“Cheap” ProPress tools - worth it?
Cheap in air quotes because they’re still pretty salty.
I have a couple of plumbing projects coming up at my house and at my parents’ as well. I’m not great at and don’t enjoy sweating pipe and prefer not to use PEX. Sharkbites are a non-starter. Prefer to own rather than rent/borrow so I have it at my disposal in the future. My shoulder is trashed, so a manual tool also won’t work. Corded would be ok, but cordless preferred.
So, I’m looking at the various cordless ProPress tools available. I’m in the M18 ecosystem, so that was the logical choice, but boy are they spendy for a homeowner/weekend warrior.
There are used Ridgid and Milwaukee on Marketplace near me, but prices are not far off new/retail.
I see Vevor has a line of these, and they’ve become something of a go-to for rarely used tools. Prices on their compact ProPress tool with jaws and a pair of batteries are about what I see bare M18s sell for.
Then there what I call the unpronounceables - the super China tools. You know the ones. “AMZCNC 18V Pro Press Tool for Copper & PEX” or “IWENISEN” brand with the same description. These have a larger selection of dies, but the quality has to be terrible, right?
Anyone have experience that can share here? Ideally I’d like to stay under $500 and have something decent, even if not suitable for daily/pro use.