contaminate a plumbing system, or fire risk due to a gas torch.

The fittings are longer, not bulkier and look better, cleaner and neater than soldered, compression fittings or plastic fittings. They don't tarnish as heated fittings do, or require cleaning to remove flux and shine them up. The chrome fittings press directly on to chrome pipe without having to remove the chrome or scribe the pipe and look really good.

Press fit is not normally for under sinks and the like and is the reason why I use both Press fit and copper push fit fittings like Tectite and Cuprofit. There is a 45 degree attachment for the gun for tight spaces.

 

[Millsy 82]

Thanks last 2 stupid questions then I will stop I swear.

What about imperial pipe? Does it go straight onto that? Or do you have to buy a special fitting for that.

Do you use the no flame point as a selling point?

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Straight onto imperial

And on a full install I saved around 2 days labour

 

[Millsy 82]

I dont look at soldering as slow but then you always have that odd joint that seems to take a while.

I'm going to look into going down that route maybe give it a try on my next install.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

I dont look at soldering as slow but then you always have that odd joint that seems to take a while.

I'm going to look into going down that route maybe give it a try on my next install.

Plus cleaning the fittings and pipe then fluxing then gassing then cleaning

Then x that by around 4-500 fittings adds up a bit

 

[Deleted member 96286]

Thanks last 2 stupid questions then I will stop I swear.

What about imperial pipe? Does it go straight onto that? Or do you have to buy a special fitting for that.

Do you use the no flame point as a selling point?

Imperial pipe there is a compression to press fit union. Just use a 3/4" green ring in the compression end.
There are loads of benefits to press fit over soldering. I've listed most earlier. One of the biggest is you can make joints with water in the pipe.

 

[Deleted member 96286]

One big bonus is that because of the price of the press gun and kit, it's way beyond the scope of the average diy'er. I had a customer watching me using my AKKU press and he was amazed and very impressed. With diy'ers using speedfit and Hep etc. the less experienced ones who don't follow the M.I's and then have a fitting blow off have given it a bad name and made it very diy to most of us in the trade. With press fit, it's still very much in the scope of a professional plumber.