Can we talk about those cheap crimp tools from the big box stores?

I bought one of those $15 crimpers from the orange store about six months ago, thinking it was a good deal. It felt okay in the hand, but the first time I tried to crimp a connector on a piece of RG6, it just crushed the center pin. I figured it was a fluke, but after three more tries, I had ruined four connectors and about ten minutes of my time on a simple job. The metal in the tool was just too soft, and the dies weren't lined up right. I ended up having to go back to my truck for my good tool, and I lost that $15 plus the cost of the connectors. It's a small amount, but it adds up when you're in a hurry and a tool fails. Has anyone found a decent budget crimper that actually holds up, or is it just one of those things you have to spend real money on?

3 comments

3 Comments

jason52417d agoMost Upvoted

Honestly, the real cost is the time and frustration. You're not just out fifteen bucks, you're redoing work and losing trust in your gear. That mental tax is worse than the money.

the_grant23d ago

You mentioned the dies weren't lined up right. Did you try adjusting the set screw at all, or was it just hopeless from the start?

kelly.daniel23d ago

Tried the set screw for a good twenty minutes. The threads on the die itself were actually cut wrong, so no amount of adjusting would fix it. Had to send the whole thing back for a replacement.