[kwlug-disc] RJ45 crimper -- good brand?

[John Van Ostrand]

I've used a few and I don't really prefer one over another. Since I've
stopped working, and left all those cool tools with my former business
partner, I've had to acquire a new crimper to do some home cabling. Now
that I only do a few plugs every year I just bought a cheap one at Home
Depot for about $60. I think it was "Ideal" brand.

The technique I use to ensure a good crimp is that I cut back the
insulation, rip cord and core (if it's cat6)  an extra half centimetre,
arrange the wires in order. You can straighten curly wires by pinching the
wire between finger and thumb and bending back and forth slightly while
pulling the wire through the punch, shift it 90 degrees and do it again.
Once in order do the same pinch technique with all the wires at one, it
tends to make them stay put better. Trim the extra half centimetre off to
get a nice straight edge. Now that the wires are prepared here re the most
important steps.  I insert the wires into the plug and push firmly to seat
them. I do a visual to make sure I didn't accidentally cross wires and that
the wire insulation extends under the cable clamp, then I put it in the
crimper and ensure that I can see all 8 "dots" (wires) clearly from the end
of the plug. This ensures that all wires are fully seated. After a firm
crimp (or two) I inspect the brass contacts to ensure they are all sunken.
Running a thumbnail over the ridges to ensure they are all sunken also
works.

To get a feel for what the dots looks like, experiment a little. Leave a
wire out and see if you can tell the difference.

On Thu, Jun 16, 2016 at 11:17 PM, Bob Jonkman <bjonkman at sobac.com> wrote:

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> I've got one similar to this:
>
>
> https://shop.primespec.com/100054c/ez-rjpro-hd-crimp-tool-platinum-tools.html
>
> It's meant for the kind of RJ-45 plugs where you can push the wires
> right through the front of the plug, to make sure you've got them in
> the correct order. The plugs with the open fronts cost a bit more, but
> you end up wasting fewer from bad crimping.
>
> The ratchet is handy too; closing the tool most of the way before the
> ratchet disengages is a handy way to put it in storage.
>
> Biggest beef: The wiring diagram on the shank lists the correct
> colours and pin numbers, but it's exactly UPSIDE-DOWN from the way the
> plug is inserted in the crimper. Never thought I'd be complaining
> about UX on a hand tool, but there you are.
>
> Although I linked to Primespec, I'd see if they're available from
> Sayal, who seem to have an amazing collection of tools. Primespec does
> differential pricing, depending on which customer you are. When I've
> bought stuff (cable, conduit) for one customer it's one price, when I
> buy for a different customer it's a different price. And if you get a
> vendor account with them they tell you their price list is
> confidential. No wonder.
>
> - --Bob.
>
> - --
> Bob Jonkman <bjonkman at sobac.com>          Phone: +1-519-635-9413
> SOBAC Microcomputer Services             http://sobac.com/sobac/
> Software   ---   Office & Business Automation   ---   Consulting
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>
>
>
> On 2016-06-16 09:44 PM, William Park via kwlug-disc wrote:
> > I posted this to GTALUG... so please ignore if you've seen this
> > before.
> >
> > I know some of you (at least 2) are pros at cabling.  I want to buy
> > RJ45 crimper, so I can - make ethernet cables of exact length I
> > need, and - re-crimp when the plastic tab breaks off.
> >
> > Which brand do you recommend? What do pros use, anyways?
> >
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-- 
John Van Ostrand
At large on sabbatical
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