Pro & Prosumer Tools
Guides for serious DIYers and working tradespeople on the heavier end of the tool list: press tools and press fittings, drain cleaning machines and jetters, sewer inspection cameras, threading machines, PEX expansion and crimp tooling, and torches and solder. You will find system comparisons — ProPress against soldering, MegaPress against ProPress, NIBCO against Viega, M12 against M18 — and technique articles that answer the questions that come up mid-job: insertion depth, pressing a wet line, why solder will not flow, how to remove a press fitting or a crimp ring, and what each O-ring seal is rated for.
Picks come from hands-on trade experience with tools used on real jobs, read against manufacturer documentation and the standards each system is built to. Nobody pays for a place on these lists. Some links are affiliate links, mostly to Amazon, and the site may earn a commission if you buy through one, at no extra cost to you.
Best Copper Press Fittings 2026: Viega, Apollo & Nibco Compared
Plumbing Picks is reader-supported. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Quick answer: the best copper press fitting brand is the one your tool and jaws are approved to press. This guide compares Viega ProPress, NIBCO and ApolloPress. On Milwaukee’s 2026 matrix all three take approved M12…
Read more: Best Copper Press Fittings 2026: Viega, Apollo & Nibco Compared
Best Sewer Inspection Camera 2026: Pro & DIY Picks
A sewer camera (also sold as a sewer inspection camera, plumbing camera, drain camera or sewer scope) pushes a waterproof camera head down the drain on a semi-rigid push cable, so you can see the root, the break or the belly instead of guessing. Three things decide which one you need: the pipe size you…
Read more: Best Sewer Inspection Camera 2026: Pro & DIY Picks
Best Drain Cleaning Machine 2026: A Plumber’s Picks
There’s a clear line between a hand drain snake and a drain machine. A hand snake clears hair in a tub and grease in a kitchen line. A machine spins a steel cable through 3- and 4-inch lines, and a sectional machine with a root cutter can cut through roots in a 4-inch sewer. If…
Read more: Best Drain Cleaning Machine 2026: A Plumber’s Picks
ProPress Tool: Best RIDGID, Milwaukee and DeWalt Picks
What a ProPress tool is and which to buy: RIDGID, Milwaukee and DeWalt press tools compared by size, jaws, service interval and fitting-maker lists.
Read more: ProPress Tool: Best RIDGID, Milwaukee and DeWalt Picks
ProPress vs. Soldering: A Plumber’s Honest Take
Neither is better everywhere. Press wins on speed and safety — about seven seconds a joint, no flame, and it seals on damp pipe. Solder wins on simplicity and flexibility: a torch, flux and solder are all it takes, and the joint can be reheated and modified later. The job decides, not the brand. Plumbing…
Best Professional Plumbing Tools (2026): A Plumber’s Buyer’s Guide
I’ve spent years in the trade watching homeowners and new tradespeople buy the wrong tools — usually too much tool for the job, sometimes not enough. Pro-grade plumbing gear is a different world from the small gadgets most of this site covers. We’re talking press tools, inspection cameras and drain machines that are serious purchases.…
Read more: Best Professional Plumbing Tools (2026): A Plumber’s Buyer’s Guide