Crimping Tool

[Tactical Pith Helmet]

I'm looking at repairing a CA M16 and an old Japanese record deck.  

I ought to get a decent crimp tool, instead of bodging connections with pliers and solder.

I need to go down to 0.25mm wiring I believe.  Any recommendations?  

 

[Iceni]

The best Crimpers I've used are the Knipex ones. It really depends on the Style of crimp you want to use tho.

If it's for ferules then the Self Adjusting ferule crimp is a fantastic tool. It's not cheap, but we use them at work for rebuilding machine cabinets. There are cheaper variants of this on the market, but you want something that crimps from all angles for ferules. Amazon should have a selection of off brands with ferules for under £30, but I can't guarantee the quality.

https://ffx.co.uk/product/Get/Knipex-97-53-04Sbe-4003773030270-Self-Adjusting-Ferrule-Crimping-Pliers

https://www.amazon.co.uk/0-25-10mm²-AWG23-10-Self-Adjustable-Connectors-terminals/dp/B08ZDN5WNQ/ref=sr_1_12?crid=1IIW3KETH2JLC&keywords=Self+Adjusting+Ferrule+Crimping+Pliers&qid=1655161907&s=diy&sprefix=self+adjusting+ferrule+crimping+pliers%2Cdiy%2C116&sr=1-12
 

If all you are thinking is bullet and spade connectors then the standard Knipex crimping pliers are a tad cheaper. Again there are cheaper versions on the market, but we tend to see a lot of Knipex pliers in industry because there generally about the best you can get easily. £20-25 is about average across the decent brands, Cheaper might be better for you if it's only for a couple of connectors a year. So check screwfix and amazon.

https://ffx.co.uk/product/Get/Knipex-Kpx9721215-4003773034131-Crimping-Pliers

 

[Tactical Pith Helmet]

The best Crimpers I've used are the Knipex ones. It really depends on the Style of crimp you want to use tho.

If it's for ferules then the Self Adjusting ferule crimp is a fantastic tool. It's not cheap, but we use them at work for rebuilding machine cabinets. There are cheaper variants of this on the market, but you want something that crimps from all angles for ferules. Amazon should have a selection of off brands with ferules for under £30, but I can't guarantee the quality.

That's brilliant mate.   Those are the style I've been looking at.  

I don't usually buy cheaper than Draper as a rule.  

 

[Iceni]

Draper stuff can be hit and miss at times, I've got a love affair with Clarke pro (machine mart), It has to be the pro version tho as it comes with a lifetime guarantee, Identical to the halfords pro of a few years ago in most cases. If you have a local MM then you can just walk in and exchange any broken clarke pro stuff. I think the only thing they don't cover is ratchets, but all the sockets ect are covered.

Bahco are also very decent, but the prices can vary massively. They do a little 1/4" ratchet set called the SL25 that is superb.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bahco-SL25-Socket-Piece-Drive/dp/B000Y8XCA8

 

[Tactical Pith Helmet]

I'll confess to not buying that much tool wise since Johnny Major was in no. 10.  I have Facom, King Dick, Snap On, Stanley, and Draper Expert, a few TUV approved bits and pieces, some home-made pullers/presses and drifts, and Makita for the electrical stuff, all of which have lasted regular use for half a working lifetime.  

It's damn good to catch up on what's current!   The Bahco looks superb.  

I'll toddle off to the local MM tomorrow.   Think I Stihl have an account with them.  (Sorry for the awful pun   )  

 

[Iceni]

Facom is now owned by stanley black and decker, along with dewalt, irwin, marples and a few others. Dewalt and Irwin are still generally good buys.

Bahco is owned by snap on (SNA group). A lot of the Bahco production is now in Spain and China not Sweden so while still very good, it's not quite what it used to be 30 years ago.

Draper are mostly an import rebrander, like clarke. The Expert range is similar to clarke pro in most cases, the Power tools are TTI.

Laser are pretty good for specialist tools and they make or specify most of them.

Makita is still Makita.

Milwakee is owned by TTI, and mega China company that make most of the budget tools like Ryobi and off brands, but the Milwakee brand is mostly very good.

 

 

[Davegolf]

It really annoys me that nothing is what it seems anymore, lots of brands with great historical reputation are bought up and subsequently turned sub standard for bigger profit all unknowing to the end user that thinks they are buying the same quality item their dad had for 50 years.

Its not just tools it’s everything from washing machines to cars.

@Tactical Pith Helmet do have a pic of the terminals you are wanting to crimp?

 

[Rogerborg]

It really annoys me that nothing is what it seems anymore, lots of brands with great historical reputation are bought up and subsequently turned sub standard for bigger profit all unknowing to the end user that thinks they are buying the same quality item their dad had for 50 years.

I won't say that I watch Ave BOLTRs and Project Farm religiously, but it's not far off.

 

[Lozart]

I'm looking at repairing a CA M16 and an old Japanese record deck.  

I ought to get a decent crimp tool, instead of bodging connections with pliers and solder.

I need to go down to 0.25mm wiring I believe.  Any recommendations?  

It entirely depends on the type of connectors you're using.

The best Crimpers I've used are the Knipex ones. It really depends on the Style of crimp you want to use tho.

If it's for ferules then the Self Adjusting ferule crimp is a fantastic tool. It's not cheap, but we use them at work for rebuilding machine cabinets. There are cheaper variants of this on the market, but you want something that crimps from all angles for ferules. Amazon should have a selection of off brands with ferules for under £30, but I can't guarantee the quality.

https://ffx.co.uk/product/Get/Knipex-97-53-04Sbe-4003773030270-Self-Adjusting-Ferrule-Crimping-Pliers

https://www.amazon.co.uk/0-25-10mm²-AWG23-10-Self-Adjustable-Connectors-terminals/dp/B08ZDN5WNQ/ref=sr_1_12?crid=1IIW3KETH2JLC&keywords=Self+Adjusting+Ferrule+Crimping+Pliers&qid=1655161907&s=diy&sprefix=self+adjusting+ferrule+crimping+pliers%2Cdiy%2C116&sr=1-12
 

If all you are thinking is bullet and spade connectors then the standard Knipex crimping pliers are a tad cheaper. Again there are cheaper versions on the market, but we tend to see a lot of Knipex pliers in industry because there generally about the best you can get easily. £20-25 is about average across the decent brands, Cheaper might be better for you if it's only for a couple of connectors a year. So check screwfix and amazon.

https://ffx.co.uk/product/Get/Knipex-Kpx9721215-4003773034131-Crimping-Pliers

As you say it depends on the type of connectors, my personal experience has always been that the type of pliers you've linked there are hit and miss at best. AMP type connectors (with the moulded on insulation) are best done with an AMP specific tool that has the correct indent on one half so the two prongs of the crimp itself are pushed in evenly.

I've just picked up a set of these https://smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B09DCCB9DB/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 and they seem to be pretty decent (I've been using them for the uninsulated motor connector types).

Unless you're spending proper money on professional quality crimping tools, £20-£25 budget is going to be the decider rather than brand, as has been mentioned already at that price point you're mostly looking at rebranded imports anyway.

 

[Iceni]

As you say it depends on the type of connectors, my personal experience has always been that the type of pliers you've linked there are hit and miss at best. AMP type connectors (with the moulded on insulation) are best done with an AMP specific tool that has the correct indent on one half so the two prongs of the crimp itself are pushed in evenly.

Good spot, I'd linked to the wrong set. Should of been the 97 21 215 B set, not the 97 21 215 set! Different ends on the pliers!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/97-21-215-burnished-multi-component/dp/B001127PXQ

 

[Shamal]

Facom is now owned by stanley black and decker, along with dewalt, irwin, marples and a few others. Dewalt and Irwin are still generally good buys.

Bahco is owned by snap on (SNA group). A lot of the Bahco production is now in Spain and China not Sweden so while still very good, it's not quite what it used to be 30 years ago.

Draper are mostly an import rebrander, like clarke. The Expert range is similar to clarke pro in most cases, the Power tools are TTI.

Laser are pretty good for specialist tools and they make or specify most of them.

Makita is still Makita.

Milwakee is owned by TTI, and mega China company that make most of the budget tools like Ryobi and off brands, but the Milwakee brand is mostly very good.

 

Roger that. DeWalt and Irwin every time.

I'm a general builder and those brands are always first choice.

( I do have Makita as well) 

Regards 

 

[Tactical Pith Helmet]

Roger that. DeWalt and Irwin every time.

I'm a general builder and those brands are always first choice.

( I do have Makita as well) 

For building work I do stick to DeWalt for electrical stuff, and Irwin Jacks have stiffish blades, but given how much stuff gets lost/thrown in the van uncleaned/buried/leant out to 'mates' etc, I use any old crap.  There a probably a few Blackspur trowels in the back now ready to be used and immediately thrown away.  There's definitely a shit encrusted set of Faithful sockets and a hammer from Poundland that I bought when I broke down in the town centre one day.  I did have a shovel marked War Dept. for years but it went back to nature.  The well oiled and polished spanners etc nestle in my garage with the bikes with which I tinker.  

Cheers @Lozart and @Iceni I've gone for the ratchet option.  I can't take a pic @Davegolfbut the uninsulated terminals that I need to fit do require the dimple to turn the prongs in.  

Thoroughly agree that brands are just commodities these days.  The last King Dick set of spanners that I bought were seemingly cheap Chinese crap that I returned, and I doubt that anyone remembers the days when Britool were the absolute bollocks.  

Thanks all!

 

[Davegolf]

Is it these;

https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/spade-connectors/4881257

If so you want these;

https://www.polevolt.co.uk/acatalog/Heavy-Duty-Ratchet-Crimp-tool-for-NON-insulated-terminals.-TT350.html#SID=97

The pliers linked by @Iceni I brake are for tube type or cord end terminals 

* I believe 

 

[Tactical Pith Helmet]

Is it these;

https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/spade-connectors/4881257

If so you want these;

https://www.polevolt.co.uk/acatalog/Heavy-Duty-Ratchet-Crimp-tool-for-NON-insulated-terminals.-TT350.html#SID=97

The pliers linked by @Iceni I brake are for tube type or cord end terminals 

* I believe 

Cheers, I did check that the ratchet ones I got were for uninsulated terminals.   

Glad I asked and didn't just buy a set!

 

[Egon_247]

Sorry to bump a month old one but it's about tools and I like tools. ?

Grab yourself a decent set of wire strippers too, if you're doing a few connections. I have some rs ones that have survived about 10 years. I'll dig out the number in a bit. 

It's better than using side cutters (although I'm a sparky, so still use them a lot) and makes sure your 1.5mm cable is still 1.5 and not 1.3ish when you accidentally stri off strands. ?

 

[Dan Robinson]

My favourite toy when I'm wiring my control panels is this:

KNIPEX Pliers for Electrical Installation 1000V-insulated (200 mm) 13 96 200 https://amzn.eu/d/gys0gx8

View attachment 93089

 

[Lozart]

My favourite toy when I'm wiring my control panels is this:

KNIPEX Pliers for Electrical Installation 1000V-insulated (200 mm) 13 96 200 https://amzn.eu/d/gys0gx8

View attachment 93089

Leccy panels or proper control panels?

 

[Dan Robinson]

Boiler / heating ones:

View attachment 93101

This one is not finished yet.... Needs a little tidying.  Interfaces the home automation shenanigans to the boiler's cascade manager (the oem stuff costs a crazy amount).  

View attachment 93099

 

[Tactical Pith Helmet]

Sorry to bump a month old one but it's about tools and I like tools. ?

Grab yourself a decent set of wire strippers too, if you're doing a few connections. I have some rs ones that have survived about 10 years. I'll dig out the number in a bit. 

It's better than using side cutters (although I'm a sparky, so still use them a lot) and makes sure your 1.5mm cable is still 1.5 and not 1.3ish when you accidentally stri off strands. ?

Cheers mate, always good to offer pro advice.

I do have some wire strippers already.  They are a cheapo set but work fine for the little that I use them.   I actually used them a fair bit this week putting up security lighting.  I felt I'd done well, but looking at @Dan Robinson's work, I have a bit to go on piping smoke around malarkey.  

 

[Dan Robinson]

I have those cheap ones from amazon linked above and they're great for the job too. 

I like those knipex ones as they're one of those few multitools that do all the jobs properly.  The only real difficiency is that you don't have a proper mechanism to crimp to the appropriate torque.  But I've not burnt any houses to the ground yet. 

My other crimping related toys are:

Bootlace Ferrule Crimping Tool STD AWG23-7/0.25-10mm² Self-Adjustable Ratchet Wire Crimper with 1350PCS Crimp Connectors，Ferrule Crimper Plier Set https://amzn.eu/d/bdm5x4z

Hilka 28600209 Ratchet Crimping Tool Pro Craft https://amzn.eu/d/fa0d99P

And in total airsoft (spending money for the sake of fancy shit) stylee:

https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/crimp-tools/0452473

The ironic thing is I'm a sodding plumber not a cable strangler.  ????