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Quick answer from a licensed plumber: A ProPress tool is a battery or corded press tool with jaws for Viega’s ProPress copper fittings. Most plumbers should buy a compact tool covering ½ to 1-1/4 inch, such as the RIDGID RP 251 or the Milwaukee M12 FORCE LOGIC; both are on Viega’s tool list for that range. For 1-1/2 and 2 inch, buy a standard tool such as the RIDGID RP 351 or Milwaukee M18. DeWalt’s DCE210 is the compact choice on DeWalt batteries. Viega lists no manual tool for ProPress copper.
Our pick for most plumbers: the RIDGID RP 251, a 3.6 lb compact tool with no scheduled maintenance, per RIDGID. Its 78208 kit has ProPress rings and jaws for ½ to 1-1/4 inch and the C1 actuator. Check the RIDGID RP 251 kit (78208) on Amazon
ProPress Tool Quick Picks
- Best for most plumbers: RIDGID RP 251 kit (78208), ½ to 1-1/4 inch ProPress rings and jaws.
- Best Milwaukee: Milwaukee M12 FORCE LOGIC kit (2473-22, ½ to 1 inch jaws).
- Best for 2 inch and up: RIDGID RP 351 kit with ½ to 2 inch jaws.
- Best mini tool for ½ and ¾ inch: RIDGID RP 115 kit.
- DeWalt platform: the DCE210 compact or DCE200 standard tool; see the DeWalt section below.
What Is a ProPress Tool?
ProPress is Viega’s press fitting system for copper and stainless pipe. A ProPress tool is a battery or corded press tool with jaws, or rings and an actuator, shaped for those fittings. The tool closes the jaw around the fitting and the seal, and the joint is done without heat. Viega’s product page says connections can be made wet or dry in seven seconds or less, in sizes from ½ to 4 inch. RIDGID, Milwaukee and DeWalt all make tools that Viega lists, and Viega sells its own Pressgun tools. Viega and NIBCO both list their copper press fittings to ASME B16.51, which covers hard drawn ASTM B88 copper tube at up to 200 psi from 32°F to 200°F.
So “best ProPress tool” really means the right tool body, the right jaws for your sizes, and a tool your fitting maker lists. Viega says it is the installer’s job to check the tool and attachment against the fitting being pressed, and that its tables show a selection of compatible tools, not a preference. If you are still deciding between press and solder, read ProPress vs soldering first.
ProPress Tools Compared
| Tool | Class | ProPress on Viega’s matrix | Weight (tool only) | Service | Linked kit jaws |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RIDGID RP 115 | Mini | Not listed (RIDGID sells ProPress mini jaws ½–¾ in.) | 2.9 lb | 20,000 cycles | ½–¾ in. ProPress |
| RIDGID RP 251 | Compact | ½–1-1/4 in. jaws; C1 rings ½–1-1/4 in. | 3.6 lb | No scheduled maintenance | ½–1-1/4 in. jaws and C1 rings (78208) |
| Milwaukee M12 FORCE LOGIC | Compact | ½–1-1/4 in. M12 jaws | 3.8 lb (2473) | 32,000 crimps (2473); 37,000 cycles (2573) | ½–1 in. copper |
| DeWalt DCE210 | Compact | ½–1-1/4 in. compact jaws | not published on page read | Crimp Connect reports | not linked |
| RIDGID RP 351 | Standard | ½–2 in. jaws; V2 rings 1-1/2–4 in. | 7.1 lb | No scheduled maintenance | ½–2 in. |
| Milwaukee M18 FORCE LOGIC | Standard | ½–2 in. M18 jaws; M18 rings 2-1/2–4 in. | not published on page read | 50,000 cycles (2922) | not linked |
| DeWalt DCE200 | Standard | Not listed (NIBCO lists it) | not published on page read | Crimp Connect reports | not linked |
From Viega’s tool matrix (TD-TL 0326), RIDGID catalog sheets, Milwaukee and DeWalt product pages, and NIBCO’s tool matrix, read on October 2, 2026. Weights are as each maker publishes them.
RIDGID RP 251 Compact Press Tool
Copper and stainless ½ to 1-1/4 in. · PEX to 1-1/2 in. · carbon steel to 1 in. · 3.6 lb tool only · 12V, up to 140 presses per charge · 60,000+ press cycles, no scheduled maintenance · 360° head · RIDGID Full Lifetime Warranty
The RP 251 is RIDGID’s compact in-line press tool. RIDGID’s catalog sheet lists ½ to 1-1/4 inch on copper and stainless steel, ½ to 1-1/2 inch on PEX and ½ to 1 inch on carbon steel, at 3.6 pounds for the tool alone and about 5 seconds a press. RIDGID says the brushless motor is capable of over 60,000 press cycles with no scheduled maintenance, and the RIDGID Link app shows press cycles, service interval and battery status over Bluetooth.
Viega’s tool matrix lists the RP 240, 241 and 251 with compact jaws for ProPress from ½ to 1-1/4 inch, and with the C1 actuator and rings over the same range. NIBCO is narrower: its matrix lists RIDGID compact jaws on the RP 251 only from ½ to 1 inch, and the C1 kit to 1-1/4 inch. The linked 78208 kit comes with ProPress rings and jaws for ½ to 1-1/4 inch and the C1 actuator, per RIDGID, so it also covers the C1 route that NIBCO lists to 1-1/4 inch. If your work stops at 1 inch, the 78158 kit with ½ to 1 inch jaws is the smaller kit. RIDGID also sells the 78148 kit with ½ to 1-1/4 inch ProPress jaws; it has no rings or C1 actuator. NIBCO’s jaw-only limit above still applies. Up against Milwaukee? See RIDGID vs Milwaukee press tools.
- 3.6 lb tool only, per RIDGID
- No scheduled maintenance, per RIDGID
- On both Viega’s and NIBCO’s tool lists
- 360° head swivel for reaching tight spaces, per RIDGID
- Tops out at 1-1/4 inch copper; 2 inch needs a standard tool
- NIBCO lists its compact jaws only to 1 inch
- 12V battery is RIDGID-only
Verdict: The ProPress tool most residential and light-commercial plumbers should start with.
Milwaukee M12 FORCE LOGIC Press Tool
2473-22 kit: ½, ¾ and 1 in. copper jaws · 3.8 lb and up to 5,400 lb of force (Milwaukee) · service every 32,000 crimps (2473) · successor 2573-22 with ONE-KEY: 37,000 cycles · M12 battery · 5-year tool warranty on the 2573
The M12 FORCE LOGIC is Milwaukee’s compact in-line press tool. Milwaukee’s 2473-22 page lists it at 3.8 pounds with up to 5,400 pounds of force and service every 32,000 crimps, and the kit comes with ½, ¾ and 1 inch copper jaws. Viega’s tool matrix lists M12 jaws for ProPress from ½ to 1-1/4 inch, and NIBCO lists them over the same range, so 1-1/4 inch is a separate jaw purchase. Milwaukee’s FAQ adds two rules worth knowing before you buy: M12 and M18 jaws are not interchangeable, and the kit jaws are for copper only, with separate jaws for PEX and black iron.
Milwaukee has replaced the 2473 with the 2573-22, which adds ONE-KEY tracking and a 37,000-cycle service interval. No Amazon-sold 2573 listing passed our stock check, so the link here is the 2473-22, sold by a third-party seller. What the change means for owners is in the M12 discontinuation guide, and sizing up is in M12 vs M18 press tool. If you already run M12 batteries, staying on that platform is a reasonable tie-breaker (my judgment). I carry an M12 press tool on my own jobs; the numbers above are Milwaukee’s, not mine.
- Compact in-line tool that runs on M12 batteries
- On both Viega’s and NIBCO’s lists to 1-1/4 inch
- Indicator light for a full cycle and for calibration due, per Milwaukee
- Milwaukee publishes a service interval in cycles
- The 2473-22 is replaced by the 2573-22
- Kit jaws stop at 1 inch; 1-1/4 inch jaw sold separately
- Linked listing is sold by a third-party seller, not Amazon.com
- Jaws do not fit the M18 tool
Verdict: The pick if your van is already on M12 batteries and your work is ½ to 1 inch copper.
RIDGID RP 351 Standard Press Tool
Copper ½ to 4 in. (rings and actuator above 2 in.) · PEX ½ to 2 in. · 7,200 lb (32 kN) ram output · 7.1 lb tool only · 18V battery or corded kits · 100,000+ press cycles, no scheduled maintenance · more than 325 presses per charge (RIDGID footnote)
When you press 1-1/2 and 2 inch copper, or go to 4 inch with rings, you need a standard tool. RIDGID’s RP 350 and RP 351 catalog sheet lists ½ to 4 inch copper, ½ to 2 inch PEX, 7,200 pounds of hydraulic ram output and a 4.5-second crimp cycle, and says the brushless motor is capable of over 100,000 press cycles with no scheduled maintenance. RIDGID sells the RP 351 in battery and corded kits, which matters on long commercial days where an outlet is close.
Viega’s matrix lists standard jaws for ProPress ½ to 2 inch on the RP 330, 340, 350 and 351, and the V2 actuator and rings for 1-1/2 to 4 inch. NIBCO lists the same RIDGID standard tools with RIDGID standard jaws and V1 and V2 kits from ½ to 2 inch, but no RIDGID option for its 2-1/2 to 4 inch fittings. The linked 67178 kit has ½ to 2 inch ProPress jaws, per the listing. Deciding between this and the compact tool? See RIDGID RP 351 vs RP 251.
- ½ to 2 inch jaws in the linked kit, 4 inch with rings
- 7,200 lb ram output, per RIDGID
- Battery or corded kits
- No scheduled maintenance, per RIDGID
- 7.1 lb tool, about twice the RP 251
- Large-diameter rings and the V2 actuator are extra
- The 67178 kit weighs 50.7 lb, per RIDGID
Verdict: The tool for commercial work, 1-1/2 and 2 inch mains, and anyone heading to 4 inch.
RIDGID RP 115 Mini Press Tool
Copper and stainless ½ to ¾ in. · PEX ½ to ¾ in. · 2.9 lb tool only · 12V, 160 crimps per charge · service interval 20,000 cycles · 210° head swivel · kit 72553 with ProPress mini jaws
If nearly every joint you press is ½ or ¾ inch, RIDGID’s mini tool is the lightest pick on this page. RIDGID’s catalog sheet lists ½ to ¾ inch on copper, stainless and PEX, 2.9 pounds for the tool alone, about 4.5 seconds a crimp and 160 crimps per charge, with a 20,000-cycle service interval. It opens and presses one-handed, per RIDGID.
One check before you buy: Viega’s March 2026 tool matrix does not list the RP 115, though Viega says its tables show only a selection of compatible tools and RIDGID sells the 72553 kit with ProPress mini jaws. NIBCO’s matrix does include the RP 115 with RIDGID’s ½ and ¾ inch compact jaws. The trade-off against the RP 251 is covered in RIDGID RP 115 vs RP 251.
- 2.9 lb tool, the lightest here
- One-handed jaw opening, per RIDGID
- NIBCO’s matrix includes it
- 210° head swivel for access to tight spaces, per RIDGID
- ½ and ¾ inch only
- Service interval of 20,000 cycles, where the RP 251 lists no scheduled maintenance
- Not on Viega’s current tool matrix
Verdict: A service plumber’s tool for small copper repairs, not a repipe tool.
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DeWalt ProPress Tools: DCE210 and DCE200
DeWalt makes two press tools on its 20V MAX battery. The DCE210 is the compact in-line tool. DeWalt’s page says its DCE210D2K kit includes four compact CTS jaws from ½ to 1-1/4 inch, a 180° rotating head and Crimp Connect software that reports calibration history and cycles left until service. DeWalt says the included jaws work with Viega ProPress, NIBCO Press, Mueller Streamline PRS and ApolloPress. Viega’s matrix lists the DCE210 with compact jaws for ProPress from ½ to 1-1/4 inch, and NIBCO’s matrix lists it too.
The DCE200 is DeWalt’s full-size tool. DeWalt says it presses ½ to 4 inch copper and stainless, with a 360° pivoting head and onboard diagnostics for battery life, crimp success, service needed and operating temperature range. NIBCO’s matrix lists the DCE200; Viega’s March 2026 matrix does not. The DEWALT DCE200M2K kit is not linked: on 10/4/2026 its Amazon listing was sold only by a third-party seller with very few left. Its title says ½ to 1-1/4 inch, while its bullets list five ½ to 2 inch crimping heads, so confirm which jaws come in any DCE200 kit before you buy it. DeWalt lists a 3-year limited warranty, 1 year of free service and a 90-day satisfaction guarantee on both kits. If your shop runs DeWalt 20V batteries, these are the tools to price first (my judgment).
Battery, Corded or Manual?
Every tool on this page comes in battery kits. RIDGID also sells the RP 351 in corded kits, such as the 67193 with ½ to 2 inch jaws, for jobs with power close by. Manual ProPress tools are the gap: Viega’s tool matrix lists hand tools only for PureFlow PEX fittings, 5/16 to 1 inch, and none for ProPress copper. Manual copper press tools sold online for ProPress fittings are not on Viega’s or NIBCO’s lists, so we do not recommend them for work behind a wall.
Jaws, Rings and Actuators: What Fits What
- Jaws by tool class. Compact tools take compact jaws, standard tools take standard jaws, and the two lines do not mix. Milwaukee says M12 and M18 jaws are not interchangeable.
- Jaws by material. Milwaukee says the M12 kit jaws are for copper only; PEX, black iron and other materials need their own jaws. MegaPress steel fittings need MegaPress jaws; see MegaPress vs ProPress.
- Large sizes. Above 2 inch, ProPress uses rings with an actuator: RIDGID’s V2 rings for 1-1/2 to 4 inch on standard tools, or Milwaukee’s M18 rings for 2-1/2 to 4 inch, per Viega’s matrix. Milwaukee’s 2922 page lists ½ to 4 inch capacity.
- Fitting brand. Viega does not require specific approved tools to keep its fitting warranty, but the warranty does require tools compatible with Viega systems. NIBCO allows only tools, jaws and chains it has approved, and lists RIDGID compact jaws only to 1 inch.
Service, Calibration and Warranty
Each maker sets its own service schedule. RIDGID lists no scheduled maintenance for the RP 251 (over 60,000 cycles) and the RP 351 (over 100,000), and a 20,000-cycle service interval for the RP 115. Milwaukee lists 32,000 crimps between service inspections on the 2473, 37,000 cycles on the 2573, and a 50,000-cycle calibration interval on the M18 2922, and says the M12 shows a light when calibration is due. DeWalt’s Crimp Connect reports calibration and service history. NIBCO’s tool matrix adds that it recommends minor tool service once a year and major service every three years. For warranty, RIDGID’s RP 251 manual carries a Full Lifetime Warranty against defects in material and workmanship; Milwaukee lists 5 years on the tool and 2 years on jaws and batteries for the 2573 and 2922; DeWalt lists 3 years limited with 1 year of free service.
Rent or Buy?
If you have one small job, renting can make sense, and it is how I would tell a homeowner to start (my judgment). Ask which jaws come with the rental tool and check them against your fitting maker’s list. Buy when press joints are part of how you make money. Then the battery platform you already own, and your largest pipe size, decide the tool. A RIDGID RP 251 or Milwaukee M12 covers most residential copper; 2 inch work needs an RP 351, an M18 or a DCE200.
The Rest of the Kit
The tool is only as good as the prep. Viega’s pocket guide says ProPress fittings generally leak for one of three reasons: the fitting was never pressed, the tube was not fully inserted, or the jaws were not aligned. Cut square, deburr, and mark the insertion depth from the fitting maker’s chart (see press fitting insertion depth marks). A RIDGID 152 tubing cutter cuts ¼ to 2-5/8 inch outside diameter and a RIDGID 227S reamer deburrs inside and out from ½ to 2 inch, per the listings. More options are in the best pipe cutters. For fittings, start with the best copper press fittings, such as Viega 78047 ½ inch ProPress couplings (not linked: third-party seller only, low stock, on 10/4/2026), and stock the van from what to keep in a press fitting kit. A joint pressed off-square gets cut out, not re-pressed: how to remove a press fitting. For tool choice, the pro plumbing tools guide covers the rest of the truck.
FAQ
What is the best ProPress tool?
For most plumbers, a compact in-line tool such as the RIDGID RP 251 or the Milwaukee M12 FORCE LOGIC, because most residential copper is ½ to 1-1/4 inch and both are on Viega’s tool matrix for that range. For 2 inch and up, a standard tool such as the RIDGID RP 351 or the Milwaukee M18 FORCE LOGIC. Pick the battery platform you already own, then confirm the jaws on your fitting maker’s list.
Is ProPress a tool or a fitting?
ProPress is Viega’s copper and stainless press fitting system. A “ProPress tool” is a press tool fitted with jaws or rings made for ProPress fittings, from RIDGID, Milwaukee, DeWalt or Viega’s own Pressgun line. Viega’s tool matrix shows a selection of compatible tools, not every one. Viega’s product page says ProPress connections can be made wet or dry in seven seconds or less, from ½ to 4 inch.
Is there a manual ProPress tool?
Not on Viega’s list. Viega’s March 2026 tool matrix lists hand tools only for PureFlow PEX fittings, 5/16 to 1 inch, and no hand tool for ProPress copper. Some listings sell manual copper press tools for ProPress fittings, but we do not link them, because Viega puts tool compatibility on the installer and NIBCO allows only tools it has approved. For a one-off job, renting a battery tool with listed jaws is the safer route (my judgment).
Will a RIDGID or Milwaukee ProPress tool press NIBCO fittings?
In the sizes NIBCO lists. NIBCO’s matrix, revised May 21, 2025, lists RIDGID compact jaws only to 1 inch (the C1 kit to 1-1/4 inch), Milwaukee M12 jaws to 1-1/4 inch, and RIDGID and Milwaukee standard jaws to 2 inch. For its 2-1/2 to 4 inch fittings, it lists only NIBCO chains or Milwaukee’s NIBCO rings on the M18 Long Throw. More in Viega vs NIBCO press fittings.
Do press tools need calibration or service?
Each maker sets its own interval. RIDGID lists no scheduled maintenance for the RP 251 and RP 351 and a 20,000-cycle service interval for the RP 115. Milwaukee lists 37,000 cycles for the M12 2573 and a 50,000-cycle calibration interval for the M18 2922. DeWalt’s Crimp Connect software reports calibration and service history. Follow the tool’s indicator and the maker’s schedule.
Should I rent or buy a press tool?
If you press a handful of joints once, renting makes sense (my judgment). Ask which jaws come with the rental and check them against your fitting maker’s list before you start. Buy when press joints are part of how you make money, and buy on the battery platform you already run.
Are M12 and M18 press jaws interchangeable?
No. Milwaukee’s FAQ says M12 and M18 jaws are not interchangeable because of different locking mechanisms. RIDGID compact jaws and standard jaws are separate lines too. Buy jaws for the tool body you own.
Why Trust Plumbing Picks
Plumbing Picks is written by a licensed Georgia journeyman plumber who runs Milwaukee, RIDGID and DeWalt tools and presses Viega and NIBCO fittings on jobs. Every size, rating and interval here comes from the maker documents listed below, or from the Amazon listings we link. Where makers’ lists disagree, the text says so. Nothing here comes from hands-on testing. On October 2, 2026, every linked listing was in stock. The Milwaukee M12 kit and the Viega couplings (no longer linked) were sold by third-party sellers, and everything else by Amazon.com. If you buy through a link we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nobody pays to be included here. More on who writes this and how we pick.
Sources
- Viega: ProPress System product page, Viega Tool Matrix TD-TL 0326, ProPress Installation Manual IM-PP 724607 (incl. Limited Warranty), ProPress Systems Pocket Guide PG-PP 724604
- NIBCO: Press System Catalog (Approved Tool and Jaw Compatibility Matrix, rev. 5/21/2025)
- RIDGID: RP 251 catalog sheet R-24-G, RP 251 operator’s manual (incl. Full Lifetime Warranty), RP 350 & RP 351 catalog sheet R-20-I, RP 115 catalog sheet R-22-E, Pressing Product Catalog (9/2024)
- Milwaukee: M12 FORCE LOGIC press tool kit 2473-22, M12 FORCE LOGIC with ONE-KEY kit 2573-22 (incl. FAQ), M18 FORCE LOGIC with ONE-KEY, ½–2 in. CTS jaws 2922-22, M18 FORCE LOGIC with ONE-KEY tool 2922-20
- DEWALT: 20V MAX compact press tool kit DCE210D2K, 20V MAX press tool kit DCE200M2
- ASME B16.51, Copper and Copper Alloy Press-Connect Pressure Fittings (scope and rating)
- Amazon listings linked on this page (titles, listing bullet points, seller and stock read on October 2, 2026)
Bottom Line
Pick the tool by your largest pipe size and the battery you already run. For ½ to 1-1/4 inch, the RIDGID RP 251 and the Milwaukee M12 FORCE LOGIC are both on Viega’s list; for 2 inch and up, the RIDGID RP 351 or Milwaukee M18; on DeWalt batteries, the DCE210 or DCE200. Then check your jaws against your fitting maker’s list, and keep the prep clean.