Most of this site is written for homeowners. This page is not. Everything below is the trade side — press systems, torch work, PEX, and the tool calls that cost real money to get wrong. Written by a licensed Georgia journeyman.
Straight-shooting notes when something new goes up here — fittings comparisons, tool tests, code changes. No spam, no course funnel.
Press systems (11)
The fittings, the tools, and the failures that get a joint cut back out.
- Best Copper Press Fittings 2026: Viega, Apollo & Nibco Compared
- NIBCO Press vs Viega ProPress: Are They Interchangeable? (Plumber’s Answer)
- Best Press Tool 2026: RIDGID vs. Milwaukee vs. DeWalt
- M12 vs M18 Press Tool: Which Milwaukee Should You Buy?
- RIDGID RP 251 vs Milwaukee M12 & M18 Press Tools: Which to Buy
- Press Fitting Starter Kit: What to Actually Stock
- Press Fitting O-Rings: What Each Seal Is Rated For
- Can You Press a Wet Line? Yes, With One Limit
- How to Remove a Press Fitting (You Cut It Out)
- SharkBite vs ProPress: Which No-Torch System Should You Use?
- ProPress vs. Soldering: A Plumber’s Honest Take
Copper and soldering (6)
Heat, flux and the reasons solder refuses to draw.
- Best Solder and Flux for Copper Pipe (What Actually Holds)
- Solder Will Not Flow? The Five Causes, In Order
- Solder a Ball Valve Open or Closed? What Manufacturers Say
- Torch Keeps Going Out Mid-Joint? Here Is Why
- Best Deburring Tool for Copper Pipe (and Why the Burr Matters)
- Tubing Cutter Cutting Crooked? Why It Spirals and How to Fix It
PEX (3)
Expansion, crimp and the mistakes that cost a fitting.
- Best PEX Expansion Tool (and Why It Only Works on PEX-A)
- Best PEX Cutter: Why a Square Cut Decides the Joint
- How to Remove a PEX Crimp Ring or Cinch Clamp Without Wrecking the Fitting
Hand tools (3)
What actually lives in the bag, and what it does to a finished surface.
- Channel Locks vs Pipe Wrench: Which One, and When (Plumber’s Answer)
- Will Channel Locks Scratch Chrome? Gripping Finished Trap Nuts
- Best Professional Plumbing Tools (2026): A Plumber’s Buyer’s Guide
Machines (3)
The big-ticket calls — drain machines, cameras, threaders.
- Best Drain Cleaning Machine 2026: A Plumber’s Picks
- Best Sewer Inspection Camera 2026: Pro & DIY Picks
- Best Pipe Threading Machine 2026: RIDGID 300 & More
Homeowner side of the site: all 237 guides.