Crimping Tools:What Do You Use?

[Wuzshadetree]

Over the past few years I've been taking on some additional home projects, several of which are requiring major rewiring (stranded automotive wire not solid building wire). I went many years being content with the el cheapo general duty crimpers that cut the wire, will cut machine threaded screws/bolts, and sometimes serve as plyers aswell. I have never been particularly satisfied with the end product crimp of these things and upgraded to a ratcheting type one that will do most of the crimping I need to do without crushing the insulation at the connectors and without cutting through the connector and the wire, as the el cheapos do sometimes. What are you folks using these days? Do you ever need the double crimp jobbers? I'm having trouble justifying the triple digit $'s for those things.

 

[the spyder]

I have always been fond of my Kliens, always been happy with them. I use my Snap On for auto stuff. I did just buy a set of Bacho/Snap on for $10 off ebay. Going to try them.

 

[Merkava_4]

The IDEAL #30-429 is my favorite shown here:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24610&highlight=don't+crimp+style

 

[jeepnut24]

Klein 1006, not 1005....

 

[caper]

Here's what I have in my box.Pretty much all of them are just taking up space.Use the Chanellock crimpers on the left almost exclusively.Use them to cut the wire,strip the wire and crimp it.

 

[allapanoo]

I have pretty much used every set made including Klein,Ideal,Channellock,Thomas and Betts and Snap On/Blue Point.The Kleins always had too much flex in the handlesThe Ideals and Thomas and Betts were good and about the same.The Snap On/Blue Points were nice but not worth the extra money and the set that I had and my coworkers were all chipped on the cutting end.My set got chipped within a week or so from being dropped I guess.The channellocks are probably the best bang for the buck and the Code Blue models with the bigger grips would probably be even better.

 

[toolnut]

Here's what I have in my box.Pretty much all of them are just taking up space.Use the Chanellock crimpers on the left almost exclusively.Use them to cut the wire,strip the wire and crimp it.

A nice selection worthy of a "YOU ****".

 

[t100]

Klein, Thomas & Betts, Mac for small wires, hammer type for welding cables.

 

[Wuzshadetree]

I'm new to this forum...replies are just freakin' awsome. Thanks for the contributions! The Sargent stuff looks interesting. Now if I can just beat back my inner cheapskate, maybe I can get onboard with a better crimp on my own stuff. Muy buenos, Dudes!!

 

[Mickey O]

I use a whole pile a different ones for different applications, here's a few. When I get everything organized ( estimated completion late 2011 at this rate) I'll post the mother-load.