Bluefin Copper Press Tool Review - ProPress for $150! 

Ridged now has a compact electric one but it’s still $1300 but that’s a lot cheaper than most electric ones.

That's a good idea, I found that making 1" joints takes a lot of strength but 1/2" and 3/4" are pretty easy.

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.

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.

Nope, all the joints are still holding up well.

@@DragonBuilds Nice. I'm not sure this will for a couple of leaks I need to fix, very tight spaces behind a shower wall. Too bad, I'd like to try one of these out.

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.

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.

It works on a tee, but the caveat being it isn't mounted yet.

Yes, I would appreciate it!

I would also try a test tool

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...

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

I don't think so

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

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?

K and L copper is indeed stronger, but ProPress is usually okay on M copper as long as the pipe is in good condition. I saw IWISS, the manufacturer of the Bluefin tool, also makes a hydraulic version :)

@@DragonBuilds I guess you just can't teach an old Dog new tricks Lol I'm from the days of using leather gloves to flow a lead bend in Toilets. But my last forty years has been in other areas then Plumbing. LMFIAO

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 🤣🤣🤣,

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.

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 .

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…😢

Yeah the stucco job seems about right for someone who broke the handle off a brand new valve.

It's been over three years and no leaks whatsoever!

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.

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

It works with all copper press fittings like ProPress and Nibco brands.

I found this tool is pretty good, I would never trust a Sharkbite.

It worked great! Still no leaks 2 years later.

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.