If you are a plumber, you certainly know better than anyone, the need for a pipe maintenance tool that performs well.
And as you know, pipe maintenance can be done by either soldering or pressing.
However, this piece will not delve into the advantages of pressing over soldering.
Nor will it explicate the multitudes of drawbacks involved in soldering. That topic has been overly dealt with severally.And this article won’t be doing any overkill.
Here we will look at Ridgid PROPRESS vs Milwaukee.
We will concentrate on the different pressing technologies available. And that’s something you don’t see regularly.
We will, however, be limiting our analysis to the PROPRESS manufactured by Ridgid and the Milwaukee Force Logic press.
Now, let’s dive right in.
RIDGID PROPRESS vs Milwaukee Comparison 2023
The Ridgid PROPRESS
The Ridgid PROPRESS is as wonderful as it gets. Over the years, this brand has become the joy of so many plumbers in America.
It can handle a wide variety of tubing, including stainless steel, copper, PEX, and multilayer tubing.
The Ridgid brand is versatile and boasts different categories of products. There are full size and compact press tools under this brand. And you can pick one that resonates with you.
Having said that, we will now review some of the best products under this brand.
Recommended Rigid PROPRESS To Buy
So what are the best Rigid PROPRESS in the market? Let’s look at some of them.
1. Ridgid 57373 RP 241 Press Tool Kit
If you want a tool that’s as compact as it can get, then this tool is what you want. It will perfectly align with your grip. And will be as light as you like, thanks to its ergonomic design.
This tool is actually 10% lighter and 25% smaller than the compact PROPRESS tools before it, weighing 1lb less than its predecessor.
Despite the tiny size of this tool, it still stands up to a variety of tubing. And has a penetration of 1 to ¼ on stainless steel and copper. Its penetration is 1 to ½ on PEXand up to ¾ on the iron pipe.
This tool will not leave you in the dark about your battery life. It also has built-in Bluetooth,which allows you to monitor the device with your phone.
All the real-time data about your tool will reflect on your phone. There is truly no better way to work faster and smarter than with this tool.
This device is powered by a 12v battery, which delivers 148 crimps of cycle per charge. And it comes with two of these batteries and also, with a charger.Its head is pretty tiny such that you can access really tight spaces and work on them.
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2. Ridgid RP 340-B Press Tool – 43348 Hydraulic Crimping Tools
If you don’t like to fiddle with chords, this tool is cordless and could be just what you need.
It is also one of the latest Ridgid pressing tools in the markets. It’s lightweight, at 8.3 pounds. It’s 17 percent lighter than other tools of this kind and also 30% smaller.
Despite this, it features a hydraulic ram output of up to 24 kilonewtons.
More so, you can reach into great depths with the RP 340-B, thanks to its rotating swivel boasting a rotation of up to 270 degrees.
It comes with an advanced 18 lithium battery. And this battery delivers an amazing 400 presses for every full charge.
This cordless hydraulic crimping tool does not falter in service. It is wired to deliver 42000 cycles of operation. And that shows great durability.
More so, the life and battery indicator and even temperature are all displayed on this tool.
It also comes with a built-in led light, such that you can work freely in places where there is no light.
Moreover, it can penetrate up to 4 inches of copper and stainless steel. And 2 inches of PEX. The only setback is that this product doesn’t come with a jaw as opposed to many other products.
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3. Ridgid 57388 RP 241 Press Tool Only
The Ridgid 57388 RP 241 has deafening semblance with 57373 RP 241. And you can easily confuse the two if you don’t pay attention.
They operate in the same way having the same dimensions and weight. Also, they have Bluetooth connectivity that enables you to control your tool from your gadget. It is actually called the Ridgid link. They also weigh 1 lb less than their predecessor.
A 12v lithium battery powers both. They also have the same extent of penetration at 1¼ for copper and steel, 1½ for steel, and around ¾ for iron pipe.
The only difference isthat this one comes as a bare tool. But will normally work with mega press jaws and other Ridgidaccessories.
With this device, you will easily plunge into tight spaces and achieve your crimps. This device is a great all-rounder. And will perform better for copper crimping.
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4. Ridgid RP 200-B Compact Press Tool Kit 43433 Hydraulic Crimping Tool
This hydraulic crimping tool yet again provides an amazing option for Copper, PEX, and stainless steel crimping.
And Like another Ridgid tool, it boasts a 270 degree of barrel swivel rotation that can access tighter spaces and get the job done.
So you can make pipe connections just about anywhere, the tightness notwithstanding.
This tool might look small, but it packs a great punch. It is powered by two 18v advanced Lithium 2 batteries.
And can deliver awesome 200 presses after each full charge. However,if you are using lithium 4, you’d have up to 400 presses.
Furthermore, this pressing tool can penetrate different piping systems. And will get the job done. Again, you won’t have to fiddle with cords as it is cordless.
This can produce up to 32000 cycles of service interval, with small maintenance costs. It also has a wonderful 5400 pounds of ram output.
You can also purchase jaws of all other compact devices of the Ridgid series. They all can work with this device.
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5. RIDGID RP 340-B Press Tool Kit – 43358 Hydraulic Crimping Tool
This tool is reliable, to say the least. It will clamp down on the amount of fatigue you experience while working.
It is small and lightweight, and with this tool, you can basically maneuverand work at a faster pace.
With this tool, you can achieve a lot and take your plumbing escapade to the next level. It will perform well in tough jobs. And will create permanent watertight sealing every time you use it.
Furthermore, it can penetrate from up to ½ inch to 2inches. It also boasts the 270 swiveling head and can enter small spaces.
The maximum speed is rated at 4second per cycle. With a longer service time, it’s 31% greater than its predecessor at 42000 cycles.
More so, this device is as tough as you like and will give you an amazing hydraulic ram output of 7200 pounds.
Another thing we liked is that it comes with a built-in led light that enables you to work in dark spaces. There’s a light indicator on this device. And it will indicate the temperature of your device.
It will also tell you if the pin is well inserted and the condition of your device, whether it needs maintenance and the life of your battery.
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Milwaukee Force Logic Press
This is yet another pressing tool we will be looking at in this article. The Milwaukee brand is no pushover and performs well for all pipe maintenance activities.
It also features a variety of products, ranging from cordless pressing devices to hydraulic crimping tools.
These tools can also handle a wide variety of piping systems, including copper, stainless steel, PEX, and iron piping.
Recommended Milwaukee PROPRESS to Buy
We will now look at some of the best products in Milwaukee PROPRESS lineup.
6. Milwaukee 2473-22 M12 Force Logic Press tool
If you are looking for the lightest pressing tool available, the M12 2473-22 might just be what you need. This force logic tool is the lightest pressing tool you will find anywhere, weighing just 3.8 pounds.And it’s also easy to use and will last you a long time.
It brings the best level of portability and penetrability to the pressing technology.
This in-line tool can be handled with one hand. It’s so sleek and can penetrate anywhere your hand can go.
It has the most fascinating calibration, and will only need maintenance after 32000 crimps of usage.
You can also see when your tool needs calibration as that is specified on this tool.Despite its compactness, this tool will deliver excellent fitting.
All this wonderfulness is powered by a red lithium battery. You can cut with the jaws. Fasten and connect with the head of this tool. Everything you will basically need for piping maintenance is in this tool.
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7. Milwaukee 2773-22 M18 Force Logic
This is the first and best brushless tool available in the markets.It is also the most durable pressing tool you will find anywhere as it has a cycle of 50000. So you are going to be using this product for a long time.
The one-handed tool will provide an amazing 20% more uptime than any other pressing tool while requiring a super-fast charging time at about 10% less charging time than other tools.
It is also small as you want and can negotiate tighter spaces. And make tight connections
It also features an auto press cycle, which means, it cannot start a press it can’t complete. And this means your worries are reduced. You will have great peace of mind while working.
It boasts over 13 unique pressing capacity of up to ½ to 4 inches.
Overall, this is a reliable pressing tool. It has basically all you want, whether you are a rookie plumber or a professional.
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8. Milwaukee 2673-22 M18 Force Logic Press tool
There’s nothing more beneficial to the plumber than working with a reliable tool. And that’s what this tool delivers without compromise.
This in-line and one-handed tool is imbued with ergonomic enhancement. And will deliver great accuracy — as needed in crimping and fitting.
It also features the sleek Milwaukee red link technology. And you are not going to be in the dark about your secure connection.
You can visually access and monitor connections. Giving you rest of mind while you are working.
Furthermore, it boasts an amazing 4x delivery time between connections. Its calibration standard is also breath-taking, with up to 40000 crimps before requiring servicing.
And while operating this tool, you make only quality press connections. All these are powered by the M18 lithium-ion battery.
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9. Milwaukee 2773-20 Force Logic Press Tool
This is yet another classic tool powered by force logic technology. It is as versatile you want and features up to 13 unique fitting systems.
This one-handed tool will also penetrate tighter spaces and accomplish your tasks in one piece. It packs a super punch too — boasting a force of up to 7200lbs.
Its red lithium battery is wonderful and will deliver up to 20% more run time than you will find with other batteries. And its charger also packs a lot of good and greatly shortens charging time.
This tool will generally satisfy just any plumber as it is built with both power and quality in mind.
Overall, this is a great tool that will give you a good bang for your money. It comes highly recommended.
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10. MILWAUKEE M18 Force Logic Press
The Milwaukee brand isn’t stopping for anyone. And they have proven that again with this tool.
This tool offers both ergonomic enhancements and great accuracy — coupled with the highest reliability you will find in the Force Logic technology.
You will also get a runtime of up to 40000 cycles upon each calibration.
It packs a 10% faster connection and up to 20% more runtime.Also, it is suitable for working overhead and will negotiate narrow spaces. And, it gives you the best quality pipe connectivity.
This is also powered with Red lithium technology. And this battery has overload protection. So you don’t have to worry about overloading.
Overall, this is an excellent PROPRESS that promises to deliver. For its price, you might not find a better alternative.
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Difference Between Ridgid PROPRESS and Milwaukee
We will now isolate features peculiar to each of these brands. And also analyze features possessed by both.
Design
The Milwaukee Force Logic packs all the basic things any plumber needs featuring both compact and full-size devices; it packs adequate versatility. However, the same can be said about Ridgid Propress.
Weight
The two brands have products weighing just about the same thing with only a slight weight difference.
Application
Both can be used to carry out a lot of connections on diverse piping, ranging from copper to PEX.
Advanced Features
The Ridgid PROPRESS isn’t just a basic tool but features a little more advanced stuff, to take the hungry plumber an extra mile.
In addition to having the green go button. This device has indicators telling you about your battery life and when your device needs servicing.
And will indicate when your pin isn’t pressed in properly. Unfortunately, Milwaukee PROPRESS lacks these features.
Zoom Lock
Users have also generally noticed that Ridgid develops faults less often than the Milwaukee
Both brands have tools that can perform the zoom lock without hassles.
However, the Ridgid presents a minor annoyance, in that you may often mistakenly press the trigger button while working.
And when you do, you have to release the jaw pressures. This doesn’t happen with Milwaukee devices.
Conclusion
We’ve come to the end of this RidgidPROPRESS vs Milwaukee review. It is now up to you to decide on the best one for you.
Personally, we don’t think you can go wrong with any one of the two units as they are both effective PROPRESS solutions. Study the products carefully to ensure your choice is well informed.
Let us know if you have any more questions. Thank you!