Dig 1/4" Barbed Fitting Insertion Tool for Irrigation Tubing

Pro: Works to place barbs into 1/4 inch tubing. Saved my fingertips from numbness.Con: Can damage the tubing if you're not careful. Doesn't accommodate barbs that are already on tubing.Caveat: I only tried straight barbs and goof plugs, since that's all I needed to do. I don't know if it would work on t-shaped or corner barbs. My guess is that it would probably work on one barb for the t-shaped connectors, but wouldn't work on the corner barbs.After working for an hour on a new garden drip line, my fingertips were numb from putting the little barbs into the 1/4 inch tubing. I decided to see if there was a tool to insert the barbs into the tubing, and found this tool. When the tool arrived, I tried a few ends for practice before working with the more expensive 6-inch-interval drip tubing I was using.You place a connecting barb into the little hole on one arm of the tool, then put the 1/4 inch tubing into the opening on the other arm of the tool. By squeezing the handles (with a decent amount of pressure), the tool forces the tubing onto the barb. After mangling a couple of the ends, I figured out the method to minimize the damage done to the tubing by the tool: 1) you have to start with the tubing tucked onto the end of the barb, and 2) you have to use just one firm squeeze motion to put the barb on.If you use several squeezes to put the barb into the tubing, the tube-gripping side of the tool can damage the 1/4 inch tubing pretty badly, as each squeeze stretched the plastic a bit. The tool does tend to squish the tubing a decent amount where the tool grips the tubing, but I found that (once the barb was in) if I turned the tubing 90-degrees and gave the oval-shaped tubing a half squeeze with the tool, the tool would squish the tubing back into a decent circle. I was also able to use the tube-pinching arm of the tool as a holder for the "goof plugs" that I use for the ends of my lines.Once I figured out the how to use the tool, I was able to insert barbs and good plugs into about 35 sections of drip lines in about 15 minutes. When I had to connect two sections of 1/4-inch tubing together, though, I could use the tool for the barb in one end, but would have to put the 1/4-inch tubing onto the other side of the bard by hand. But I had tubing and a barb to hold onto, so it was still easier than putting the barb into both side of the tubing by hand.By the way, I noticed one bad review for this tool where the customer had tried to use this tool on a staked drip line bubbler/sprayer. This tool is not designed to accommodate stakes, and does not claim to. It just puts plain old barbs into tubing.I would recommend this tool to save your fingertips if you do a decent amount of drip lines builds or repairs.

This one sits on a shelf in my garage. I found it frustrating to use and only capable of doing the simplest of barbs and then taking multiple attempts.I have two of the orange/black (AL-MAGOR Talli Grip TG Garden Tool) ones because they can be hard to find and I never want to be without one. I think I can do almost any kind of barb on that design. They look similar, but they work differently. I had high hopes, but this one, didn't do it for me.

no more fumbling with the installation of drip emitter heads, connectors or "T's" into into poly tubing using this tool. Prior to this tool, would force the fittings into the tubing using pliers and how water --not now -just place the fitting and tubing into the device and squeeze the handle --

This product is very difficult to use and only has very very limited applications in connecting tubing to fittings. Most fittings will not fit into tool and it can only be used to insert fitting into the end of a line. If I could return it I would. Do not buy.

Very good tool, save the fingers. That being said has some limitation in term of functionality example if you want to connect a straight two tubes, you only can use the device to do one side of the connection. I would also like to see for the price added functionality to be able to remove a barb. Bottom line still a great tool saving these old arthritic fingers

Great idea, but there are some problems. The tool works fine for straight connectors (couplings). Not so great with Tees, and it doesn't like elbows at all. Any larger fittings (like valves, etc) will not work with this tool.The jaws tend to crush the vinyl tubing, although this tubing is pretty tough and probably isn't harmed.All in all, I would not typically spend 25 bucks for a tool that just accommodates one style of fitting.The idea was to save my hands, but I've ended up having to insert the elbows and tees by hand anyway.

I love that this works so easily and I dont have sore fingers anymore when installing / fixing my irrigation. Its a little pricey, but it is the only one I could find on the market. Great gadget to solve a huge problem for me, so I don't regret buying it. Lets hope it lasts for a loooooong time!

This is a hand saver. I use it put the drip system together by hand but my fingers and hands would hurt for days afterward. This is genius and saves a lot of pain. And, it’s easy to use. Just wish I got one of these a long time ago.