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Decent Crimper Tool

xbeatles4x

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 5, 2012
Messages
500
Location
Cutler Bay, FL
So I have always dealt with crappy Chinese crimpers. Do you guys have a suggestion for a not so terribly expensive but good quality crimper for an electrical project I have in store. Also a recommendation on an auto wire stripper would be nice.
 
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deafcon

Active member
Joined
Feb 13, 2015
Messages
32
If you're crimping bare terminals, go with the Klein 1005. For insulated, I like the Channellock 909. Ideal and Greenlee also make a good crimper, but I can't think of the model numbers. If you want something fairly compact, the VIM WS97 is a solid option, and is said to be the same as the Snap-On PWCS7CF.
 

zkling

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Joined
Jan 23, 2007
Messages
16,939
Ideal 429 crimper and Ideal strip master strippers. Done.
 

theoldwizard1

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Joined
Feb 22, 2011
Messages
43,106
Location
SE MI
The important thing I am hearing is that there is no ONE perfect tool !

Also, special terminals (like Weatherpack)still require special ($$$) crimpers.
 

aaronrkelly

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Joined
Feb 25, 2014
Messages
419
Location
southern Iowa
Hands down the best crimper Ive ever owned or handled.....

Channelock 909

https://www.channellock.com/909-THE-CRIMPER-Crimping-Tool.aspx

909_500x500-425.png



As for automatic wire strippers.....I just have a pair of Irwins....they have never failed me and seem well made but Im sure there are nicer ones out there.

http://www.irwin.com/tools/pliers-adjustable-wrenches/self-adjusting-wire-stripper

self-adjusting-wire-stripper-662.jpg
 

Sine Swept

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Joined
Feb 2, 2014
Messages
440
I own the 909 CL (heavy in the hand), Snap On PWCS7 (well designed, small fit in hand) and the cheapest pair, Gardner Bender GS-388 which I have taken a grinder to in order to make the nub of the crimper a smaller size and rounded over so it does not bite through any insulation. I have a pair of large ratchet crimps that will do 8 gauge uninsulated, a pair of ratchet crimps for use on insulated terminals and a hydraulic crimper of ebay that does #4, #2, #1 and 1/0.
 

Radio Ron w4ron

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Joined
Jan 23, 2013
Messages
867
Location
Radio Heaven (near Charlotte NC)
I've done electrical work, and industrial electrical and electronincs
and the industry standard everywhere & for everyone I've worked
for over the last 40 years the T&B, Thomas & Betts WT111M was
the one crimping tool everyone used.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0018LD2PU/?tag=atomicindus08-20
I own 3 of them and they're hands down the best crimping tool
I've ever used.

.
 

mikemile91

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Joined
May 17, 2014
Messages
61
Location
bend oregon

YenkoZL1

Member
Joined
Feb 26, 2015
Messages
11
Location
Phoenix
Klein T21172 or 1005 for crimping. For Klein stripper 11063W, fantastic. I have a hand held Chinese 12ton hydraulic crimper with a complete set of dies from ebay I got for like $50. I don't use it too much but its great when working with heavier gauge wire and is rebuildable. There are much better hydraulic crimpers available but the cost is considerably higher. Depends on how often you would use it.
 
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thegroundpounder99

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 5, 2015
Messages
693
Location
Balm Fl
I use Snap On PWCS7, they were $42 off the truck and Ebay is about the same. I love them and use them everyday. I also have some Channellock 909 and their smaller ones but the Snap On is my favorite.
 

skruft

Well-known member
Joined
May 9, 2011
Messages
759
Always controversial - just about anything recommended here will work, or some others. I have mostly T&B, for no particular reason.
 

Nele

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Joined
May 5, 2014
Messages
150
Chanel lock is really nice for the price, I also own automatic ratcheting greenlee
 

RedF

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 31, 2013
Messages
203
Location
Central Alberta
I've done electrical work, and industrial electrical and electronincs
and the industry standard everywhere & for everyone I've worked
for over the last 40 years the T&B, Thomas & Betts WT111M was
the one crimping tool everyone used.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0018LD2PU/?tag=atomicindus08-20
I own 3 of them and they're hands down the best crimping tool
I've ever used.

.

I have one as well. It's my favorite for conventional non-insulated terminals. I have many types of crimpers and strippers and no single pair is perfect.
 

senlow

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 26, 2008
Messages
2,228
Location
Wheat Ridge, Colorado
I've done electrical work, and industrial electrical and electronincs
and the industry standard everywhere & for everyone I've worked
for over the last 40 years the T&B, Thomas & Betts WT111M was
the one crimping tool everyone used.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0018LD2PU/?tag=atomicindus08-20
I own 3 of them and they're hands down the best crimping tool
I've ever used.

.

This is the best non-ratcheting crimper that I have used. It's definitely superior to Klein and Channellock.
 

DoyleDee

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 17, 2007
Messages
689
Location
North Texas
I have a pair of prestige ratcheting crimpers with changeable dies. I can do coax with the same set, just change dies.
 

Brownsfan

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 16, 2012
Messages
5,974
Location
Cleveland Ohio
I've done electrical work, and industrial electrical and electronincs
and the industry standard everywhere & for everyone I've worked
for over the last 40 years the T&B, Thomas & Betts WT111M was
the one crimping tool everyone used.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0018LD2PU/?tag=atomicindus08-20
I own 3 of them and they're hands down the best crimping tool
I've ever used.

.

These are great. I would get the WT112M for insulated terminals too. I have these and have had them since 2001. They are the only ones I didn't loose over the years. I still prefer my Kleins with the Journeyman handles but these have stood the test of time. The cutter is still sharp. I may just buy another set for the hell of it. You can get them off the Matco truck as well. That's where I got mine. You will pay a little more for the Matco stamp.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00197091I/?tag=atomicindus08-20

http://www.matcotools.com/catalog/product/TCT22A/9-CRIMP-TOOL/
 
Last edited:
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xbeatles4x

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 5, 2012
Messages
500
Location
Cutler Bay, FL
Thanks guys. The T&B was more than I wanted to spend for a pair of crimpers so ill probably go with the channellocks. This is all just a fun hobby when I am not in class and for $15 or so I can't see the channellocks being bad.
 

Triple macs

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 13, 2014
Messages
67
Location
SF Bay Area
If you're crimping bare terminals, go with the Klein 1005. For insulated, I like the Channellock 909. Ideal and Greenlee also make a good crimper, but I can't think of the model numbers. If you want something fairly compact, the VIM WS97 is a solid option, and is said to be the same as the Snap-On PWCS7CF.
Snap-On's are great for confined spaces. But because of their size are at a disadvantage in terms of leverage. VIM WS97's are Snap-On copies.
 

atikovi

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 14, 2009
Messages
1,995
Location
Suburban Washington DC
If you're just doing generic terminals, any of those tools work fine, but for working on factory wiring, you need specific tools for each application. Late model GM cars can have terminals from Delphi, Bosch, AMP, Tyco, FCI, JST, Sumitomo, Yazaki, etc. and a correct crimper for each one costs over $100.
 

crewchief888

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 3, 2009
Messages
13,741
Location
NW indiana
channelock for crimpers.

i'm not a huge fan of automatic strippers,
i've been torture testing a pair of manual strippers from milwaukee for a year or so. they've been the best i've tried so far


:beer:
 

Askme42

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 9, 2012
Messages
2,538
Location
Goreville IL
Thanks guys. The T&B was more than I wanted to spend for a pair of crimpers so ill probably go with the channellocks. This is all just a fun hobby when I am not in class and for $15 or so I can't see the channellocks being bad.

Thank goodness for the length on the channellocks. Saved my *** replacing a knock sensor on a 1991 gmc yesterday.
 

madcrisis

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 3, 2013
Messages
216
I went from a cheap chinese stamped metal crimper to the CL 909. One of the best moves i ever made. Even my bad crimps hold strong.
 
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