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.
If you mess up a soldered joint, you heat it up, pull it apart, clean it, and try again. If you mess up a ProPress joint, you cut it out. That fitting is destroyed. You lose an inch of pipe and a $4 fitting every time you slip. propresser
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
But is it the right choice for every job? This post will break down everything you need to know: the mechanics, the cost, the safety, and the few places where you should still keep the torch handy. If you mess up a soldered joint, you
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.
Flux is acidic. If you don’t wipe it off after soldering, it can corrode the pipe over time. ProPress uses no flux, meaning cleaner lines and less risk of pinhole leaks years down the road.
| Feature | ProPress | Solder (Torch) | SharkBite (Push) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Very Fast | Slow | Instant | | Permanent? | Yes | Yes | No (removable) | | Tool Cost | High ($3k) | Low ($100) | None | | Fitting Cost | High ($4) | Low ($0.80) | High ($6) | | Fire Risk | None | High | None | | Reliability (Long term) | Excellent (40+ yrs) | Excellent (50+ yrs) | Good (25 yrs) | | Best Use Case | Commercial, large repipes | Tight spaces, low budget | Temporary caps, homeowner |