Terminal crimper experts--

[472scout]

I need crimpers for all the usual jobs. Non-insulated, coaxial, spark plug wires, packard 56, open barrel, anderson power poles, heat shrink terminals, etc.

What I really want is the Pressmaster frame, but with the dies being $40-60 a set, it's cost prohibitive given how many I need. Long shot, but are there any off brand, i.e. cheaper, dies that work with the Pressmaster?
https://www.waytekwire.com/item/560/CRIMP-TOOL-W-INTERCHANGEABLE/

What about the Tool Aid 9 die, crimper stet? Anyone have one?
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008EW92LY/?tag=atomicindus08-20

On the Packard 56 crimps what are you guys using and how well does it work? I rarely do these crimps so I'm not looking to spend $150 for the OEM 2 crimper set that American Autowire sells. Will any of the open barrel crimpers work? I've read that the tabs on the male Packard 56 terminals don't clear open barrel dies?

Lastly, what die/crimper for anderson power poles? I did see this one, but do I really need a special crimper?
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F1OUD5W/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[dontlifttoshift]

I have the Pressmaster from Waytek and I love it. I also have all of the dies....none of them will do 12ga Packard 56 terminals. It hurt to spend the money but I don't regret it.

I have the two piece set from AAW and they are my go to for the Packard terminals.....and we use a lot of them. Someone else sells the same crimpers....that is where AAW gets them. I'm a dealer so I just bought them.

 

[howpeculiar]

The units you buy from AAW are decent for 56 and 58 packard terminals. I have a LOT of crimpers, and honestly for the $110 the pertronix branded crimp set is not a bad value, as long as your hands are strong. The handle could be longer. Go to digi-key and start looking at various Molex crimpers if you want a high quality reasonable fixed die setup, I use them exclusively for standard insulated and non-insulated crimp terminals. For weatherpacks, unless you are going to do an awful lot of them, just get the cheapies. The pertronix setup does nice on spark plug wires, but I do still prefer to use a bench vice and the dies from MSD whenever practical.

 

[472scout]

Yeah, I'm drooling over the reviews on the Pressmaster. Thinking about this more I don't have to buy that many dies to start. I have a cheap insulated terminal crimper and an old WT111M which works good on the non-insulated.

AAW has the best price ($150) I've found for the 2 Packard 56 (Delphi) crimpers. That won't break the bank, but they're still pricey for a tool that I'll only use a couple of times every few years. Strange that there aren't a bunch of options out there given how many old cars used them.

Thanks for the tip on the Molex crimpers. I will check them out. Why do you like the MSD dies better than the ratchet crimper?

One other crimper I would like to have is for the Deutsche terminals. I really like that style.

 

[472scout]

Any other suggestions?

 

[mrjaw14]

ProsKit.com has a lot of stuff. I guess it depends on if you're DIY or using these professionally

 

[howpeculiar]

I like the simple MSD crimpers when I build cables because I get a nice pattern going, and I am forced to think about the cut before I make it. Just a preference, and I am not sure I could make a case against a crimper, I may have just used these fixtures for so long, I just like them...