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Comment by jibe | Hacker News Reader

Is there a specific crimper you recommend?

Klein hand tools. Full stop.

Below is my favorite. Caveat, it takes some getting accustomed to if you're used to the standard plier style(They make those, too).

edit:plier handle style, not wrench

https://www.kleintools.com/catalog/cable-tools/ratcheting-ca...

I’ve got that tool and I couldn’t be happier with it. Works good, does RJ11, supports pass-through RJ45, has the color coding on it so I don’t have to look it up. Not too pricy too.

Another vote for exactly this. It's great. Get the passthrough connectors

Can anyone recommend a good tool set for crimping DuPont/JR style connectors too? They’re such a pain to deal with in my experience, I end up just harvesting random jumper cables with the right pin count/connecter and splicing/soldering instead, because every cheap crimping tool/kit I’ve come across has crazy high failure rates

Molex 63811-1000, full stop. I do this professionally (automotive harness prototyping), and this is the first tool I reach for when I have open-barrel terminals to work with. If they have a wire-grip section longer than 2.5mm, this is your answer. That means Dupont, most styles from Molex, TE, Sumitomo, Yazaki, etc.

(The second is the Iwiss IWS-2820M, for open-barrels with a short wire-grip section, 2mm or below. That's basically most JST styles. The Iwiss crimper has all the same nest sizes as the Engineer PAD-11 but is much better made, smaller, and cheaper to boot.)

There are, of course, countless $300-and-up official tools for specific terminals, but as far as generics go, these two are the cream of the crop.

Beware ebay triangulation scams with the 63811-1000. It should cost $55-65, any less and you're being lured. Safest to get it from one of the vendors listed on Octopart. For the Iwiss, as much as I hate to say it, just go to Amazon.

You’re an absolute champion! Thanks mate :)

* Use with Klein Tools Pass-Thru™ Connectors

* Not for use with standard (non Pass-Thru™) connectors

...what does that mean ? Standard dime-a-dozen connectors won't work ?

Unsure, sounds like a dark pattern or, being generous, maybe liability avoidance wordage. I have crimped >1000 non "Pass-Thru™" connectors(outdoor/shielded) with mine.

edit: expanded

I prefer https://www.truecable.com/products/all-in-one-crimp-and-term... and pretty much every single one of their tools.

Oh niiiiiiiiice. That looks like it fixes every single complaint I've had about similar tools.

I hope the ratchet is good; I just had the ratchet blow out on that Klein that everyone recommends, and I went back to my trusty Ideal Telemaster.

I think I have gone through more than 500 crimps for RJ45s and it is as strong as new. I watch a lot of cableporn and have re-done all the rat's nest at work.

The Klein VDV226-110

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