It isn’t all sunshine and ratchets. ProPress has limitations.
A Milwaukee ProPress tool weighs about 8 lbs. Holding that above your head in a ceiling tile while balancing on a ladder for the 50th press of the day is a legitimate workout. A torch is light. propresser
Can’t get the line 100% dry? Solder is impossible. With ProPress, you can press a fitting into a dripping line. The O-ring is lubricated and can handle residual moisture and minor dribbles. This is a lifesaver for emergency repairs on domestic water lines in occupied buildings. It isn’t all sunshine and ratchets
The liability of fire alone justifies the tool cost. Being able to press a valve onto a live 2" main line without shutting down a 40-story building is a superpower. Holding that above your head in a ceiling
For decades, the soundtrack of a residential or commercial plumbing site was unmistakable: the hiss and roar of an acetylene torch, the sizzle of solder melting, and the thud of a fire blanket smothering a stray spark. Soldering copper was a rite of passage—a skill that separated journeymen from apprentices.
But if you walk onto a new construction site today, you are just as likely to hear the ratcheting click of a ProPress tool. Manufactured by Viega, ProPress is a mechanical press fitting system that has fundamentally changed how we join copper tubing. It is faster, colder, and statistically more reliable than traditional solder.