Good quality crimping tool anyone?

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

I am looking for a good quality crimping tool, for domestic circuits.
Mine has packed up and I cannot remember the branding of it which has now worn off, I think they were CK.
Any pointers appreciated.

 

[Taylortwocities]

What size range of crimps?
Insulated or un-insulated?

Domestic I will use uninsulated 10&16mm crimps. Also red yellow and blue insulated ones.
Different crimpers

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

The crimp sizes would be the full range expected in a domestic installation.
I want to be able to use both insulated and uninsulated crimps.

 

[JohnW2]

The crimp sizes would be the full range expected in a domestic installation. I want to be able to use both insulated and uninsulated crimps.

The many 'budget' crimps for insulated crimps around (generally in £11-£20 price range) look identical to me (apart from variations in colour and, sometimes, branding) - so I suspect they may all come off essentialy the same production line!

I may be wrong, but I think you might struggle to find a tool which can do both insulated and uninsulated crimps. Also, people tend to use uninsulated ones in sizes bigger than most of the small tools can accommodate.

In passing, I'm gradually accumulating a collection of crimping tools which look identical, other than for their dies - one for insulated crimps, one for ferrules, one for RG45 connectors etc. It's a pity that one cannot get (or, at least, I failed to find) a tool with interchangeable dies.

Kind Regards, John

 

[plugwash]

A friend of mine has a paladin crimpall for which afaict a huge range of dies are available. Not cheap though.

 

[JohnD]

I believe CK do (or did) replaceable dies, but when I looked into it, the cost and inconvenience was worse than buying separates.

 

[JohnW2]

I believe CK do (or did) replaceable dies, but when I looked into it, the cost and inconvenience was worse than buying separates.

I suppose that's not surprising. The trouble with having several which look very similar is that one inevitably first picks up the wrong one for the job in hand

Kind Regards, John

 

[dhutch]

I suppose that's not surprising. The trouble with having several which look very similar is that one inevitably first picks up the wrong one for the job in hand

But on the plus, you dont have to change the dies!

 

[Iggifer]

I believe CK do (or did) replaceable dies, but when I looked into it, the cost and inconvenience was worse than buying separates.

I suppose that's not surprising. The trouble with having several which look very similar is that one inevitably first picks up the wrong one for the job in hand

Kind Regards, John

thats easily solved, a bit of tape around one handle on the insulated pair, none on the uninsulated ones. problem solved!

 

[JohnW2]

thats easily solved, a bit of tape around one handle on the insulated pair, none on the uninsulated ones. problem solved!

Maybe for you! It's the insulated/ferrule/RG45 ones that I get confused. I don't have an uninsulated pair (mainly 'cos I rarely need it, and my neighbour has one!) but, if I did, it would probably be bigger than the others, and therefore easily distinguishable!

Kind Regards, John

 

[Iggifer]

two colours of tape then!

 

[EFLImpudence]

 

[dhutch]

And also this:

The many 'budget' crimps for insulated crimps around (generally in £11-£20 price range) look identical to me (apart from variations in colour and, sometimes, branding) -

 

[JohnW2]

And also this:

The many 'budget' crimps for insulated crimps around (generally in £11-£20 price range) look identical to me (apart from variations in colour and, sometimes, branding) -

I suppose I should have said "some variations in colour" (i.e. some are the same colour). However, this is getting a bit silly - my comment about picking up the wrong one was really light-hearted/ tongue-in-cheek. These suggestions about bits of tape, marking pens and paint colour are all very well, but the truth is that one only has to look at the die for a second or two to see 'which is which'. The question is whether, in the heat of the moment, one necessarily looks carefully enough!

Furthermore, if one relies on bits of coloured tape or factory-applied paint colour, one still has to remember which colour means what! The marking pen would obviously avoid that, if it described the tool in English - so would be the most foolproof answer!

Kind Regards, John

 

[dhutch]

However, this is getting a bit silly ...

Daniel