Ferrule crimp tools part deux

[pc1966]

We often see folk asking about which crimp tool to buy/use so I decided to round up my collection and put them to the test. Ladies and gentlemen, here are the usual suspects:

Seems I cant post after the image? From the left we have:

• RS crimp tool, seems they no longer sell it but I think it is Bootlace Ferrule Crimping Plier 0.5 mm2 To 16 mm2 - https://www.maunindustries.com/pliers-tools/bootlace-ferrule-crimping-plier-0-5-mm2-to-16-mm2/
• SWA crimp tool that comes with this set 0.5mm²-4.0mm² Hand Ratchet Crimp Tool Kit and Insulated Bootlace Ferrules - https://www.cef.co.uk/catalogue/products/362745-0-5mm-4-0mm-hand-ratchet-crimp-tool-kit-and-insulated-bootlace-ferrules
• Engex crimp tool 660016 covering 10-35mm (even though described as 16-35) 16mm² - 35mm² Cord End Crimp Tool - https://www.cef.co.uk/catalogue/products/695868-16mm-35mm-cord-end-crimp-tool
• RS crimp tool for 10/16/25mm ferrules RS PRO Plier Crimping Tool for Bootlace Ferrule | RS Components - https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/crimp-tools/6831614/
• eBay special claims 0.25-10mm self-adjusting square die
• Pressmaster hex-die 0.14-10mm equivalent to RS PRO Plier Crimping Tool for Bootlace Ferrule | RS Components - https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/crimp-tools/1221791/

 

[pc1966]

First test was with 10mm tri-rated wire, fine stranded and all but the SWA tool could do this:

Results were:

1. For the simple Maun/RS tool it was easy but really needed two crimps for the 10mm ferrule.
2. N/A [SWA tool limited to 6mm]
3. The Engex crimp was tight, but lop-sided and stuck in the die
4. The RS tool did a great job for this size (also for 16 & 25 elsewhere)
5. The cheap Chinese tool work fine here
6. The Expensive hex-die did a good crimp, but needed quite a firm hand force to complete.

 

[pc1966]

Next we have 4mm 7-stranded conduit wire:

1. Again the old RS/Maun tool was simple and easy
2. The SWA tool over-crimped a bit, tight in jaw but otherwise tolerable
3. N/A (below Engex range)
4. N/A (below RS range)
5. Again the cheap tool was fine
6. Hex tool also fine, though firm force still needed

 

[pc1966]

Then same for 1.5mm 7-stranded conduit wire:

1. Old RS/Maun tool fine
2. SWA over-crimped a bit
3. N/A (below range)
4. N/A (beow range)
5. Fine with cheap square die
6. Fine with expensive hex die

 

[pc1966]

Then 0.5mm fine stranded wire:

This was the smallest for tools 1 & 2 and well within tools 5 & 6 rating

1. Old RS/Maun tool fine
2. SWA tool over-crimped, also getting easy to end up in gaps between correct crimp locations
3. N/A (below range)
4. N/A (below range)
5. OK, moved a bit when pulled but not easily coming out
6. Perfectly good

 

[pc1966]

Finally 0.25mm fine-stranded wire (violet ferrules, not obvious in photo):

This is within tools 5 & 6 range, but below tools 1 & 2

1. Old RS/Maun was OK, moved a bit if pulled but stayed in
2. SWA over-crimped significantly
3. N/A
4. N/A
5. Cheap eBay failed, crimp looks OK but wire pulled out easily
6. Expensive hex die was perfect

 

[SparkyChick]

Thanks for taking the time and putting this together

 

[pc1966]

Conclusions?

1. Well for all is basic appearance, the Maun tool is really good, but you need to get the right gap. However, adjacent gaps don't really lead to a stuck wire.
2. The SWA tool is pretty rubbish. Having tried it a few times I really would bin it.
3. Same for the Engex tool. While it does above the 16mm max of the Maun, it is not great.
4. The RS tool is very good for all 3 sizes (10-25mm), but expensive
5. The cheap eBay self-adjusting tool is great for 0.75-10mm and excellent value for money. Doubt it will last the 50,000 cycles RS/Pressmaster offer but at that price hardly worth complaining about. Not great at 0.5mm or below.
6. The Pressmaster is good, but harder to use for the upper range and also expensive. If you are doing a lot of small ferrules (e.g. instruments, some control panel signal wiring) it makes sense, but hard to justify the total cost.

Over to you ladies and gentlemen to share your own experience....

 

[GBDamo]

Cheers, I'll avoid using my cheap Chinese Amazon specials to bootlace my pubes.

A real service to humanity there PC1966.

 

[Moley]

I've got 2 cheap chinese ebay jobbies. Never had a problem with them. If you loose it you've not lost a lot of money.