Average Customer Review: ( 4 customer reviews )
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8 of 8 found the following review helpful:
A nice crimper. No instructions. Aug 23, 2009
By Nola
I was looking for a crimper for insulated terminals that was a cut above the typical ten-dollar crimper-striper-cutter combo tool, which usually hurts my hands as I squeeze hard trying to make a nice tight crimp. I had read that a quality crimp was as good as soldering--sounds good to me, I find soldering a pain. This tool is sturdy and well built. There are no instructions, so you'll need to figure out which way to put in your terminals, what each of the adjustments is for, etc. (See my uploaded images for what I figured out.) The pivot point and shape of the handles does give you good leverage, and is why I chose this tool over similar ones available on Amazon. The ratcheting action lets you pump the handle until the correct crimp pressure is reached and the handle releases. Contrary to the description, the movement of the jaws is NOT parallel--just look at my image with the jaws open. Nevertheless, based on a few test crimps, which is all I have done so far, the tool makes a very nice crimp which takes a very strong pull (with the tail end of the terminal in a vice) to pull apart.
5 of 5 found the following review helpful:
 Easy on hands Sep 29, 2011
By Ro
If you're reading this review, then you're probably not a professional contractor, therefore you're a do-it-yourselfer or a hobbyist.
There are three general families of crimper tools:
1) Economy non-ratcheting
2) Affordable ratcheting
3) Expensive professional
The first family includes those flimsy, stamped-steel all-in-one cutter/stripper/crimper/bolt-slicer devices that you get at Radio Shack for $15 for that odd once-a-year job where you'll be making half a dozen crimps to fix something in the house or to add trailer wiring to the pickup truck. If that's your mission, this Neiko tool is overkill.
At the other end of the spectrum are the $250+ professional tools (example: Sta-Kon ERG4002) which are built to take a beating and be used hundreds of times a day, five days a week in a factory or on the jobsite. E.g., if you install elevators for a living, the ERG4002 is more your type.
The middle family is where this Neiko fits in. It's for the the landlord handyman, for the do-it-yourselfer or for the weekend hobbyist who performs a few dozen crimps at a time, several times a year. These are serious tools, but are priced within reach of someone who doesn't crimp 500 times a week for a living.
They feature a ratcheting mechanism just like the professional tools do. The ratchet ensures the tool won't open until the squeeze is 100% completed and the crimp is secure.
My needs fit into this middle category. Over the years, I have accumulated the Ideal Crimpmaster, Klein T1715 and now this Neiko crimper. As I get older, my grip is not as strong as it once was. The appeal of the Neiko was its long throw - meaning that there's less squeeze pressure required to make a reliable crimp.
The Neiko requires noticeably less squeeze force to complete the crimp than the other two. Of course, the additional leverage comes at a price of needing greater range of motion of the grip handle. But unless you have small hands, the grab is still reasonable. The handle is also the most padded of the three. I had a two-hour job requiring more than 100 crimps and (of the three) this was the tool of choice from a comfort perspective.
For the hobbyist, this is a robust tool, more than enough for home projects. It looks as if it will last 25 years. It also accepts interchangeable dies. The problem is that finding alternative dies on the internet has so far eluded me. Therefore, I'm treating this tool as a dedicated 10-22 AWG crimper like the Klein.
Now the Klein tool is kinda in-between the hobbyist grade and pro-grade. It's an inexpensive tool for the pro who crimps for a living. Yet, it's an expensive tool for the hobbyist. It's indestructible (you'll leave it in your will as will the person you bequeath it to) and has the best handle for anyone using insulated gloves as some electricians must do when working on hot circuits. The Klein is also for someone who prefers a dedicated tool per crimp type. There are no interchangeable dies for this crimper. If you switch from insulated to non-insulated terminals, you need to switch to a different tool. Contractors work this way. Factory workers do, too. Therefore, this tool is clearly designed for that customer set. But it is still cheap enough for the serious hobbyist and do-it-yourselfer, so I used one until the grip pressure became an issue.
The Ideal Crimpmaster is more of a direct competitor to the Neiko. The Ideal has its own advantages. Comparable duty-cycle and quality to the Neiko. Quite a wide variety of interchangeable dies give this tool the "versatility" championship of the three. The dies are easy to find online. The grip pressure is about the same as the Klein, although the handle is more padded. For the apartment building handyman who only makes a couple dozen crimps at a time, but who works with a variety of wire/cable types (12-gauge 120V one day, television coax the next day, plenum ethernet installation another day) the Ideal might be the best solution economically. That said, the dies are not cheap; ranging from $27 to $60 depending upon the application.
If you seek an ultra-cheap ratcheting solution for occasional (but varied) tasks, I found S & G Tool Aid 18920, which includes five dies plus the tool itself for less than $100. I have no experience with that tool. Just mentioning it because (during my research) it was the only one that came with so many dies. The Greenlee K210 kit costs more and comes with three dies. It would be equivalent to purchasing the Ideal Crimpmaster with one die plus the additional dies separately. Actually, if memory serves, I think my Crimpmaster came with two dies: insulated terminals and a hex die for cable television coax.
Summary:
If all you ever expect to crimp are insulated terminals from 10-22 AWG, the Neiko is a fine choice. It is also the most comfortable of the ratcheting crimpers for the money. It's now my favorite.
If you're a handyman who needs versatility from a single crimper, I'd lean towards the Ideal Crimpmaster and then purchase whichever additional dies you need.
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
Well made crimper, Needs a simple diagram of use Oct 27, 2009
By Larry Seeley
I purchased this crimper because I was hoping it would be easier to squeeze off the crimp but found it was no different than others. The unit is good quality and makes good wire connections for the insulated type of terminals. It has adjustment for the crimp compression, and a ratchet release mechanism. The crimp jaw has a right and wrong way to insert the terminal. A simple diagram of proper use would be helpful.
Worth the money. May 11, 2011
By J. Salvo
I really like the crimpers a lot. They are well made and make a very strong connection.
I gave this item 4 stars, I would have given it 5 if they had some more info on where to by additional dies for the tool. The dies are removable, but no one can seem to find where to get them. It also doesn't come with any instructions, so you have to figure out how to use them yourself.
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based on 4 reviews
