Basic Steps to Selecting a Pair of Wire Crimpers

    Most people who like do it yourself (diy) projects often run into situations where they need to run wire. This job can quickly become very difficult or cumbersome without the proper tools such as a wire crimper or a pair of wire strippers, and more importantly, the correct type of crimper for the job. Wire crimpers come in many different varieties and sizes and the right tool for the job often depends on the type of wire that needs crimped and/or stripped. For example, if you were to attempt to use a RJ-45 data wire crimper to crimp the end of a coaxial cable, you would likely bend the teeth of the RJ-45 crimper. Some people also believe it is perfectly fine to use the stripping blade on any set wire crimpers for any type of wire, regardless of how heavy the gauge. A heavier gauge wire always needs a heavier gauge wire crimper to get the job done right! Although the crimper may not be visibly damaged the first time it is used to cut a heavier than intended gauge wire, in most cases it will weaken the blade, which will cause it to crack and chip over time. 

There is one foundational problem that commonly occurs when people buy their own tools, such as a wire crimper. This mostly happens because each one of those types oftools comes in a variety of sizes and types. The same issue occurs when you buy a set of standard measurement ratchets or wrenches, but the job requires a set of metric tools. The problem is compounded with wire crimpers because they not only come in a variety of sizes, but there are also a variety of types that can help or hinder a project. The most standard types are basic wire crimpers for simply cutting and stripping wires. 

There are also more specialized types which can be used for a variety of applications, such as crimping different types and sizes of data or cable couplers. Data and coaxial cables can quickly become more complex because they often contain several layers of wires, some of which need to be stripped back, and others that need to be crimped. For this reason, choosing the right pair of wire crimpers for a job can become a daunting task. 


There are basic questions to start off asking before selecting a the best wire crimper for a project. Firstly, and most importantly, the type of wire or cable to be crimped will largely dictate what style of crimpers to select. Secondly, the gauge, or thickness, of the wire will determine if a light-weight pair will do the job or if a heavy duty pair will be needed. When selecting a heavy duty pair of wire crimpers, it is critical to make sure that both the crimping mechanism and the blade for cutting the wire are of high quality to prevent them from chipping.

 Some tools offer a mechanism for easily changing out these parts as they get dull or chip, which is always an added bonus when they need to last for more than just one job. 


The one important thing to remember, as is true with most things in life, is that you will get what you pay for. When searching for the best pair of wire crimpers for a given project, typically the higher the cost, the higher the quality. Lastly, when a pair of crimpers 

will be needed for the long haul over serveral years of use, it is a good idea to see if it can cut and crimp different types of wires. The most common types of multicrimp tools are used for different types of data cables and support a variety of RJ-style connectors. Lastly, when a pair of crimpers will be needed for the long haul over serveral years of use, it is also a good idea to see if it can cut and crimper different types of wires.