Crimpers

[theoldwizard1]

I know this topic has come up before, but let's beat it to death one more time !

I have TOO MANY different crimpers. What I would like is a ratcheting crimper, probably with interchangeable jaws, that can crimp typical insulated and uninsulated terminals in the wire range of 12AWG to 22AWG. Crimping weather-pack terminals and other POPULAR automotive terminals is also desirable.

Jaws for larger and smaller wire sizes is a bonus.

 

[65ranchero]

You have read my mind, I also am looking (thinking) of buying a set but not too expensive

 

[Gutman]

I've been very satisfied with the Wirefy Crimping Tool. It'll do heat-shrink, nylon, non-insulated, and ferrule terminals with removable jaw sets, but it's limited to the three standard sizes for the terminals (12-22). Bought the kit on the zon, about $75. I use the hell out of it and I think of all the crappy crimps I'd made in my past, using the cheapo one I had before. The ratcheting feature allows the set-up to get the wire properly inserted and then the allows for a good solid crimp in the right position.

I ended up having to make crimping die for my shop press when I needed to do a bunch of terminals for golf cart battery cables, size 2 and 4. It worked better than I expected and It has some ability to go larger, just need to do the work in the shop.

Also recently bought the hydraulic crimper from HF on one of their % off sales because I'm going to need to crimp some swage fittings in place, but I've only made a couple test crimps. It worked as advertised.

​

 

[ChefRex]

Good luck, I wish there was a good do all crimper but there isn't.
I cringe every time I deal with a new style at work.
Some things you can deal with but they keep getting smaller as my eyes get worse.
The proper crimpers are not cheap and shop tools get abused.

 

[Steve_P]

The ratcheting Wirefy is nice. Lots of import brands sell the same basic ratcheting crimper, but Wirefy has a lot of additional dies you can buy, and the kit I bought has room in the case for additional dies.

 

[Hakeem]

I have the Astro Pneumatic model and I’ve been pleased with it:

Amazon.com

 

[richfinn]

Mine is "Laser" branded, looks identical to the Blue Point PWC48 kit that Snap-On sell on the website (but way cheaper)

Snap-on Store

shop.snapon.com

 

[signcrafter]

I have the Astro Pneumatic model and I’ve been pleased with it:

Amazon.com

I also have the astro set and like it.

 

[Firebrick43]

I have the Astro Pneumatic model and I’ve been pleased with it:

Amazon.com

I bought all the mechanics under me at the last shop I worked at these and they held up very well and never had any issues with the crimps.
Plus they are active here on the forum!

 

[richfinn]

The Astro look exactly the same as Blue Point and Laser (except red handles)

 

[Wamsutta]

I've always wanted an Xcelite ErgoCrimp with a whole set of dies.

 

[richfinn]

[/QUOTE]

Looks exactly like a Pressmaster, see them on eBay UK quite often for reasonable money.

 

[vwpieces]

That Xcelite looks exactly like my Molex with red handles.

 

[Grant Gunderson]

I originally bought the Astro for doing Deutsch terminals. Then latter bought the Knipex multi-crimp. It does everything and does it extremely well. The 5 sets of dies it comes with does just about everything except for specialized stuff and they sell additional dies to do anything specialized. I cringed at the price when I bought it 10 years ago, but every time I use it, it makes me smile as it makes a perfect crimp every single time. Non of the other crimpers I had in the past did nearly as well.

 

[Hakeem]

I bought all the mechanics under me at the last shop I worked at these and they held up very well and never had any issues with the crimps.
Plus they are active here on the forum!

Yessir - bought them on your recommendation, in fact.


Does anyone recognize the OEM of these Cornwell crimpers? I tried them out and man, they were ****. Super tight action, slim, and just overall quality feel. The salesman pointed out that the jaws stay parallel, making for a better crimp, which seems logical to me. Too rich for my blood at $330, though:

 

[KnurledNut]

Yessir - bought them on your recommendation, in fact.


Does anyone recognize the OEM of these Cornwell crimpers? I tried them out and man, they were ****. Super tight action, slim, and just overall quality feel. The salesman pointed out that the jaws stay parallel, making for a better crimp, which seems logical to me. Too rich for my blood at $330, though:

Wezag.
Cornwell usually puts the manufacturer abbreviation in their part numbers.

 

[moemc]

Automotive terminals are very specific. Crimp dies are proprietary per series and size. If you want some real good stuff, Rennsteig PEW12 frame with dies for each of your terminal that you’ll crimp. Changing dies is a hassle if you have to do it with any frequency, so I have 7 PEW12 frames each loaded with my everyday dies. The PEW12 frame is also sold by Knipex in bare frame or with universal red/blue/yellow dies like insulated or none **** splices etc. Rennsteig and Knipex are related one way or another. They also sell the PEW12 frames private labeled for some OEMs like TE connectivity that use them as the official tool for some of their terminals.

 

[nh_yota]

99% of my wiring crimping involves heat shrink connectors so I have a pair of Ancor single crimp ratcheting crimpers for use specifically on heat shrink connectors:

https://www.delcity.net/store/hand-tools-testers/crimping-tools/ratcheting-crimpers/ancor-straight-single-crimp-22-8-awg/?srsltid=AfmBOoqUeSO4P4I-AI_zLgF9IAzr-CZiXoYuwMKJaoWqZb5fGCi0KcLH

You cannot use standard crimpers on heat shrink connectors because they are likely to pierce the insulation.

For the odd nylon or bare crimp connector I just grab whatever pair of crimping pliers or cutters I have laying around such as my Channellock 909 cutters.

 

[i84x]

Have used these for several years (Knipex make a pair too but they are way more expensive) but I've had 0 problems with these.
If you want the bigger ones for lugs (like battery terminals etc) I've used these for a while too pretty sure they are a vevor rebrand or whatever.

 

[jblnut]

I also have the astro set and like it.

Same. I bought another as I was constantly switching dies lol. So now I have two with a different die in each.

 

[decableguy2000]

I have a Wirefy and Titian Tools, dies are interchangeable. Wirefy is a bit bigger for more leverage. Have dies from several different vendors.

 

[Vinny]

I'm not a fan of the ratcheting ones. Insulated, uninsulated, heat shrink, whatever typical connectors or splices I find for automotive, pumps, blenders, etc. I do with my Klein 1005. But I don't encounter coax, RJ45, Deutsche, or other special connectors on what I'm working on, but if I did, I'd go for a ratcheting type with the correct die because that seems to be the only option. I do have a pair of Blue Points that I bought long ago that look exactly like the Laser one that richfinn posted, but used it only for a few crimps before going back to my Klein. I feel I get a better crimp, but your mileage may vary.
Pro tip, from the non-ratcheting front. If you want a pair that can cut wire and do proper crimps, guaranteed, out of the box, get a pair made by Ideal or Thomas & Betts. They are more expensive, but guaranteed to be intolerance for cutter size. With Channellock and Klein, it's a crapshoot, where the cutter may be too large and not allow your to clamp down enough to get a decent crimp. My Kleins must've been that Winchester '73 "One in a Thousand" pair, because they worked perfectly out of the box. But I had friends that had the same tool and couldn't get decent crimps, and comparing them to mine, we could see that the cutter is too large, and didn't allow the crimper portions to fully close, resulting in poor crimps. I have a friend whose bread-and-butter is building reproduction harnesses for cars, and he has both Channellock 909 and Klein 1005 where he ground the cutter portion off, mainly so he could do the flag-type terminals but it also lets him clamp down enough to get good crimps on anything else.

 

[richfinn]

I'm not a fan of the ratcheting ones. Insulated, uninsulated, heat shrink, whatever typical connectors or splices I find for automotive, pumps, blenders, etc. I do with my Klein 1005. But I don't encounter coax, RJ45, Deutsche, or other special connectors on what I'm working on, but if I did, I'd go for a ratcheting type with the correct die because that seems to be the only option. I do have a pair of Blue Points that I bought long ago that look exactly like the Laser one that richfinn posted, but used it only for a few crimps before going back to my Klein. I feel I get a better crimp, but your mileage may vary.
Pro tip, from the non-ratcheting front. If you want a pair that can cut wire and do proper crimps, guaranteed, out of the box, get a pair made by Ideal or Thomas & Betts. They are more expensive, but guaranteed to be intolerance for cutter size. With Channellock and Klein, it's a crapshoot, where the cutter may be too large and not allow your to clamp down enough to get a decent crimp. My Kleins must've been that Winchester '73 "One in a Thousand" pair, because they worked perfectly out of the box. But I had friends that had the same tool and couldn't get decent crimps, and comparing them to mine, we could see that the cutter is too large, and didn't allow the crimper portions to fully close, resulting in poor crimps. I have a friend whose bread-and-butter is building reproduction harnesses for cars, and he has both Channellock 909 and Klein 1005 where he ground the cutter portion off, mainly so he could do the flag-type terminals but it also lets him clamp down enough to get good crimps on anything else.

I only really use the Laser crimpers for VW/Audi terminal plug connectors (with the Superseal dies) it was the cheapest solution for them at the time and they do a very decent job for what they cost

I have a separate ratchet crimper for heat shrink splices that covers all four sizes (white/red/blue/yellow) and does a perfect crimp Everytime (these were ridiculously expensive as I had to ship them from the USA, I replaced the handles as the originals were uncomfortable.

 

[niget2002]

I recently bought the Klein crimpers with removable jaws. I've been really happy with them.

I still have to have separate crimpers for some of the smaller connectors I work with, though. I never could find a single 'one does all' crimper.

https://a.co/d/1fS9rWQ

 

[cgrutt]

I only really use the Laser crimpers for VW/Audi terminal plug connectors (with the Superseal dies) it was the cheapest solution for them at the time and they do a very decent job for what they cost

I have a separate ratchet crimper for heat shrink splices that covers all four sizes (white/red/blue/yellow) and does a perfect crimp Everytime (these were ridiculously expensive as I had to ship them from the USA, I replaced the handles as the originals were uncomfortable.

What brand/model number is the heat shrink crimper? Does it do a good job? I've been looking for one. Looks very similar, aside from color of handles, to the Pro-HST from Panbo that has been top of my wish list. I recently found JR Ready ACT-AD10 which is about 1/4th the price and supposedly has 5mm wide jaws but only three nests. I may buy the JR Ready and see how it does.

 

[richfinn]

What brand/model number is the heat shrink crimper? Does it do a good job? I've been looking for one. Looks very similar, aside from color of handles, to the Pro-HST from Panbo that has been top of my wish list. I recently found JR Ready ACT-AD10 which is about 1/4th the price and supposedly has 5mm wide jaws but only three nests. I may buy the JR Ready and see how it does.

HST Pro Crimper

The sought-after PRO-HST crimper made famous by Rodd Collins of Marine Howto and Compass Marine. This made in the U.S. crimper features crimp nests for 24-22 AWG, 20-18 AWG, 16-14 AWG, and 12-10 AWG connectors.

webstore.panbo.com

Yep, it's the Panbo PRO-HST It does a great job and I use the smallest nest (white) quite often fixing chewed up sensor wiring etc.

The handles are from an old Sargent crimper (I used the hot water trick and a bit of epoxy glue to get them to fit)

PS. The Iroda Torch in the plastic organizer is the best thing I've ever found for shrinking (way better than my Milwaukee M18 heat gun)!!

 

[cgrutt]

HST Pro Crimper

The sought-after PRO-HST crimper made famous by Rodd Collins of Marine Howto and Compass Marine. This made in the U.S. crimper features crimp nests for 24-22 AWG, 20-18 AWG, 16-14 AWG, and 12-10 AWG connectors.

webstore.panbo.com

Yep, it's the Panbo PRO-HST It does a great job and I use the smallest nest (white) quite often fixing chewed up sensor wiring etc.

The handles are from an old Sargent crimper (I used the hot water trick and a bit of epoxy glue to get them to fit)

Thanks I suspected it might be those. Damn you're pushing me towards them again haha. Supposedly the "gold standard" for heat shrink crimpers.

 

[richfinn]

Thanks I suspected it might be those. Damn you're pushing me towards them again haha. Supposedly the "gold standard" for heat shrink crimpers.

Something else for you to add to the list

MJ-950 - Pro Iroda

Iroda MJ-950 Heat Gun is made of rugged plastic with an ergonomic ribbed grip design that makes it easier to hold even for longer times.

pro-iroda.com

 

[cgrutt]

Something else for you to add to the list

MJ-950 - Pro Iroda

Iroda MJ-950 Heat Gun is made of rugged plastic with an ergonomic ribbed grip design that makes it easier to hold even for longer times.

pro-iroda.com

Nice. I have an old Snap-on (Blue Point) and an Ultratorch that I used way back in the day (late 80s) probably due for an upgrade haha. I think I still have attachments for heat shrink...