• Some users have recently had their accounts hijacked. It seems that the now defunct EVGA forums might have compromised your password there and seems many are using the same PW here. We would suggest you UPDATE YOUR PASSWORD and TURN ON 2FA for your account here to further secure it. None of the compromised accounts had 2FA turned on.
    Once you have enabled 2FA, your account will be updated soon to show a badge, letting other members know that you use 2FA to protect your account. This should be beneficial for everyone that uses FSFT.

Does a high end cat5 cable crimper exist?

N

Nocturnal

Gawd
2FA
Joined
Jul 20, 2006
Messages
831
I recall seeing someone mention in another thread but for the life of me I can't recall or find that thread. He had mentioned a high end crimper and was in disbelief that the cables didn't work because this person had used such a highly regarded crimper.

Any have any idea what I'm talking about? Are all crimpers the same? Are there differences? Thanks guys :)
 
uhh I would say. They cut CAT wiring, and punch down pins just like the next. I would say I've worked with a few that feel more comfortable, have a changeable blade, thats about it. But I've never heard of a "high end" cable crimper.
I used to cut and crimp CAT3,5, and 6 with it...
 
That's what I recall too. I wish I could find that thread where someone had mentioned a brand. Thanks!
 
I use a Harris one.. it works well and its solidly contstructed with interchangable die's but i wouldn't call it high end per say
 
The major 'quality factor' is going to be the die - I've had monoprice crimpers where the teeth get crapped up and it's just a throwaway, then. It wouldn't crimp all the pins properly (the outer ones weren't pushed in all the way - had to finish with pliers).
 
*shrug*

You can buy a Fluke or Klein, they claim to be "high end" but the good 'ol $20 pair from Home Depot works great. Although, i would avoid trying to strip cables with it, pick-up an actual cable stripper for that.

The only ones i hate, are the ones that ratchet and lock.
 
Here is my network tool kit that we use at work:

Punch down tool: Fluke
http://www.amazon.com/Fluke-Network...CRBG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1303591284&sr=8-2

Wire stripper: Paladin (this thing is amazing and can be had for $14 onsale at Frys, or $20 on other websites)
http://www.amazon.com/Paladin-Surestrip-Rj-45-Cable-Stripper/dp/B001OAB6NU

Crimper: TrendNet (works fine and we have not had any problems with it)
http://www.amazon.com/TRENDnet-RJ-1...ZK4G/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1303591357&sr=8-2

Tester: Fluke CableIQ (This thing is a waste of money, basically it is a glorfied wire map (Fluke Micro Mapper) with the ability to read distance. If you are going to spend close to $1k on a tester step up and buy one that you can actually certify cable with.
http://www.amazon.com/Fluke-CABLEIQ...TPBQ/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1303591413&sr=8-8
 
As an Amazon Associate, HardForum may earn from qualifying purchases.
I use a Paladin 1300 series ratcheting crimper. Has swappable dies for fiber, coax, rj-11, rj-45 etc, and its general usability is comfortable (ie. cable is crimped from the end of the crimpers vs sides, ratcheting and smooth to crimp, large grips. Ive used Klein and IDEAL before, with the IDEAL brand being almost identical to my 1300 series. Set me back $100 5 years ago, but its in perfect condition still after heavy use.
 
The ones like MarshallX described are better. The ratcheting ones slide perfectly straight down, whereas the cheaper ones pivot on a point and therefore inherently have a slight arc to them. The better ones will be more precise (not going too deep or too shallow) and generally just feel better in your hand. It will probably have swappable dies too, if you tend to do a lot of different wiring.

You don't need to drop $100 on a crimper, but it will almost certainly be better than a $20 unit.
 
Personally I try to crimp as few cables as possible anymore...I have had the same Ideal crimpmaster (ratcheting) with interchangeable dies for over 10 years. It always works. Some guys swear by AMP plugs and crimpers which you can't crimp in any other brand of tool.
 
Last edited:
I have a cheap pair from monoprice, it works well. How long lasting it is I don't know, only done a few dozen cables with it.
 
I am a professional communications technician, and all we use at our shop are Platinum Tools EZ-RJ Pro HD crimp tools with the ez-rj series of connectors. These are the ones that feed the cable through, and cuts them off. Saves time, and a perfect connector every time!
 
Dawizman said:
I am a professional communications technician, and all we use at our shop are Platinum Tools EZ-RJ Pro HD crimp tools with the ez-rj series of connectors. These are the ones that feed the cable through, and cuts them off. Saves time, and a perfect connector every time!
Click to expand...

Post picture of this tool & picture of some of your work ?
 
Ideal Telemaster. It is a ratcheting design so the crimp is even all the way across.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16896365006
This looks like a newer design than the one I have.

I can't comment on the quality of this one from Monoprice but from the pictures it looks identical to the Ideal crimper that I use all the time.
http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10509&cs_id=1050901&p_id=1386&seq=1&format=2

I am personally not a fan of the feed-through crimps posted earlier. I find them to take more time to do and you have to have a specific crimper and ends or it doesn't work.
 
Another vote for EZ-RJ pro tools.
Posted via Mobile Device
 
dashpuppy said:
Post picture of this tool & picture of some of your work ?
Click to expand...

Here is link to the EZ-RJPRO HD Crimp Tool. It might not look that special, but once you use it you wont want to use a normal crimper again.

I will have to grab some pictures of a few of the networks I have installed and post them up here.

Also, some other recommendations for tools (straight out of my tool bag):

-Fluke Networks Jack Rapid Punch-down Tool. You can get them for quite a few of the major brands of connectors. We use leviton ports, and this saves us so much time, and a perfect connection every time.

-Fluke Networks D914S Punch-down tool. This puppy is so much better than all the wannabe's out there on the market. It's hard to justify the price for some people, but once you use one for a while, you wont want to go back.
 
Nocturnal said:
I recall seeing someone mention in another thread but for the life of me I can't recall or find that thread. He had mentioned a high end crimper and was in disbelief that the cables didn't work because this person had used such a highly regarded crimper.

Any have any idea what I'm talking about? Are all crimpers the same? Are there differences? Thanks guys :)
Click to expand...

There's generally two types of crimpers:

Ratcheting and non-ratcheting. In my professional opinion the ratcheting type give more reliable results and are what I use on the job and at home. I actually bought these because the ones we had at work were junk until they bought use new ones, which incidentally were the same ones I had for myself :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top