Tool Aid - Crimper Kit Ratcheting Removable Jaws (18920)

Bought this because I'm re-wiring my classic car; it's a great tool, factory-perfect crimps every time. On the appropriate dies for the appropriate connectors, it does two different size crimps; one for the insulated part and one for the bare part. I should have bought this years ago. Don't mess around with cheap tools; this is the real professional deal. The cheap ones either just pinch or dent the terminals; this one crimps and uses a ratchet to ensure the crimp is just the right, won't let go until you've supplied sufficient force and then releases automatically when done. If you WANT to let go before the crimp's done, you can manually release the ratchet. If for some reason the automatic pressure isn't exactly right; they're adjustable. Didn't have to adjust mine though. This is not a low priced tool, but with the different sets of dies it's a fair price and worth every penny. If you're going to do something, do it right. If you think this is too much to pay for a tool for a small job then pay someone else who has the tool to do the job right. Given the cost of paying other people to do even small jobs, you might just decide it's worth it to buy the tool and do it yourself, especially if you like doing the work yourself.

Just got this tool in today. Purchased it after reading the reviews. I am completely satisfied. Yes, the case is a little difficult to store the dies, but I found that you must line them up correctly (like they are being put on the tool) and they fit fine. The quality was quite good on both the tool and crimps. For the price, it is well worth the buy. A crimper at a local store that only did the bassic three insulated terminal sizes was $30.00 and the quality was not as good. For the diversity in dies and the price....this tool is just fine. Yeah, maybe the Weatherpack terminals don't work too good, but if I had to use those type frequently, I would buy a specific crimper. Anyhow, good product in my opinion.

This crimp set works fine with thinner hollow tube trminals,but can be a real bear when called upon to crimp thicker terminals such as the Packard hollow tube # 56 used in 60's, 70's and 80's vintage cars and trucks. Thinner terminals being between made from metal between .010" - .025" thick. To make this unit work using the hollow tube die with the Packard #56 hollow tube terminals,( which are made from .044" thick metal) required the following steps 1. apply a dab of grease in the area that curls the crimp bands over the wire and insulation- I used Di-electric grease. 2, because the handles are not long enough, I had to use a vise to close the handles far enough to create the crimp - that means closed down to the last ratchet click and not beyond. Don't Use A Hammer ! I completed twelve tight and good looking crimps in this manner with no damage to the ratchet or dies. I then used the same ratchet and dies to complete thirty eight more tight and good looking crimps using terminals made from thinner material. I found that the hollow tube dies in this set are too wide if the hollow tube terminals have what appears to be a second set of crimp bands for the wire insulation. This second set of bands is a set of alignment pins which are to remain flat. When mounted in a terminal block arrangment these alignment pins keep the terminals on the same plane as those terminals mounted in the other half of the terminal block. This set of dies will curl the alignment pins just like everything else... good luck re- straightening .

This is the best crimper that I've used. Very pretty crimps, solid. But you really have to squeeze it. Maybe it could have longer handles? or if my hands were stronger.Way better than the cheap crimper/stripers that you pay $25 for.Very nice to have quick change dies for various wire sizes.

The best thing about this set is that for a reasonable price you get a complete set of crimp dies in a nice case with the crisper. Price out the dies - You could spend much more on the dies than for this set!The crimper is the ratcheting type that is intended to keep you from partially crimping the terminal. It doesn't normally release until you fully crimp the terminal. But if you have used a ratcheting crimper you will know that if you insert the wrong terminal into the crimper it may be impossible to complete the crimp - Then you need the release lever. This crimper has one, it's easy to use and it works.In my opinion, this is a great crimper for nearly everyone who has to deal with crimp terminals unless you have to meet mil-standards or do hundreds of crimps a day. Tools for that are much, much more expensive.