Hi Gang! I have the expandable tool and collars made by Wirsbo. Do I need to use ONLY wirsbo copper adapters? Can I use any adapter that may be found in the big box stores? Reason being, the only trade store I can buy these from are way out of my way these days.

the fittings used for expansion method of pex installation will not be found at big box stores.
you'll have to go to a real supply house or purchase online.

Other than trade shops where can I buy? I don't even see on Wirsbo website any dealers that sell their product. I would like to buy some products on line.

I don' see it on this website's sponsor. Can I use shark bite's?

Yes, Wirsbo Pex is 5/8", 7/8", etc. O.D. so the SharkBite will work on it. As for crimp fittings, Wirsbo fittings are proprietary and will not work with any other banding system. Due to the no-lead laws, they now make an acetal fitting available.

They changed the name to uphonor instead of wirsbo now if you are looking for parts. I still call it wirsbo, and the parts house keeps correcting me.

You're correct yonson that PlumbingSupply.com doesn't offer PEX products.

When will we?

I don't know.

I've been torn about offering products that seem to continue to evolve and am still "gun-shy" today even after PEX has been around for many years.

I guess I come from having been very enthused about PB (polybutylene) when it first came out. The resins with PB unlike PEX came from only one manufacturer who only used virgin resins and those resins didn't originate out of China or wherever.

Today's PEX resins come from many sources as well as I believe there are 3 different ways of producing it.

From what little I know Wirsbo does seem to be a quality product so please don't mistake what I'm saying.

I simply wish for all regarding PEX to "shake out" a bit more/longer as it were when it comes to PEX before we offer it for sale.

So although we loose profits I'd rather operate with the idea of "better safe than sorry" and leave the sales of PEX products to others.

Thanks for checking though.

FYI: I've heard a lot of good things about Sharkbite fittings.

Vic

Thanks for the reply, Vic. When I started using Wirsbo I was in an area with a trade shop, I am no longer in that area. From what I hear, Wirsbo started as radiant and got into domestic lines but it didn't take as they wanted it to. Great product and I will continue to use it. Hopefully you will soon offer it. Maybe I can be the first purchase...