Never seen or used the Vice Grip pinch off tool. Only own and used the block style. They're small, can't remember an issue getting them in somewhere. I cringe everytime I need to use them, so their use has been quite limited.

 

These are them, they are flat on one side and rounded on the other, they do a great job of pinching lines off, never had an issue with gas leaking by.

They just don’t round off as well as I think they could. Starting to believe I just don’t know how to utilize the round edge of them like I should know how.

I usually use channel locks with no teeth to start rounding it out and finish it off with an adjustable, usually gets it pretty close to back to perfectly round.

 

The cheaper ones will get distorted in the middle

 

I've got that style. have used to replace high psi switches on minisplits and heat pump units. great time saver, and don't have to open up the system.

also, have pinched off past the filter dryer on heat pumps and left the liquid line valve open, pump down into condensor like usual and could replace f/d w/o recovery.

leaves a little dimple in the liquid line, haven't had any failures in piping.

 

I’m definitely picking one up, seeing which one I like in certain situations.

The ones I have now I don’t see them being beat when I’m working on tiny pharmacy coolers that I already have no room to work in the first place, but where I have a little more room I see that one shining every time.

 

I should shoot a shot of mine. Been used, abused, and torched! :grin2:

 

lol I have a whole service bag filled with the same tools I started out with 14 years ago. Proud to say when I don’t feel like lugging my bigger bags, I gladly pick that one up and get the job done.

Get a few looks here and there but ����*♂

 

Best tool for pinching off and sealing permanently

 

X2

 

LOL. Yea I don’t see much opening back up after cranking down on that with straight man power. Probably good for pinching off and removing stub outs I install when repairing R290 or R600 equipment.

 

Here's my two pinch off tools I have had for over 30 years. The one on the left must be the one that I abuse. LOL

 

Or, I guess the top, the way they got posted.

 

See I like that one. The one I seen was much larger almost the size of a flare block. Those are perfect.

& I don’t trust a man if all his tools are to pretty.

 

I've always been nervous about those crimp tools ..... afraid Id create a leak when trying to round it back out

 

That fear never goes away , no matter how many times I’ve used it.

Now I’ve never attempted it on anything holding more than 4 to 5 lbs lol

So as I’m doing it I just say to myself, meh it’s a couple pounds it’ll be alright lol

I mostly use them on small pharmacy coolers that use R600, which is Butane.

I’m never worried about those because I always take them outside and repair them and they usually only hold 15 oz tops lol

But for repairs on ice machines they are a must, makes light work of say a fan cycle control

 

Manitowocs .... I've just been slapping a supco fan cycle onto the high side port. Its rare you need to gauge up , so I figure ... why not

 

We lease these ice machines out, we’re responsible for every repair and cleaning.

My luck I’ll be back in 3 days needing to diagnose a refrigerant issue after blocking off access to the high side, so then I’m either using the pinch off to add a port or removing the fan cycle from the port and pinching off and replacing it anyway.

I’ll only use one of those if I have room, which with ice machines, room is rare.

 

You could use a tee

 

I use tees when there is room

 

used it today. pinched off line next to filter dryer outside unit. closed suction line service valve, pumped refer into evap side. replaced compressor and filter dryer. opened line and suction valve and restarted system. saved transferring to a tank and back again.

 

Never even thought to do that, I know what I’m trying first chance I get.

What was liquid line size and estimated system charge weight?

 

3/8" line, took over 45 minutes to get refer out unit. was hot inside and in 30's at night, no sump heater, so you know where it all migrated. checked air flow and had to adjust. may have had slight over charge to begin with and speeding up blower, and removing restrictive filter may have fixed issue tech out originally was concerned about, low airflow.

 

today I had to replace evap coil. put tool between filter dryer and txv in condensor, pumped down into condensor. switched out f/d inside condensor and evap coil inside without having to pull recovery machine out .

 

Definitely smart use of it. I’ve never had any issues with pipe I’ve pinched off either.

Which one you using?

 

I hate the blocks and agree, places in flammable units that I just can't get them in. I use vice grip type, I finally broke down and bought the most expensive brand to insure a good pinch off. As far as rounding it back out after... I have never been able to do that. Lucky sometimes to get it open far enough to get readings but I do every time. I brazed while live and never ,not trust, I just test with my torch and move on.

 

I want to know what you are using to reround the pipe after you pinch it off. I, for the first time, just tried to reround and lost the charge. Grrrrr. I have always been scared I would but this time I did.

 

Point the CAP-T slightly down.

 

Pinch it off, change the control, linesman can open enough for the control to operate.

 

I will when I strap it down. Thanks!

 

yes, but comprssor was bad, so used to recovery machine to transfer the refer. have used the compressor for pump down on a hp if txv was bad or replacing condensor coil.