The 10 Best Crimpers
Editor's Notes
October 15, 2020:
It was a busy round of updates that saw the majority of our previous picks either switched out or simply eliminated. While the Engineer Pad-11 was replaced by the Engineer Pad-02 – a kit that combines the tool with a set of dies and a solid carrying case – the Knipex Lineman — which, although it does have some crimping abilities, we felt would be a better fit for our list of Best Linesman Pliers – was replaced by the Knipex 9772180, which we thought made more sense for this category. The Coolerguys HT-225D, Signstek AWG23-10 and Iwiss Hexagonal were all removed due to concerns with either their build quality or limiting designs, and the Channellock 909 was phased out in order to make room for our new additions, recognizing that our list already included similar, but superior, options.
This category was particularly difficult to rank because it’s so expansive. It seems as if every other major trade has some form of crimper they depend on. Without narrowing the definition for this category – and indeed, we already maintain specialized pages for hydraulic cable crimpers and A/C hose crimpers – it was impossible to publish a list that would be entirely useful to all of our users. We did, however, endeavor to put together a mixed list that features some of the best from several categories, but we decided to draw the line at hair crimpers.
Our new additions include the Knipex 9772180 and the Greenlee Microtool EK50ML13811 — both great picks for construction electricians, with the former being a useful hand tool and the latter a top-of-the-line battery-powered selection; the Greenlee K09 Syncro — an appealing option for industrial electricians, as it can handle conductors as large as 250 kcmil; the Milwaukee Short Throw 2674-22C — a slick addition the company’s 18-volt lithium ion collection that plumbers working with PEX are sure to appreciate, which can perform more than 250 crimps on a single charge, and comes with 1/2-, 3/4- and one-inch jaws; and the Klein Tools 86520 — a mainstay for many HVAC installers who frequently work with rigid ductwork. The Klein Tools All-in-One, one of our surviving selections from our last round of updates, is a good choice for network technicians who are running voice and data lines.
May 15, 2019:
The Thomas & Betts TBM45S is coveted by professionals for it's lifetime durability, excellent leverage and ease of the rotating die wheel that makes adjustments quick and easy. The price might be cost prohibitive for those who won't use it everyday, but it still deserves the top spot.
The Titan Tools 11950 is still a solid choice for those who want some versatility in crimper because it's 6 quick-change jaws aren't quite as convenient as the rotating die wheel, but still fairly easy to use.
We chose to include the budget-friendly Channellock 909 and the Irwin Tools Vise-Grip even though they are not professional level for users who need them for the most basic wiring tasks.