DeWalt 1 in. Cordless PEX Expander (Tool Kit)

Why this expander earned a spot in my plumbing kit

I brought the DeWalt 20V expander onto a bathroom rough‑in and a small addition where everything from 3/8 to 1 inch PEX‑A needed to be run. By the second day, it was clear this was a well-thought-out, jobsite-ready tool. It’s quick, predictable, and easy to handle in awkward spaces—exactly what you want in a PEX expansion tool.

Setup, kit, and first impressions

The kit is complete enough to get to work immediately: the tool, two 2.0Ah batteries, a fast charger, expander heads for 1/2, 3/4, and 1 inch, a tube of expander grease, and a case. If you do a lot of 3/8 inch work, note that head isn’t included; you’ll need to source it separately.

Build quality is solid. The overmolded handle has good texture without being too tacky, and the tool feels balanced with a battery installed. At about 3.9 pounds with the pack, it’s heftier than a 12V expander but still easy to manage overhead and between studs. The rotating head mechanism has minimal slop, and the detent when swapping heads is positive—no half-seated surprises.

Two details stood out early:
- The automatic rotating head actually matters. It indexes between expansions on its own, giving a consistent, even stretch of the tubing and ring without you thinking about it.
- The LED is bright and casts forward nicely. It stays on briefly after you release the trigger. Helpful in crawlspaces, though it can be mildly annoying if you’re sensitive to lights lingering.

In use: control, access, and speed

Trigger behavior is straightforward: squeeze and it runs a single-speed expansion cycle; release to stop. There’s enough finesse at the start to place the head without a jump, and the cycle feels confident rather than abrupt. “Full-trigger actuation” in practice means you can operate it one-handed in tight quarters—get the head on the ring, bury the trigger, and let the tool do the pacing while you manage alignment with your off-hand.

Access is good for an expander in this size class. I was able to work between 16-inch OC studs and reach up into joist bays for 1/2 and 3/4 inch without contortions. For 1 inch, the nose length and body bulk are still manageable; you’ll be happier if you plan your approach (angle the head and install the ring after positioning).

On speed: it’s not night-and-day faster than every competitor, but it’s decisively quicker than the 12V expanders I’ve used, especially under load at 3/4 and 1 inch. It doesn’t bog or stall when the ring is cold, and the rotation between pulls saves a bit of mental overhead.

Expansion quality and consistency

The whole point of a powered expander is repeatability. Here, the DeWalt does very well:
- Even expansion: The automatic rotation reduces the “flat spot” risk you get if you forget to reorient manually.
- Recovery time: With PEX‑A, I typically do multiple pulls until the fitting slides in with firm pressure. This tool’s cadence made it easy to hit the same rhythm every time.
- Fit: Joints landed snug, without over-stretching the ring. On 1 inch, I appreciated the extra torque—it feels like there’s more headroom before lugging.

Noise and vibration are totally livable. You’ll get the usual polymer squeal if you skip grease, but lubricating the cone periodically (the kit includes grease) keeps it smooth and quieter.

Compatibility and head changes

Head swaps are quick and tool-less. The included heads cover the most common sizes in residential work. If you’re invested in another system, compatibility with DeWalt heads and common competitive heads (Milwaukee, Uponor) is a real benefit—no need to maintain duplicates. Thread-in tolerances felt snug; no wobble or misalignment during expansion.

One small note: use a touch of the included grease on the expansion cone and occasionally on the head interface. It reduces wear and keeps the rotation snappy.

Ergonomics and carry options

The rubber overmold makes long sessions easier on the hands, and the body shape encourages a neutral wrist position whether you’re driving horizontally or overhead. DeWalt includes both a belt clip and a robust top hang hook. At this weight, I found the hang hook more practical for ladder work and staging on pipe or framing; the belt clip is fine but not something I relied on with a 1-inch head attached.

The LED work light is genuinely useful in basements and crawlspaces. It stays on for a short period after trigger release, which I liked while aligning rings and fittings; if you prefer lights that shut off immediately, this behavior might not be your favorite.

Battery life and charging

With the two included 2.0Ah packs, I could work through a typical morning of 1/2 and 3/4 inch expansions without touching the charger, swapping packs around lunch and finishing the day without waiting on a charge cycle. If your day is heavy on 1-inch mains in cold weather, consider stepping up to 4.0Ah packs for fewer swaps, but the included batteries are perfectly serviceable for most residential runs.

I did have one of the included packs initially balk at the charger. It was replaced quickly under DeWalt’s support, and no issues since. The platform advantage is real—if you’re already on 20V Max, you’ve got spare packs to lean on.

Durability and maintenance

Jobsite durability has been excellent so far. The head rotation remained tight, and the gearbox never developed the chatter I’ve heard in hard-used expanders. Maintenance is simple:
- Keep the cone lightly greased.
- Wipe debris/dust from the head splines.
- Don’t store it with dried PEX shavings in the head—those will grind and can impede rotation over time.

The case is basic but protective enough for transport with heads and grease stored together. The warranty is solid: 3-year limited, 1-year free service, 90-day satisfaction guarantee. That’s comforting for a tool that may live in damp basements and crawlspaces.

What it’s not

• It’s for PEX Type‑A expansion systems. If you run PEX‑B with crimp/clamp rings, you need a different tool.
• It’s not the lightest expander on the market. If you only do occasional 1/2 inch work, a smaller 12V unit might feel more nimble, though you’ll give up some speed and power.
• The kit doesn’t include a 3/8 inch head. If you do fixture stubs or recirc lines in 3/8, budget for that accessory.

Comparisons and context

Compared to 12V expanders I’ve used, this DeWalt has noticeably more grunt at 3/4 and 1 inch, especially when tubing and rings are cold. The automatic head rotation takes one more task off your plate, which matters when you’re balancing fittings, torch lights, and awkward body positions. It’s not a radical departure from the core expand-and-insert workflow, but it’s a refined execution that speeds up the mundane parts and reduces rework.

Who will benefit most

• Remodelers and plumbers doing consistent PEX‑A rough‑ins, especially with a mix of 1/2, 3/4, and the occasional 1 inch.
• Crews already on DeWalt 20V Max who want battery and charger commonality.
• Anyone working in low-light or tight spaces that appreciates a strong LED and one-handed actuation.

If you’re primarily doing service calls with light 1/2 inch volume, you might not realize the full benefit of the extra power and could favor a lighter unit. For production rough‑in or full-house replumbs, the speed and consistency pay off.

Bottom line and recommendation

I recommend the DeWalt expander. It’s fast, confident under load, and produces consistent, even expansions with minimal fuss. Ergonomics are strong, the automatic rotating head reduces user error, and the kit provides what most installers need out of the box. Minor gripes—the LED’s linger-on behavior and the so-so usefulness of the belt clip—don’t undermine what is, functionally, a reliable and efficient PEX‑A tool. Add solid cross-compatibility with other heads and a good warranty, and it’s an easy choice if you’re outfitting for PEX‑A work or upgrading from a lighter-duty expander.