Punch down tool

DELinstallations once told me to throw away the plastic punch down tools that come with the RJ45 keystone sockets and buy a good tool and I should have listened to him. I just wasted a load of time struggling with getting good connections in a couple of sockets.I put an rj45 on one end of a cable and a socket on the other end and two of the leads were open. Not knowing which end had the problem I replaced the rj45. I still had the same problem so I rewired the socket and that worked. I had to resort to testing with a continuity cable tester after punching each pair to get the job done.
 
So is there anything to know about these tools. I remember reading somewhere that there is more than one type of punch-down.  I'd love some recommendations.
 
Mike.

Harris 814 or 914 is industry standard. Now owned by Fluke. There are just as many manufacturers out there that work as well. I have a few 914's and probably have my first 814 also. I should go take a look and maybe pay it forward (probably needs a new blade).
 
If you're doing low volume, Klein makes a 10/11 in 1 tool that has a punchdown blade on it as well.

What a bout the blade? Is the 110 standard for ethernet sockets?

Yes. You want 110. 66 is for the older style blocks, but nice to have for specific reasons. Preferably, you'd want a reversible blade that can cut and also punch without cut.
Really, any adjustable impact punch tool would work for someone who isn't doing this on a daily basis.

110 is the standard on the back of keystones for RJ45 and the like.  66 are the metal row kind.  Many punch tools will come with two interchangeable blades.  One for 66, one for 110 with the ends being for punch/trim or just punch.  The trim kind are convenient in that they snip off the little extra bit of wire.

Thanks guys, I just bought a Fluke 814 n ebay that looks to be in good condition. It comes with a wire wrapping tool but I can't think of what I'll use that for. I found that the difference between the 814 and 914 is that the 914 holds the extra point in the handle and can take a screwdriver bit. No biggie.
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/282263532514?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
 
Mike.

I just picked up a Klein punch down tool a few years ago from Home Depot. Has worked great for my low production amount of use. I've probably punched down 150 or so jacks with it in the past 2-3 years; more than most DIY-ers will do in their residence. No issues and works great. I'd have to look again, but I don't think mine allows swapping to the screw-driver tips: 
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Klein-Tools-Punch-down-Multi-Bit-Screwdriver-VDV001-081/203275492?keyword=VDV001-081
 
 
Another tool that I've seen, but not picked up yet is the keystone punch-down stand: 
https://www.amazon.com/InstallerParts-Keystone-Jack-Punch-Stand/dp/B008NXK3NU/ref=sr_1_8?rps=1&ie=UTF8&qid=1481901250&sr=8-8&keywords=klein+punch+down&refinements=p_85%3A2470955011

drvnbysound said:

Another tool that I've seen, but not picked up yet is the keystone punch-down stand: 
https://www.amazon.com/InstallerParts-Keystone-Jack-Punch-Stand/dp/B008NXK3NU/ref=sr_1_8?rps=1&ie=UTF8&qid=1481901250&sr=8-8&keywords=klein+punch+down&refinements=p_85%3A2470955011

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That's a handy-looking item.  Seems like it'd be a bit easier on the hands.  Trying to punch them down while holding it gets painful after a while.

Thank you like that Keystone punch down stand.
 
Here was using a little flat piece of hardwood and have broken of jacks with it; tool will be a great addition in my bag o tools.
 
@Mike
 
I had to resort to testing with a continuity cable tester after punching each pair to get the job done.
 
Here switched from a basic continuity cable tester to one similarly pictured below after doing a few POE cable jacks.
 
Purchased a cheapo which works fine for home stuff.  I always test the cable before using it.  Takes a minute or so.
 

I have a Fluke unit that will measure cable length and tell you where the break is.

The device that holds the RJ45 for punching down - I've read of people calling it a 'puck'.
 
https://www.google.com/search?q=punch+down+rj45+puck&espv=2&biw=1920&bih=1110&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjy3-P4rfnQAhUH2yYKHdOYBRcQ_AUIBygC

video321 said:

I have a Fluke unit that will measure cable length and tell you where the break is.

Click to expand...

 
Certainly can be very helpful. I've got access to one, but have yet to need one for residential work. Honestly, I've yet to encounter a break in a residential category cable. 
 
At my day job, I've got access to a Fluke that will also test throughput. I've used it once - when we were establishing licensed microwave links (~4 and ~7 miles). The most common issue I see is when guys are fairly new to terminating RJ45's and they inadvertantly get the strands out of order and have to re-terminate. 

Yeah here use mine not so much relating to breaks in the cable rather just to double check my ordered pairs.  I sometimes switch the red pair and the brown pair as they look the same to me.  The tester tells me which pair I have switched and validates my stuff.  Takes a minute only and I would rather use the tester than the network.  My managed switch also shows me length or breaks in the line.  The old LED tester just showed me continuity but not the pair order.  I also have used it to make a custom cable in a bind. 

pete_c said:

Here switched from a basic continuity cable tester to one similarly pictured below after doing a few POE cable jacks.
 
Purchased a cheapo which works fine for home stuff.  I always test the cable before using it.  Takes a minute or so.
 

cabletestera.jpg

cabletesterb.jpg

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I have a Klein Scout JR tester. It has a few functions but I have only used it to test that all of the 8 leads are connected and in the correct order.

pete_c said:

Yeah here use mine not so much relating to breaks in the cable rather just to double check my ordered pairs.  I sometimes switch the red pair and the brown pair as they look the same to me.  The tester tells me which pair I have switched and validates my stuff.  Takes a minute only and I would rather use the tester than the network.  My managed switch also shows me length or breaks in the line.  The old LED tester just showed me continuity but not the pair order.  I also have used it to make a custom cable in a bind. 

Click to expand...

 
I ran cat cable all over our house years ago when we first got Uverse IPTV and I did it without a tester. All of our TVs worked and still work but there was a bit of luck involved. Now that I have a tester a I can see that many of my plugs have problems and I fix them as I find them. Uverse only uses one twisted pair so the odds of a plug working were in my favor.
 
Mike.