Crimp Tools

The Bear · 28 Jan 2013

Hopefully this is not breaking the rules as its not strictly a woodwork tool but is being bought to do some wiring of woodwork equipment.

I have a crappy crimp tool that came in some cheap kit years ago and I wouldn't pay £1 for. Time to buy a semi decent one. The ratchet ones look good. Anyone got any views on a decent one. Is there anything I should be looking for?

It would seem there are some very expensive ones costing over £100. I would not really wish to pay over £20 and dont realy want to pay much for postage either if I can help it.

Should add, to be used on pre insulated crimps.

Something like these

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/ ... index.html

Cheers

mark

Spindle · 29 Jan 2013

Hi

I have the one at the top of your attachment - it's been fine for home / hobby use. Professionally I use Amp and Daniels tooling but then your talking serious investment.

Regards Mick

mjcann · 29 Jan 2013

I would go for ratchet type also, you get uniformity of compression on the lug, cheap indent types try to destroy insulated sleeve.

Eric The Viking · 29 Jan 2013

Ditto what Spindle said, almost exactly.

I use Elco or Edac connectors quite a bit, and the four-pin "hard disc" power connectors (AMP, originally, I think).

All those crimp tools are in a different class, cleverly folding the metal round or into the copper conductors, BUT the wire gauge needs to be exactly correct, and they are fiendishly expensive. It's the same with crimps for co-ax (BNC connectors), etc. I paid over £80 for an Edac tool in the 1980s, which caused a bit of soul-searching!

But the one at the top of the list, even though it only really squashes the connector, seems to work fine for general use.

E.

Racers · 29 Jan 2013

Hi,

Never but the cheapest or the most expensive, seems to work for me.
I have ratchet BNC RJ45 insulated crimp tools, and you know they are done right once the ratchet releases.

Pete