Keep Your Wires Connected With the Best Crimping Tool
If you're often in contact with electrical appliances and wires in general, you might be familiar with the good old crimping tool. It’s a convenient invention that makes your wiring work a lot easier than before. So, if your job involves soldering, cutting, or joining different wires, this tool is definitely for you.
Ask a professional who encounters the tool each day and you'll hear a lot of reviews on various crimping tools manufactured by different brands. To keep things easy and transparent, we have compiled a list of the most efficient crimping tools of 2024 available on the market right now. This way, intrigued readers can better understand every option and won’t have difficulty making a purchase. Let’s take a look!
Our Top Picks
Comparing the Top Crimping Tools of 2024
Best Overall
Let’s start with the Wirefy Crimping Tool, which almost does the job for you. This feature-rich crimper is easily usable, portable, can work with almost any wire, and doesn’t require much strength, giving a comfortable grip. As the name suggests, it’s got a state-of-the-art ratcheting system, allowing this crimping tool to give uniform and consistent crimps.
Additionally, this crimping tool is perfect for newbies and professionals alike, so you won’t have trouble using it even if it is your first time. Once you’ve crimped a wire, the tool releases automatically, and the ratcheting feature gives you flawless results each time. We’ve picked this wire crimper as the best on our list because it boasts superb quality and ease of use, all for an excellent price.
Pros
- High-quality, heavy-duty feel
- Amazing ratcheting mechanism
- Handle has a good grip
Cons
- Doesn’t open easily
Most Budget-Friendly
This budget-friendly Klein Tools Wire Crimping Tool is hard to skip. It is an excellent option if you want to crimp wires on short notice and are running out of time. At first glance, you can tell that this crimping tool is durable and has a sturdy build. An extra perk this crimper has, though, is that it has a compound action feature. With this feature, the tool’s crimping ability increases even as the user puts only a little force on it.
Ratcheting is another excellent feature of this crimping tool. It ensures full cycle crimping, giving a uniform crimp each time. Additionally, it contains dials that adjust to the force applied to the product. And, during all this extraneous activity, you don’t even have to worry about being in discomfort because the dual material on the grips is inherently soft.
Pros
- Dual grip system
- Compound action feature
- Dials adjust to crimp force
- Affordable price
Cons
- Lacks quick release lever
Most Convenient
Now, this crimping tool is one-of-a-kind. Right from the packaging, it looks chic and performs its job in style with its functional and sleek design. And, with this design, it gets rid of the bulky look most tools unfortunately have. Aside from that, this crimping tool doesn’t damage heat shrink insulation, so you can soundly work without worrying about ruining anything. Another remarkable feature is that it has no sharp edges on the crimping die, making it a safer, accident-free crimping tool.
The Qibaok crimping tool has a never-ending list of features that just keep getting better and better. It has an adjustable compression wheel, making accessibility easier, a built-in quick release, and an ergonomic, cushioned, and non-slip handle. This way, you can firmly hold the crimping tool and be sure that it won’t slip from your hands any time soon. Even better, the handle also adds comfort, so holding the tool for prolonged periods won’t hurt.
Pros
- Doesn’t cause damage to heat shrink insulation
- Firm, ergonomic non-slip handle
- No sharp edges on crimp die
Cons
- Crimper jaws don’t align
Easiest To Use
A relatively new product in the market, the Hiasstronica Crimping Tool has quickly become a favorite in every person’s tool kit. Although this pick is not much different from its competitors, you’ll find three crimping cavities with this crimping tool.
This device utilizes a mechanism to work and has two sides to tie crimping tools. One side simply crimps the electrical wires, while the other crimps the insulating sleeve around the wire. It also comes in a variety of styles, from one meant for heat shrink connectors, to a design made for non-insulated wire connectors and more. This way, you can choose a crimping tool entirely based on your needs!
Pros
- Available in various styles
- Supports multiple wire sizes
- Easy to use
Cons
- A bit bulky
Strongest Design
Packed with power, the WGGE Crimping Tool can cut through almost anything, including copper. It’s sturdy and does the job with little force, all while being quite easy to use. This is mainly due to the color-coded reference point marked on its head. With this color-coded design, you can efficiently work your way through the process of crimping. Other than that, this incredible device has soft, insulated ergonomic handles, which are sure to keep your hands comfortable while working.
Furthermore, the handles have a decent amount of separation, making the crimping tool a perfect fit for all hand sizes. In fact, this design allows the crimping device to have enough leverage to let you strip wires effectively. And if all this isn’t enough, you’ll love the carbon steel alloy that makes up the jaws. The composition not only makes this crimping tool strong, but is also a sign of a reliable tool.
Pros
- Comfortable to use
- Works for all hand sizes
- Comes with a 24-month warranty
Cons
- Cannot handle large wires
Crimping Tool Buying Guide
A crimping tool’s purpose is very straightforward. It is used to crimp terminals and connectors on wires together. Also, it connects two pieces of material, forming an electrical connection.
If you’re someone with no experience with researching and buying tools, you may be a bit confused about what to get. So, if you’re planning on getting a crimping tool for general household work, you might find yourself unsure about how to determine the most efficient one that’ll best suit your needs. That’s why, in this section, we’ll help you figure out just how to get the ideal crimping tool for your next project.
Choosing the Perfect Crimping Tool
One of the most important things to consider when getting a crimping tool is the model or type you want to have. This can be handheld, hydraulic, or hammer. Aside from this, multiple other factors determine a good crimping tool.
Here’s a list of a few features you need to be aware of:
Types of Crimping Tools
- Hydraulic crimping tool
The first kind is a hydraulic crimping tool. This is an unconventional crimping tool and it’s also one of the simplest. It is operated by hydraulic fluid and is typically used for thick wires.
The reason these are preferred over others is that they’re generally easy to carry around. You can also apply more pressure with hydraulic fluid’s help. The only real downside this type has is that they need oil maintenance to avoid clogging.
- Handheld
A handheld crimping tool is the most common and the simplest one available on the market. Since it’s manually operated, it’s typically used for small wires. It mainly takes upon the look of conventional pliers but is a bit more specified. Most of the handheld crimping tools are multi-purpose and can be used as wire strippers or cutters, too.
- Hammer
This sort of crimping tool is the most affordable. Generally, it works the same way as handheld, and hydraulic crimpers do.
Based on functionality, it is quite a good option — the only difference is that you’ll need to place it on a flat surface and use a hammer. This way, the end of the wire is placed between a die and an anvil and is struck by the hammer, which is what forms a crimp. In this way, the hammer crimper is both more effective than the handheld crimper as it can handle all the range of wires. The downside is that it’s not portable, so if you want to carry it somewhere, that’ll be an issue.
Jaw opening
The next factor which you should evaluate is the crimping tool’s jaw opening. Naturally, the measurement between the crimp tools’ jaws when they’re fully open should be wide enough to fit both wire and connector. The crimp tool’s jaw should also be able to hold both wire and connector in place before crimping to assure consistency. If the crimping tools’ jaws are too small or too big for the tool, then the result will be an improper crimp.
This improper crimp can cause corrosion, overheating, voltage drops, and many other connectivity issues. This is why before you go on to purchase a crimping tool, it’s best to be aware of the kind of wires you’ll be working with.
Build quality
Another crucial factor to consider when purchasing tools is their build quality, mainly their ability to stay perfect for a long time. After all, a crimping tool is extensively used, so ensuring it doesn’t break after a few sessions is very important.
You primarily want something which can withstand a lot of abuse, which is why high-end wire crimping tools are typically made from hardened steel. They will also typically be coated with other alloys and metals so that any moisture and other pollutants cannot harm them. Before your purchase, make sure the device is reliable and well-built so that it’ll last you a long time.
Grip handle
Lastly, a major factor is ensuring your crimping tool’s grip handle is firm. A crimping tool is used for hard work and requires a lot of force; this force cannot be held if your tool’s grip is flimsy. To make sure your crimping device works most effectively, you’ll need to make sure it has a rock-solid grip.
As a result, a flimsy handle that offers suboptimal traction is just not doable. For a perfect grip, ergonomic handles work best because they ensure maximum grip with added comfort.
How To Store Your Crimping Tool
Make sure that your crimping tool and all other similar devices are stored in an airtight plastic box. Also, you need to keep the tool safe from excessive heat and rain; this is imperative to prevent it from rusting or suffering from deformation.
People also Asked
Are all crimping tools the same?
In short, no, not all crimping tools are the same. Crimping tools are generally categorized depending upon the size of the wire, which is determined through the American Wire Gauge (AWG) measurements. Another critical difference is the type of terminal being crimped.
Are soldering wires better than crimping tools?
Crimping offers stronger and more reliable connections than soldering tools. As a whole, crimping a wire is known to be much more useful and better than soldering.
Do I really need a crimping tool?
It is impossible to do crimping without a well-made crimping tool. Pilers don’t crimp correctly nor do they push a locking tab efficiently.