Copper manifold --> Sharkbite ??

I have only a very few plumbing fixtures, want to use PEX, and sharkbite fittings to plumb it all (if possible).

My question is this: How do I go from a copper manifold (which all seem to have only PEX prongs for in/outlets) to the sharkbite fitting? It seems that every copper manifold available has only PEX prongs for the in/outlets - with which no sharkbite fitting is compatible.

Of course I could go the PEX crimp route, as one is obviously supposed to, but I'm trying to avoid any connections/fittings that require $100+ tools to fasten. (I could rent the tools, I know, but, as I live in the middle of nowhere I'd have to drive 100 miles round trip to pick up the tool, another 100 to return it. What with the gas that would take I might as well buy the tool!)

Sweating copper to the manifold for the sharkbite to grab on to is a viable option - but what copper fitting fits over 3/4" & 1/2" PEX prongs?

Any help, suggestions, advise would be very much appreciated.

(Disclaimer: Obviously I'm completely new to this plumbing stuff. I'm likely to flood my new, small cabin with the first flush of the toilet [actually, toilet is already in - no leaks yet]. But rest assured, no suggestions or advise, no matter how ill-adviesed will be held culpable. Besides, one can't get any more ill-advised than me doing this business myself!)

The price of sharkbites says don't do it!
For a homeowner DIYer I'd recommend SSC Climp rings and a Raven Products #PCT crimp tool. You can get the tool for about $50.

At this point in my life I am mostly bald. Not because of male pattern baldness, it's because I sometimes pull my hair out. Occasionally I will wrap my entire head with duct tape to keep my brain from squirting out of my eyeballs and that takes a bit of hair off also.

nhmaster said:

At this point in my life I am mostly bald. Not because of male pattern baldness, it's because I sometimes pull my hair out. Occasionally I will wrap my entire head with duct tape to keep my brain from squirting out of my eyeballs and that takes a bit of hair off also.

Click to expand...

Oh man!

I Saw you on Montel Williams show!

You was cryin' Montel's instant tears pump was goin' full force, I was cryin'....


I feelz for ya man, dude. peace.

manifold

You CAN'T. The Sharkbite fitting goes OVER the tubing and the manifold is designed for the PEX to go over it. The only way to use a Sharkbite is to install a short piece of PEX first, but that would defeat the reason you want to use the Sharkbite. Even if you could find what you are looking for, the manifold stub would be much too short to engage a Sharkbite properly.

Redwood said:

Have a look see at this...
http://www.watts.com/pro/divisions/potablepexplumbing/learnabout/learnabout_cinchclamp.asp

Click to expand...

I haven't heard of this pex tool before. I am going to do some asking around about it though. THX for the info.

hair

At this point in my life I am mostly bald. Not because of male pattern baldness, it's because I sometimes pull my hair out. Occasionally I will wrap my entire head with duct tape to keep my brain from squirting out of my eyeballs and that takes a bit of hair off also

Click to expand...

I guess this is the point where I have gotten IDGAF from you.

If the price of shark bites goes down we're all going to be in trouble

thx

Thanks for the info on the tool, Redwood. I'll definitely look in to it.

HJ, thanks for confirming my fears. At least now I can cease my fruitless search.

nhmaster, is this a subtle bust on my ignorance about plumbing matters? Cheer up, mate, with out dummies like me, plumbers like you wouldn't be able to afford your yachts! Be sure to keep a hat on your bald head when out on the water.

Kin I plumb my whole house with Sharkbites?

Sheesh!

Not you Sam, shark bites, Hate em. A plague on the face of the land. Another shining example of a product that the manufacturers managed to buy off the pluming code board with.

easy

Just read a review yesterday where a company has developed a system for properly charging an AC unit just by pressing a button. What does that do to the guy who has spent YEARS, and thousands of dollars for training and equipment, learning how to do it correctly, and now anyone can do it without him? Sharkbites have their place, but it is not doing a complete system.

hj said:

Just read a review yesterday where a company has developed a system for properly charging an AC unit just by pressing a button. What does that do to the guy who has spent YEARS, and thousands of dollars for training and equipment, learning how to do it correctly, and now anyone can do it without him? Sharkbites have their place, but it is not doing a complete system.

Click to expand...

God save us all HJ. We're becoming a "dying" (ha ha) breed.

hj said:

Just read a review yesterday where a company has developed a system for properly charging an AC unit just by pressing a button. What does that do to the guy who has spent YEARS, and thousands of dollars for training and equipment, learning how to do it correctly, and now anyone can do it without him? Sharkbites have their place, but it is not doing a complete system.

Click to expand...

One problem with that idea,.........consumer cannot buy refrigerant without an EPA certification.

Sure they can. Any automotive store sells the cans of refrigerant to re-charge your car A\C and you don't need a RSES card for that. They will find a way around it, guaranteed.

nhmaster said:

Sure they can. Any automotive store sells the cans of refrigerant to re-charge your car A\C and you don't need a RSES card for that. They will find a way around it, guaranteed.

Click to expand...

They cannot buy R-22, or 410-A without an EPA certification,..........totally different than auto air.

Also it is only sold in wholesale to the trade suppliers.
Not saying it is impossible to get around, as they can buy the books, and pay for the exam to take the test,............and of course there is always a "black market" per se.

All I was saying is it is not easy.

sam1220 said:

I have only a very few plumbing fixtures, want to use PEX, and sharkbite fittings to plumb it all (if possible).
. . . .

Any help, suggestions, advise would be very much appreciated.

Click to expand...

You are making yourself a lot of unnecessary work and expense.

If you scrap the manifold idea and the PEX idea and do the whole thing in CPVC you will finish it in less time and much less expense.

The parts are so inexpensive that you can buy everything you need and plenty of fittings so you can pick it all up in one trip. You can buy enough drain valves so you can easily drain it if you have to winterize the cabin.

For a cabin you can probably do everything in 1/2" CPVC unless you have a monster shower hiding somewhere in there. If you have a really big flow somewhere you can use 3/4" for that part.

PEX is a hi-tech system that requires expensive tools and components. Shark-Bite fittings are expensive things that most plumbers would use only where they need one or two for a repair.

Putting together CPVC is not much more complicated than Tinker-Toys, and you can fix a problem with a hacksaw, some glue, and a 59 cent part.

If you want to show your visitors the nice red and blue tubing then do PEX. If you want to get the job done quickly and at reasonable expense, use CPVC.

Marc46 said:

They cannot buy R-22, or 410-A without an EPA certification,..........totally different than auto air.

Also it is only sold in wholesale to the trade suppliers.
Not saying it is impossible to get around, as they can buy the books, and pay for the exam to take the test,............and of course there is always a "black market" per se.

All I was saying is it is not easy.

Click to expand...

All I have to say is "Yet"

When the manufacturers put enough money, in the right pockets I'll bet you anything that there will be a way aorund it.

nhmaster said:

All I have to say is "Yet"

When the manufacturers put enough money, in the right pockets I'll bet you anything that there will be a way aorund it.

Click to expand...

And you will most likely be correct,.........just not at the moment!

I will be 47 by the end of this year, and intend to be retired by 50.
That was always my goal when I started my own business.

Of course the above scenario means that I will most likely die from something about 6 months after I retire!

Marc46 said:

And you will most likely be correct,.........just not at the moment!

I will be 47 by the end of this year, and intend to be retired by 50.
That was always my goal when I started my own business.

Of course the above scenario means that I will most likely die from something about 6 months after I retire!

Click to expand...

Never retire, start a new career. Retirement's for the dead baby.