Over the past decade, the compact press tool market has grown tremendously, fueled by the industry’s confidence in the reliability of press connections and the increasing demand on job sites. With more brands entering the market, competition has become fierce, making it important to weigh your options carefully. Today, we’ll compare three major players—RIDGID, Milwaukee, Bosch, and DeWalt—each offering compact press tools tailored for different needs and applications.
RIDGID, with over two decades of experience in the press tool industry, has become a trusted name among professionals. The brand first introduced the RP 240 and RP 241 compact press tools in 2017, a significant upgrade from the RP 210-B. But this past September, RIDGID unveiled the RP 251, designed to replace both the RP 240 and RP 241 by combining their features into one streamlined, versatile tool.
The RIDGID RP 251 Compact Press Tool (78188) is built with a forward-positioned trigger and a SlimGrip handle, making it comfortable and easy to operate with one hand, especially in hard-to-reach or overhead spaces. A 360-degree swivel head adds to its versatility, allowing users to press from virtually any angle. At just 3.57 pounds, it is the lightest of the tools we’ll review here, reducing user fatigue during extended use.
The RP 251 can press up to 1-1/4 inches on ProPress copper and stainless steel, 1-1/2 inches on PEX tubing, and 1 inch on MegaPress black pipe. It exerts a powerful 5,400 pounds of force, delivering up to three presses per minute, completing around 140 presses per battery charge, and lasting over 60,000 cycles before requiring maintenance.
Additionally, it is Bluetooth-compatible through the RIDGID Link app, allowing users to monitor performance metrics and more. For professionals seeking a ready-to-go kit, the most popular choice is the RP 251 Press Tool Battery Kit with ProPress Jaws (1/2-inch to 1-inch) (78158), which includes three compact jaws, a 12V Advanced Lithium 2.5Ah battery, and a charger for $2,299.
Inspired by RIDGID’s success and the industry shift towards pressing, Milwaukee entered the market in 2013 with its ProPress M12 FORCE LOGIC Press Tool (2473-20). Designed for one-handed operation, Milwaukee’s compact press tool is also effective in confined and overhead spaces, weighing 3.8 pounds—the second-lightest option on our list. This model can press a variety of materials: ½ inch to ¾ inch for black iron, ½ inch to 1-1/4 inches for copper, ¼ inch to 1-3/8 inches for ACR, ½ inch to ¾ inch for stainless steel, and ⅜ inch to 1-1/2 inches for PEX.
Like the RIDGID tool, it applies a standard 5,400 pounds of force and performs up to 32,000 cycles before maintenance is required. Although the M12 tool doesn’t currently offer ONE-KEY connectivity for tracking, this feature is available on Milwaukee’s M18 version. Milwaukee’s most popular starter kit, the ProPress M12 Press Tool ½-inch to 1-inch Jaws Kit (2473-22), comes with three compact jaws, an M12 REDLITHIUM CP1.5 battery, charger, and hard carrying case, retailing at $2,259.
The compact press tool market has a new contender: Bosch. Bosch plans to release its own compact press tool later this year, which will be accompanied by a full-size version. With a force rating of 24 Kilonewtons (5,400 pounds) and 32 Kilonewtons (7,400 pounds), Bosch’s compact unit promises fast, three-second cycles. The model GPT18V-24L14 is set to come in a kit with ½-inch, ¾-inch, and 1-inch jaws, retailing at $2,399.
DeWalt is another key player to consider, especially with the release of its 20V Compact Press Tool (DCE210D2) in early 2023. This tool, although compact, is the heaviest in this comparison at 4.1 pounds. It features an inline design, optimized for one-handed use in tight or overhead spaces, and includes a 180-degree swivel head, which, although not as flexible as a full 360-degree rotation, is highly functional. The DeWalt press tool can tackle up to 2-inch fittings for copper, stainless steel, and carbon steel (black iron), boasting an impressive crimp speed of five seconds.
Similar to Milwaukee’s M12 model, this press tool needs maintenance after 32,000 cycles, but it applies a higher force at an average of 5,620 pounds, allowing it to handle slightly larger fittings. Although not as powerful as larger tools like RIDGID’s RP351 or Milwaukee’s M18, which exert around 7,200 pounds of force and can accommodate up to 4-inch jaws, DeWalt’s tool performs exceptionally well for its size. It also claims compatibility with various professional-grade fitting brands, including Viega, Apollo, Nibco, and Mueller.
DeWalt’s Crimp Connect software enables users to monitor tool performance, similar to RIDGID’s Link app. The most popular starter kit for DeWalt’s tool, the 20V ½-inch to 1-1/4-inch Compact Press Tool Kit (DCE210D2K), includes four jaws, two 2Ah batteries, a charger, a shoulder strap, and a ToughSystem 2.0 kit box for $2,399.
All three tools are equipped with LED lights for improved visibility in dark or confined spaces and feature rotating heads for enhanced accessibility—360 degrees for RIDGID and Milwaukee, and 180 degrees for DeWalt. Both RIDGID and DeWalt also offer app-based connectivity for monitoring and performance tracking. By considering the unique advantages of each brand, you can choose the press tool best suited to your needs.
These kits and similar tools are available today at Ohio Power Tool, so secure yours now and streamline your press applications with confidence. Don’t hesitate to reach out at cs@ohiopowertool.com or 614-481-2111 with any questions, comments, or concerns, and be sure to follow us on all your favorite social media channels to stay in the know on all the latest announcements, deals, news, and more!
