- 1). Measure two sections of PEX piping and mark them both at the point where they will join to each other. Place one of the pipes in the jaws of a PEX tube cutter, rest the cutter blade on the mark and making sure the blade is perpendicular to the pipe. Squeeze the cutter handles together to cut cleanly through the pipe. Repeat the process to cut the second pipe to length.
- 2). Slide a copper crimp ring onto the the end of both pipes. Push one pipe end over one barbed end of a PEX fitting. Push the end of the second PEX pipe over the other barbed end of the fitting and make sure the pipe ends push up against the fitting's central shoulders.
- 3). Position the crimp rings so that there is a 1/8-inch gap between the rings and the fitting's shoulders. Open the a PEX crimping tool's handles to open its jaws, and place one crimp ring squarely in the jaws of the tool. Squeeze the handles together to seal the crimp ring in position, securing the fitting to the pipe. Repeat the process with the second crimp ring.
- 4). Test each installed crimp ring: Try sliding each ring into the slots of a "go/no go" gauge. The rings should fit into the "go" gauge, but not the "no go" gauge. If either ring fails the test, it must be removed from the pipe end/fitting, and reinstalled into place.
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