CAT 6 Crimper Recommendations

About to purchase a CAT 6 crimper/wire stripper tool - any recommendations?

Search ebay for tyco 231652. Just make sure that you get the correct die set for the type of connector that you are using.
 
Mike.

As Mike points out, when it comes to crimping, there are 2 styles of RJ45 connectors.  There is AMP, and there is Western Electric/Stewart Stamping (WE/SS).  Whatever crimp tool you buy, you need to get connectors that match the tool and die set.  Mostly, the connectors you find in Home Deport or on Amazon are the WE/SS type.
 
My preference is for the WE/SS, mostly because that's the tool I have and the connectors are easier to find locally when I need some in a hurry.
 
Also, when buying connectors, you need to get ones that are meant for the wire you will use them with - solid vs stranded, and round vs flat cable.

Heres a good read\
 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modular_connector#Types_and_incompatibility

RAL
 
I've been using my Tyco tool with the Ideal brand  RJ 45 plugs that they sell in HD and Lowes and they crimp nicely and I've never had a problem with them. I bought the tool a long time ago and maybe the die set is actually made for the plugs.
 
Mike.

I've been using a GMP crimper/presser for years. Solves the issues of the "butterfly" or plier types that rock the die into/across the plug. I've had problems with that a few times (others crimped the ends).

DELInstallations said:

I've been using a GMP crimper/presser for years. Solves the issues of the "butterfly" or plier types that rock the die into/across the plug. I've had problems with that a few times (others crimped the ends).

Click to expand...

+1 for a GMP, that is what I have as well, never had any issues.

You are prewiring your house.

When you trim out, in 3 months, you will mostly be using punch down, female RJ45s for connectors.

Crimped RJ45s for alarm keypads?

Neurorad said:

You are prewiring your house.

When you trim out, in 3 months, you will mostly be using punch down, female RJ45s for connectors.

Crimped RJ45s for alarm keypads?

Click to expand...

Crimped male connectors are needed for the DBH in an Elk system.
 
Mike.

I could use some input on my Tyco crimper. I have the 231652 with a few different dies. I'm using the white "0" die set for cat5 male plugs manufactured by Ideal and have had excellent results. I understand that you are only supposed use Tyco style plugs with the Tyco tool set but I've crimped countless plugs that all have been tested for continuity and some have been working in place for a decade with wire runs as long as 100'. My ethernet system has three switches and five set top boxes and three cameras and all work fine.
 
So what exactly is the difference between the Tyco plug and the WE/SS and is it really critical? Or is the Ideal plug compatible to both style crimpers? The GMP crimper costs about $300 and I paid ~$50 for my Tyco crimper brand new on fleabay. The tool works smoothly and quietly and makes solid connections.
 
Does anyone else here have a Tyco crimper or have any experience with the two types?
 
Mike.

mikefamig said:

I could use some input on my Tyco crimper. I have the 231652 with a few different dies. I'm using the white "0" die set for cat5 male plugs manufactured by Ideal and have had excellent results. I understand that you are only supposed use Tyco style plugs with the Tyco tool set but I've crimped countless plugs that all have been tested for continuity and some have been working in place for a decade with wire runs as long as 100'. My ethernet system has three switches and five set top boxes and three cameras and all work fine.
 
So what exactly is the difference between the Tyco plug and the WE/SS and is it really critical? Or is the Ideal plug compatible to both style crimpers? The GMP crimper costs about $300 and I paid ~$50 for my Tyco crimper brand new on fleabay. The tool works smoothly and quietly and makes solid connections.
 
Does anyone else here have a Tyco crimper or have any experience with the two types?
 
Mike.

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I have almost every *major* type/manufacturer's tools and dies. Part of what gets written into the specs of jobs where the end user or what have you certifying the install or signing off on the check to use as holdback or similar to how closely you read the scope and details. Very small and subtle differences. May not notice it in the 1-5 sort of batches, but in the case of a few hundred, most definitely you'd have some issues show up on a pentascanner.
 
The Tyco/Amp is very similar to the GMP in how it presses the connectors. The main difference is the ergonomics and productivity (it's a PITA to do a ton with the Amp unit).
 
I own a bunch of GMP's, from the full unit that comes with every 45 and die known to man to the tech set with the leather holster. I paid less than $75 for the kit and $25 for the holster unit. So what you see as MSRP vs. street prices varies significantly. That said, I never bought them 100% brand new, but if you look hard enough, they hardly have a scratch on them and they're good for decades.
 
The big difference is the location of the strain relief on the jack. Two different locations and 100% mutually exclusive ends. Only way I can say it. If I remember right, I think Ideal is Amp pattern.

I would recommend The Platinum Tools 100054C EZ-RJPRO HD Crimp Too

I use the Ideal crimpmaster - apparently it comes in amp and non-amp dies - without looking I don't know which it has on it - but that thing has seen more RJ45 crimps than any homeowner or IT person should ever crimp starting back in the day when patch cables were so expensive I'd stupidly sit watching TV making hundreds of them to now a decade later using them for outdoor shielded connectors (a lot of RF45 ends are used because you're connecting shielded cable directly from the antenna to the injector 100' away and shouldn't be using patch panels)... I can't think of a single time I had a failed crimp with it.  Prior to that I had cheapies that would have to be re-crimped a lot.  I test all my connections with a Fluke certification tool too - and the only errors that ever show up are the one in a few hundred crossed twist.  Its never cared which ends I'm using - from generics from Fry's, Ideal brand, Toughcable, etc.  Doesn't seem to be as accessible now but it's been perfect for me.
 
My backup or RJ45 crimper is the Platinum Tools one mentioned above.  It does work well it's just not as smooth and solid as the crimpmaster.

Ends are ends. Can't really deviate from a known spec manufactured by few companies.
 
I have the Platinum tools one also. I got it for a camera job that required a ton of termination to be done on a lift and bucket truck at height  I didn't want to have to revisit the connections and wanted to be up and down quickly. It worked fine for that, however it has a problem with the die missing outer pins occasionally that I'm not a fan of.

I just picked up a bargain on a GMP crimper on FleaBay, the seller accepted $10 + $8 shipping for the tool. It has surface rust but has the #8 die-set for crimping WE/SS 8p8c connectors. I'll see what I can do to clean it up with some WD-40.
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/231896801294?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
 
I have been using an Amp crimper to crimp Ideal brand WE/SS 3-piece connectors from Home Depot and it works for the most part but frequently I have to do a plug over because of bad connections. I've always blamed myself for the bad ones but maybe it's the tool's fault. This will at the very least give me a chance to compare the tools without spending over $100.
 
Mike.