Ratcheting crimpers

[thinmac]

I've used a set of cheap ratcheting crimpers for wiring on my truck for the last few years, but after crimping a ton of spade connecters for the flame effects wiring on the Brain this summer it's clear I need to trade up.

Right now my front runners are:

Paladin CrimpAll 8000
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003JY782C/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Wiha 43618
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005M5VGI8/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I know some guys in broadcast television who swear by the Paladins, but they don't use them for insulated crimp terminals. I don't know much about the Wiha crimpers, but I've been happy with their tools in the past, and they're 50% off at wihatools.com right now (which is still $25 more than the Paladins). Anyone have any thoughts? Has anyone used the Wihas?

 

[ChevyEFI]

I've long-wondered if the dies used by the Paladin (and others) were interchangeable with so many others (including my prior-design MSD ratcheting crimpers.)
That, rather than proprietary dies, would sway me pretty heavily.

 

[CWP1616L]

Those Wiha's are probably real nice.

 

[kriwoel]

How about Knipex Multicrimp?
http://www.knipex.com/index.php?id=1216&L=1&page=group_detail&parentID=1299&groupID=1320&artID=34048

 

[Quickster]

I would recommend Knipex or aka Rennsteig crimp tools.

Knipex 97 52 33 for bare uninsulated terminals.

Knipex 97 52 36 for Vinyl plastic terminals

Knipex 97 52 37 for heat shrink terminals

All of the crimpers above are also offered by rennsteig, google search each part number for best price. Will vary from site to site. Mostly in $120-$150 range that I have seen.

I own the rennsteig version of the heat shrink crimper and love it. I got mine off Amazon for about $125

There is also the Pressmaster aka Wiha aka the Waytek 560

Go to Waytekwire.com

Part number 560 is $42.60 for the frame. I also own this crimper and it does nice crimps.

From there you can purchase the crimp dies you need. They are signicantly cheaper on Waytek then they are straight from Wiha for example.

There are dies for heat shrink, vinyl, and bare terminals for around $30.** each die

http://www.waytekwire.com/products/1444/Crimpers/&pg=6

 

[jeffmoss26]

I've got 2 sets of Ideal Ratcheting Crimpmasters, with dies for RG59 and RG6 coax, as well as 8 pin modular plugs.

 

[thinmac]

I think, based on a supplier's website, that the Ideal crimper uses the same dies as the Paladin. I don't know if that's a significant advantage, though - they carry pretty much the same dies.

I looked at the Kanipex, and I'll look at the Rennsteig, but I would like to stay under $100. Of course I didn't put that in my original post.

Thanks for the input, I've got a lot more information than I did before. Just to be a pain, though, has anyone used the Wihas I posted? If they're really worth $200 then they're a real deal.

 

[buening]

While not quite the same level of quality as the Wiha/Knipex type, I've had excellent results using the S&G Tool Aid crimpers....which from the pictures of the Paladin and Knipex it appears the S&G uses the same shape dies but is quick removal on the S&G. Its likely the S&G is a chinese knockoff of the others, but has produced quality crimps for me and hasn't let me down. Just another option to consider

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006O1Y1FY/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[skruft]

I most often use some (now rather beat up) Thomas & Betts ratchet crimpers with regular insulated terminals, others with other terminals.

 

[TheMangler]

Ive got that pair of paladins along with about 6 other die sets for them. They are a great tool and I use the insulated terminal crimp sometimes. It works good but it seems like there are a lot of different styles of terminals out there and some are much better than others. Once you find a brand it crimps well I'd stick with that. You can also adjust how tight it actually crimps.

 

[scaron]

i love the ideal crimpmaster! i have crimped so many RJ-11/12/45 connectors with that thing (i will pay good money if anyone has a DEC MMJ die laying around for this crimper, btw...) paladin is not the worst name, the wiha is unquestionably a finer tool, as well with the knipex.

 

[rshadd]

My ratcheting crimper is made by Shattuck Industries. They appear to be the same as the Ideal Crimpmasters. I have dies to do RG-59/6/8281 and RJ11 & RJ45.

 

[jeffmoss26]

One of the guys on here has/had a nice AMP brand crimper for modular plugs...still tempted to buy it, but I do not use AMP plugs.

 

[hofferwood]

I drank the $5.00 TOOL AID at the flea mkt.

 

[pokey459]

i have a set of paladin crimpall 8000 , still in the package , i would pass along
maybe 50.00 & shipping. [no dies ].