Crimpin’ ain’t easy (or: best hobbyist crimping tool/system?) - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: ratkins
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 04, 2023, 03:17:29 pm
content: I know this has beendiscussedbeforebut there does not seem to have been a satisfying conclusion, and in any case the answer may have changed since.What is the best all-purpose crimping tool system for hobbyist (non-production) use? I want my crimps to work, so I want a one-shot ratchet mechanism. This disqualifies theEngineerandHozan P707tools which I see recommended sometimes. The official manufacturer tools are out of the question as I’m not made of money, nor do I have the time or inclination tocollect them second hand.One approach would be to spend ~$30 each on four or five of the better-regardedgenericknockoffs. This is my least-favoured option due partly to the questionable quality and longevity of such tools, but also for the amount of space it will take up in my toolbox.Ideally I’d like to buy into an interchangeable die system. TheKnipex 97 33 02“Multicrimp” would be great (I like the tool-less quick-change magazine) and it’s nottooexpensive but it seems there are only five dies available and none of them are suitable forDuPontcrimps (where the tabs should fold around, rather than bite into, the wire insulation.) Has anyone seen third-party dies available in this format?Which leaves theKnipex 97 43 200. It has many more dies available and itseemsthere is even onesuitable for DuPont crimpsin a limited size range (can someone confirm this?) The problem here is that it is hellishly expensive by the time you buy the tool, case and a few dies. (Knipex’s sister brandRennsteigisn’t meaningfully cheaper where I am.) One thing I cannot work out is if any third parties make dies which will fit the Knipex. Do the Rennstieg-branded dies fit the Knipex? If so theRennstieg 624 053 3 0might also work.So: can anyone confirm theKnipex 97 49 24orRennstieg 624 053 3 0(which I couldn’t find on the Rennstieg site, interestingly) die properly crimps DuPont—or if there are compatible dies that will do so for either Knipex system—or point me toward any other options I have missed?

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 04, 2023, 03:29:31 pm
content: For Dupont crimps there is not much choice. 99% of inexpensive crimpers which are claimed to crimp Dupont cannot do it properly because of unsuitable die shape. Out of inexpensive ones you can use IWISS SN-025. IIRC there was another similarly priced crimper but I cannot recall its name. BTW Engineer crimpers you mentioned cannot crimp insulation side of the crimp either.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 04, 2023, 03:53:01 pm
content: Preciva PR-3254 works too. However with such insulation crimp style it can only crimp Dupont. Larger sizes are of usual "B" shape, while IWISS SN-025 has O shape for all 3 sizes so can be also used with KK396 for example. So it's better to have SN-025 besides some more common type crimpers like Multicrimp.

author: ratkins
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 04, 2023, 04:41:55 pm
content: It’s enraging that Knipex don’t simply… make DuPont-compatible dies for the MultiCrimp or 97 43 200? I’m getting antsy because just now it’sdropped below €100 on amazon.deso if I could make it work it’d be the perfect time to pull the trigger.

author: timeandfrequency
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 04, 2023, 04:51:25 pm
content: Hi ratkins,If you do not yet have a crimping tool, theKnipex 97 43 200you allready spotted will allow you to crimp a very large spectrum of connectors. As you stated, it is expensive. But below 100 bucks, it's a bargain.I would say that the most useful dies are the following ones, but it depends on your application :97 49 0597 49 0697 49 0897 49 1097 49 4097 49 44: should also do it for 'Dupont' connectors by using the '0.14-0.25' slot (1)97 49 6697 49 70(1) as you can see at the bottom part of the die, the shape is of dual height, which crimps the wire and the insulator with different strengh, as it should be.As a hobbyist, I use the97 52 05 plierfor over 20 years (of course, not for 'Dupont' connectors), and the result is as good as you can expect from a custom cable manufacturer. Even if you do not notice any difference in the shape of the die, when comparing to a cheap copy, these tools crimp with the highest reliability.I would add that the quality of the crimp also has something to do with the connector itself. Choosing first tier connector manufacturers like Molex, TE,Vogt, ... will undoubtedly lead to better results.I unfortunately don't know if the Knipex dies are compatible with the Rennstieg plier, but I would suggest to give it a try and ask Knipex directely.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 04, 2023, 05:40:46 pm
content: Quote from: timeandfrequency on February 04, 2023, 04:51:25 pmYes, however this die costs 50% more than crimper itself. Making it together with crimper more expensive than Multicrimp with 5 dies included

author: Ian.M
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2023, 08:53:05 am
content: Have you read Tooki's topic:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/affordable-crimp-tools-for-small-connectors-(dupont-etc-)/?You can get many of the dies for the budget ratcheting crimpers from various Aliexpress vendors. However its very hard to find the die used in the TZ-4228B / SN-4228B separately (which you will need for duPont connectors) so probably best to start with that compete tool, and get other dies as you need them. I would suggest having at least two tools as its fairly futile to try to to keep a tool with dies used for ring terminals on 6mm2battery cables tight enough long-term, that dies suitable for JST XH or duPont connectors on <0.1mm2wire still crimp effectively.

author: ratkins
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 05, 2023, 07:53:52 pm
content: It’s the second link in my post.Are you saying that thereisa standard size and shape for the dies, and theoretically I can buy third-party knockoff dies that will fit the Knipex 97 43 200?

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2023, 10:10:48 pm
content: Honestly, used original tools are a better choice than no-name crap. The more I crimp, the less patience I have for el-cheapo nonsense. I think you’re making a grave mistake by ruling out original and used original tooling. With some patience, you can find them for cheap.Of all my crimp tools, the one I keep coming back to for DuPont is an original tool for a different (but physically similar) contact: the AMPMODU MOD IV tool I got a few years back. It’s just fantastic to use. A Mini-PV tool would be even better (since I’m also using more and more real Mini-PV instead of Chinese DuPont; real mini-PV contacts are FAR better, and they’re even harder to crimp in the wrong tooling than the Chinese DuPonts!!).

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2023, 10:13:46 pm
content: Quote from: wraper on February 04, 2023, 03:53:01 pmFYI, while the angled insulation crimp wings MUST be crimped with a circular die, flat insulation wings can be crimped with either m-style, circular, or overlap* crimp dies. I use my MOD IV tool with Molex KK254 (and clone) contacts, which have flat insulation crimps, all the time and the result is beautiful. (See photo; sorry, I don’t have a microscope!)*see most Molex tools from the last few years.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2023, 10:21:41 pm
content: QuoteI've had a selection of various crimp tools and favoured ratchet over non-ratchet. I had a bunch of Molex Picoblade crimps to do and nothing I tried would make a good crimp. So I bit the bullet and bought a Engineer Pad-11 and quickly managed to do perfect crimps.As well as preferring ratchet I also preferred doing wire and insulation in one go, but I've got used to doing them separately now. Sure, it takes a bit longer (though not much once you get into the swing) but it also allows you to use inappropriate cables.I don't think the Engineer suffers from not having a ratchet because you're going to squeeze the dies together completely regardless. It's not like they are 1/4" thick steel crimps - you squeeze and unless you're using one finger the two dies will meet completely.The Engineers aren't cheap, but I recently took the plunge and got a Pad-13 too to replace the larger crimpers.

author: ledtester
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2023, 11:43:44 pm
content: Quote from: ratkins on February 04, 2023, 03:17:29 pmHave you looked at the Molex MTA system?How To: MTA Connectors -- enph twofivethreehttps://youtu.be/TnR3kFSGboQThe official hand tool is only around $40 USD:https://www.molex.com/molex/products/part-detail/application_toolin/0638133504https://www.newark.com/molex/63813-3504/insertion-tool-2-54mm-crimp-rohs/dp/92AJ7706Another possibly informative video comparing MTA with crimp pins:.1" Headers: Crimp vs. IDC (MTA-100) -- joesnoteshttps://youtu.be/uRiZFxZz_7Y

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2023, 12:26:55 am
content: Quote from: tooki on February 05, 2023, 10:10:48 pmI fully agree! And sometimes the original tools are very affordable when bought new. Molex has 'servicegrade' crimpers which typically can be used on several different contacts.

author: sleemanj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2023, 12:49:17 am
content: How many are you doing? If you are doing heaps, then sure, get a fancy ratchet with the correct die style.But if you are like most hobbiests and do a handful now and then, I would stand by my recommendation of the Iwiss 2820 manual pliers which I have made many times before, yes they have the "B" shape die which offends some so, but they work just fine for hobby purposes. I have ratcheting crimpers of the usual chinese variety, but it'a the Iwiss 2820 I reach for every time.Anyway, remember, for a good crimp the wire size is important, both insulation and conductor.

author: profanum429
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2023, 03:37:25 am
content: I've settled on Molex SL as my go-to connector system; it's latching, 2.54mm pitch, through hole, smd, and wire-to-wire options. The only downside is there is no 1x connector, minimum 2. I bought an older style crimper off eBay for about $50 and it's worked like a charm for the last three years.I still keep around a HT-95 and HT-102 crimper that I scavenged off eBay for doing Dupont crimps, but I try to mostly use SL for most things now. I also have an AMPMODU IV crimper for Dupont clones, but I miss having a good locator (at least the AMPMODU crimper I got, the locator is useless for clone Duponts), so I mostly use genuine Duponts now. Locator aside though, the AMPMODU crimper does a fantastic job of crimping.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2023, 01:18:43 pm
content: Quote from: ledtester on February 06, 2023, 11:43:44 pmYour general suggestion is a good one, but you’re confusing things. The Molex KK insulation displacement connectors are discontinued.MTA-100 is similar, but it’s not from Molex, it’s from TE (originally AMP). I’ve used them before and indeed they work well, with inexpensive tooling. I wouldn’t say the end result is quite as robust as a well made crimp, but it’s certainly good.

author: JohanH
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2023, 01:24:04 pm
content: I use IWS-3220M for Dupont and JST-XH. If it's the correct one, I don't know, but result looks and feels good.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2023, 01:28:06 pm
content: Quote from: sleemanj on February 07, 2023, 12:49:17 amIt’s not “offensive”, it’s a functional problem. The mangled insulation wings make it harder and unreliable to insert into the housings.We advise against doing that because it causes problems, not because of aesthetics or emotions, as you imply.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 07, 2023, 01:28:55 pm
content: Quote from: JohanH on February 07, 2023, 01:24:04 pmFor sure it's not correct for Dupont and insulation crimp cannot look good because it will be mangled like crimp on the left, not wrapped around the insulation.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2023, 01:30:02 pm
content: Quote from: JohanH on February 07, 2023, 01:24:04 pmI have that tool. Not correct for DuPont (though less bad than the SN-28B that’s usually sold as a DuPont crimper), but quite decent for XH. I use that exact tool for XH myself.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2023, 01:33:06 pm
content: Quote from: profanum429 on February 07, 2023, 03:37:25 amHow do the HT-95 and HT-102 do on DuPont clones?And what are the factors for preferring Molex SL (which I am familiar with but have never used myself) over genuine Mini-PV?I mostly use JST XH and Molex KK254 on new projects.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 07, 2023, 01:38:37 pm
content: Quote from: ledtester on February 06, 2023, 11:43:44 pmI would never use MTA-100 for my own projects. It's unreliable garbage IME. Over time whey lose contact with wire also wire can be pulled out way too easily.

author: timeandfrequency
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2023, 01:43:16 pm
content: Hi PlainName,Quote from: PlainName on February 06, 2023, 10:21:41 pmYou are right : the Engineer crimping pliers does not feature a dual height die, and therefore, crimping a connector become a two step task (first crimp the wire then the insulator). The connector has to be positionned precisely twice inside the die.For one or two connectors, it's OK, but I found it quickly boring when I have a bunch of them to crimp.

author: mcovington
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2023, 01:23:35 am
content: I mostly use generic DuPont-style connectors such as the ones from Jameco.Like others here, I've found the IWiss SN-025 much better than other inexpensive crimpers. It is similar to their SN-28B but handles the insulation side better, wrapping around it in a circle rather than indenting it. I have not had any trouble getting good crimps.I also have an AMP 90430, designed for "High Density DF" but capable of crimping these DuPont-style connectors. Advantage: When it works, it works beautifully. Besides the two dies, there is a blade that holds the connector in place. Disadvantage: You cannot release the ratchet once it has started to engage. So if a connector has gotten stuck off-center in it, you have no choice but to complete the crimp and end up with a mangled connector. Also, it only fits one exact size of connector. And there is a high (5%) chance of accidentally ruining a connector and having to start over.Advantages of the SN-025: There is a ratchet release; you can see what you're doing; and with some care, other sizes of connectors can be crimped, such as JST-style (shorter) (although the IWiss SN-01 is better for these, and I have it).Basically, for me, it's a 100% chance of getting 95% of the quality, versus a 95% chance of getting better quality and also taking more time. Under the microscope, the IWiss crimps look good, though not quite as neat as those done with the AMP tool.

author: profanum429
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2023, 02:51:11 am
content: Quote from: tooki on February 07, 2023, 01:33:06 pmThe HT tools work on the clones, but you have to adjust the locators. I like to keep them for genuine ones only though as the HT crimpers do not have an unlock feature, so once you're crimping you are committed and while it's difficult, you can break a die if the contact isn't inserted all the way.I ended up on the SL because I really like that they have a latching option and the contacts and housings are not too onerous on price. The tooling is also pretty easy to find and works well and is fairly cheap. I can also use them with other 2.54mm families, as long as I'm not looking for a 1x1 connector.For Dupont clones, in my opinion, the holy grail is a Harwin Z20-320. The locator on it is magnificent and it crimps Dupont clones perfectly every time. I have one at work and it's pretty fantastic, I'd love to find a personal one but they always go for a decent chunk of money, pretty close to retail prices.

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2023, 02:53:44 am
content: Quotehttps://www.amazon.com/Engineer-PAD-11-Precision-Crimping-Interchangeable/dp/B00IWD9XT6?th=1Multiple die plates for all kinds of stuff.

author: JohanH
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2023, 07:44:27 am
content: Quote from: wraper on February 07, 2023, 01:28:55 pmQuote from: tooki on February 07, 2023, 01:30:02 pmI stand corrected. I have mostly crimped JST-XH connectors with the IWS-3220M. Well then, looks like I need another tool for Dupont (eyeing the IWiss SN-025), although I don't use Dupont that often.

author: ratkins
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 09, 2023, 09:01:33 am
content: Quote from: ledtester on February 06, 2023, 11:43:44 pmAh, sorry, I wasn’t clear—I think I meant to say more of a crimptoolsystem—I want to buy one really nice tool now, for which I can get dies for potentially anything I want to do as a hobbyist in the future. In fact the proximate cause of thinking about this now is needing to do a few dozen butt splice connectors. I anticipate I’ll need to do other things in the future though, and I don’t want to end up acquiring half a dozen sub-par hand tools.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 09, 2023, 11:49:57 am
content: QuoteThat's pretty much why I settled on the Engineer - most dies don't work on other contacts because the front or back is the wrong size, so you have perfectly good tools that would do have the job. With the single action tools you can use them for front and back, just not at the same time, and that means you can mix and match.But, as someone pointed out above, it depends on the volume of what you do. For a handful of splices, doing them twice isn't that much of a deal breaker. If you were running off a hundred it would be a serious issue.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 09, 2023, 02:38:15 pm
content: Quote from: ratkins on February 09, 2023, 09:01:33 amWhether this goal is achievable depends entirely on what kinds of connectors you end up using. For the most part, interchangeable-die tools are for larger terminals, not the small (and ever smaller!) ones we use in low voltage electronics.You see this issue in the Knipex in your original post, you see it in other high quality interchangeable-die tools likePressmaster MCT, and, frankly, basically every such system I’ve seen so far. They invariably seem designed for electricians, not for electronics work.In fact, the Knipex system is probably already the “best” such thing, and even so, D-sub are basically the smallest it supports.Even among the Chinese tools, where parts are often available, you can find the dies for most of the tools — but not for the smallest contacts (SN-01, for example). Those are only ever sold assembled into the tool.So while I totally understand your desire (and frankly, wish it existed!), I don’t think it’s a realistic goal. If you want good crimps, you will eventually end up collecting expensive tools. Especially with small contacts, the locator (positioner) becomes more and more important, because positioning the connector accurately into the die simultaneously becomes more important, but harder to do, as the contacts get smaller. Some contacts, like genuine Mini-PV, are surprisingly difficult to crimp by handholding the contact. Cheap tools don’t have any locators at all, which makes crimping slower and much more error-prone. The downside to locators is that they make the crimp toolextremelyspecific. I am convinced that many of the dedicated tools sold by the connector makers actually use the same dies, just with a different locator attached.Some advice: find some favorite connector types and try to use those as much as possible, with as optimal tools as possible.* When you can’t, choose connectors where you can buy precrimped leads — for something you’re only doing once, it’ll be cheaper to pay (for example) $2 each for 20 precrimped leads than to spend $500 on the tool, plus 40x $0.30 for the contacts (plus an extra 10 for practice), plus the wire, plus your time — or to spend 4 x $25 trying to find a cheap tool that works, plus dozens of dozens of wasted contacts for experimentation, plus hours and hours of research to find the tools to begin with and try to make them work.*For example, I use JST XH a lot, and have considered spending the $300 to get the real JST tool, because it’s so much easier to use.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 09, 2023, 03:44:17 pm
content: QuoteFor the very tiny I snip the section out of the bandolier that holds the crimp, then use that as a tab for holding the crimp in place. Afterwards, a couple of waggles and it breaks off.Using that method, you can pre-load the crimp with the stripped wire, hold the wire in place against the tab, and then place the lot en bloc into the tool.

author: bluey
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 20, 2024, 09:20:19 pm
content: I have a Knipex (97 43 200 A) which I picked up from Conrad for about 85 euros a few years ago. Dies are still a killer price for hobby work. As it is the dies are not quite the correct dimensions for the TE spade terminals I am using it on - functional but not neat.https://www.conrad.com/en/p/knipex-knipex-97-43-200-a-crimper-w-o-crimp-inset-825494.html(When you log in outside EU; the VAT comes off.)Rennsteig appears to be the tool designer. PEW 12 (624 000 3) has a ridiculously huge range of dies (about 90 dies and locators), multiples more than Knipex. I have noticed lots of German companies appear to rebrand their products for other manufacturers. Rennsteig makes a chrome plated version.https://www.rennsteig.com/en/products/detail/6240003.htmlToday I've been looking to see if I can find cheap dies from China that might be from a knock-off manufacturer.FSE VSB- looks like a knock-off of the Knipex/Rennsteig tool. I got a ferrule crimper by the same manufacturer (FSE says Vasung Tools on the box) and am impressed by the quality of it, including attention to detail in the packaging - way better than Knipex whose simple cardboard boxes fall apart in shipping. Hopefully the dies will be near enough - if not perfect, then I can reengineer them a bit to fit.https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005922461930.html(Still looking for an official/factory store, as I have better luck with those in the AliEpress wild east.)BTW, if people want JST and tools, I suspect can be bought from Misumi, who is offering 50% off for new users (need ABN and proof of business operations). Have got parts for my hobby mill CNC conversion from Misumi.I have some small molex board-in connectors for a project. They are very small and look similar to the JST XH with 2.5mm pitch. They crimp perfectly well with the Knipex.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 21, 2024, 10:30:26 am
content: Knipex bought Rennsteig back in 1991, which is why their product portfolios overlap quite a bit.Dies are precisely where the Chinese fail. I’d expect better performance using German/Swedish/American/Japanese dies in a Chinese handle than vice versa. The dies are absolutely critical to crimp performance, requiring far more precision than people realize. Most Chinese dies are simple die castings with no further machining. Some are so bad one might suspect they were made with sand casting. Better Chinese dies are made by wire EDM, which is reasonably precise, but leaves a rough surface that causes issues of its own.Top quality crimp dies, which I have never seen from a Chinese manufacturer, have a mirror finish inside, so that terminals glide across the surface and don’t stick. I have the Knipex at work, with several dies. Some of them are fine, but one (for spade terminals) needed improvement of the internal surface by careful sanding with fine sandpaper. I’d still like to polish it further. (The Knipex dies are still fairly cheap compared to the true big-name crimp tool manufacturers like Pressmaster, Daniels, and WEZAG.)

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 21, 2024, 04:32:57 pm
content: Quote from: bluey on April 20, 2024, 09:20:19 pmI don’t see anything about 50% off, but they do carry some JST connectors. However, as best I can tell, they don’t have original JST tools, but rather their own brand of crimp tool for them, which are basic tools without contact locators. Given that you can get original JST tools, with locators, for about 50 euros more on Reichelt (which also sells to consumers) you’d have to be a fool to buy their no-name tool.Also, hilariously, on the UK Misumi site, they list TE’s CertiCrimp III tool as “Thirty Crimp III”.

author: bluey
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 23, 2024, 06:09:06 am
content: Quote from: tooki on April 21, 2024, 04:32:57 pmAt least Misumi singapore has 50% for new users, for about the last year.https://sg.misumi-ec.com/I used to get lots of stuff from Monotaro.sg, until they pulled the plug. Now only from monotaro in Japan via my Tenso mailbox.19 JST tools under this listing: (site navigation is a bit quirky but good for mechanical parts)https://sg.misumi-ec.com/vona2/detail/222000499301/Everything JSThttps://sg.misumi-ec.com/vona2/maker/jst/?searchFlow=results2maker&KWSearch=jst%20crimpOne of the aliexpress sellers described that their dies were hand polished and not to complain that they looked "used". Can't find them now but maybe they would be a better source for cheap dies that work. Polishing wheel on a bench grinder would do a better job than fine sandpaper.This listing has a few dies labelled "precision EDM" which look very well made and well polished on the sliding side and listed for JST, dupont, Molex, etc. (More photos in user reviews)https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001499604399.html

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 26, 2024, 12:10:04 pm
content: OK, I see why I didn’t find the original JST tools on Misumi: apparently, they’re “general purpose tools” and not the “dedicated tools” category I naively looked in…(So far, I’ve found at least three categories which contain subcategories with crimp tools. What an awful, awful website, with respect to taxonomy.)Anyhow, their prices for the tools are not low, so at 50% they’d be good prices, but not at full price.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 26, 2024, 12:36:40 pm
content: Quote from: bluey on April 23, 2024, 06:09:06 amDo you have any experience with top-tier crimp tools? I get the impression that you don’t, because it doesn’t sound like you know what to look for.Those AliExpress dies look fairly ordinary (perhaps on the better side of average for el-cheapo Chinese), but nowhere near that of top quality tools.Wire EDM leaves a rough finish — unless you go back and do further passes to refine the surface, which adds tons of processing time. Do you think the AliExpress manufacturers are doing that? Of course not. Unfortunately, even if that rough EDM is dimensionally accurate, the rough finish prevents the contacts from sliding into the die properly, which causes the crimp to distort, as well as taking more hand force to do.Meanwhile, polishing on a buffing wheel would buff down the precise geometry that a good crimp die needs. Remember, we are talking tolerances of a few 1/100mm on small connectors like JST. That’s more than the surface roughness of the EDM rough cut! So grinding and then buffing that out that would ruin dimensional accuracy.The upshot is that whether a set of cheap dies works well is a crapshoot, as they’re simply not manufacturing them to tolerances small enough to guarantee a decent result. Some end up working well, others are awful. This requires precision manufacturing and discipline, not hand-polishing to give a veneer of quality.

author: watchmaker
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 28, 2024, 12:44:51 pm
content: Is IWISS getting better? Look at the polish.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2024, 06:28:16 pm
content: Quote from: watchmaker on April 28, 2024, 12:44:51 pmIs that intended to be an example of a good tool?It may be the best the Chinese have to offer, and it’s serviceable, but it’s not great. It’s shiny, but it’s not smooth.It’s hard as heck to photograph my good tools, because it’s literally trying to photograph a mirror, but see the attached photos. What you see in the photos is the dust, marring from use, and in one case even a bit of rust. (I already locked up the storage at work, so I’ll oil it tomorrow.)Images 3185, 3186, and iPhone-through-a-microscope 7069 are of an AMP 169481-1 tool for AMPMODU MOD IV, 3187 is of a Molex 63819-0000 for Micro-Fit 3.0. Note for scale that both of those tools’ total jaw widths are significantly smaller than on the IWISS shown: 22mm on the Molex, 17mm on the AMP. The largest crimp wells on those tools are about the same as the smallest on the IWISS.

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2024, 06:48:08 pm
content: What is the deal with the IWISS tools having removable dies, but they don't sell the crimp pin dies separate from the ratchets? I can only find complete single ratchet + single die packages, or the multiple dies but only one is crimp pin die...What am I missing?

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2024, 07:06:01 pm
content: Quote from: Smokey on April 29, 2024, 06:48:08 pmI’m not 100% sure what you are asking, since it sounds like you’re using the phrase “crimp pin die” to mean something specific, but I don’t know what you mean by that — all the dies are for crimp terminals.What I can say is that in general, except in systems explicitly designed to have interchangeable dies, you can’t count on them being standardized, even within the same manufacturer. There are often little tweaks to the dies and/or handle, for whatever reason.One thing I strongly suspect that original tool makers do is to tweak the position of the first click on the ratcheting mechanism, so that the first click is precisely the correct force to hold the contact in place while you insert the wire.It is conceivable that there are other (non-geometric) changes made to the handles, for example a different range of crimp force setting.And this isn’t just iwiss: I have never found any vendor selling the thin dies for SN-01B tools, for example.

author: jfiresto
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2024, 07:09:36 pm
content: Quote from: tooki on April 29, 2024, 06:28:16 pmTomorrow, I will see if I can get a sharper replacement for image 7069.

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2024, 01:47:18 am
content: Quote from: tooki on April 29, 2024, 07:06:01 pmFrom the aliexpress link above, these are the dies that work with that crimper:There are 7 dies listed.06 and 02C I would refer to as "Terminal Crimping Dies"06WF and 16WF I would refer to as "Ferrule Crimping Dies"And...... The top three.... I would call.... "Crimp Pin Crimping Dies". The thing you are crimping is a... connector pin. So not a terminal or a ferrule.

author: jfiresto
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2024, 12:44:27 pm
content: Attached is a photo of a MOD IV die at ca. 9X. My gooseneck lamps were a bit too big to skirt all of the shiny surfaces.

author: mcjeff93
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 30, 2024, 06:19:09 pm
content: Thanks for the useful info.

author: mcjeff93
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 30, 2024, 06:21:19 pm
content: It's nice reading through the important details.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2024, 08:05:11 pm
content: Quote from: jfiresto on April 30, 2024, 12:44:27 pmNice photo!Which model # is that crimper? (I can tell it’s a different model from mine.)

author: aeberbach
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2024, 10:23:41 pm
content: It's strange that Aliexpress seems to have no crimpers with round crimp jaws. That's one way the Engineer PA-24https://www.engineertools-jp.com/pa24stands out. It's not ratcheting, it is slow, but it does do the wrap-around on the insulation correctly.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2024, 11:11:21 pm
content: Quote from: aeberbach on April 30, 2024, 10:23:41 pmThere are a few. The SN-025 mentioned in the original post is one, but there are a few others too. However, so far they all seem to still not be ideal for DuPont, in that the crimps tend to be a bit big.

author: jfiresto
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 01, 2024, 05:47:15 am
content: Quote from: tooki on April 30, 2024, 08:05:11 pmThanks. It is a Tyco/AMP Pro-Crimper from 2003. Thecurrent productionis more colorful.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2024, 12:26:21 pm
content: Quote from: jfiresto on May 01, 2024, 05:47:15 amWhere was that tool manufactured? I’m curious as to who actually manufactured it.

author: jfiresto
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2024, 12:46:55 pm
content: The crimper has AMP embossed on the handle along with MADE IN U.S.A.

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2024, 11:14:47 pm
content: I recently picked up an iCrimp SN-2549. It does significantly better crimps on DTM 1062-20-0122 pins (both wire and insulation crimp in one go) than my old crimpers.I've never used the official crimper for these pins, but I'm happy with these crimps from the iCrimp.Only complaint, and this is true with like all these type of pins and crimpers I've used, is that the wings of the crimp pin don't fit straight in the dies unless you pre-compress them a little so they are about parallel with the die opening walls.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 23, 2024, 08:05:14 am
content: Quote from: Smokey on May 22, 2024, 11:14:47 pmNot surprising, since that tool has the wrong die shape for those contacts: just like DuPont, those have the angled offset insulation wings that need a circular insulation crimp.

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 23, 2024, 07:32:12 pm
content: Quote from: tooki on May 23, 2024, 08:05:14 amThe iCrimp bends the ends of the insulation side in so they pierce the middle of the insulation in the middle of the wire. It looks and feels pretty solid, and the crimp pin does not appear to be distorted in weird ways that would keep it from being inserted. I'm not sure if this is "correct" but it looks "close enough".

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 24, 2024, 10:34:30 am
content: Quote from: Smokey on May 23, 2024, 07:32:12 pmIt’s definitely not correct. The angled offset wings are to produce a circular insulation crimp that hugs the insulation 360 degrees without poking into it whatsoever. When crimped into the m-shaped crimp, the long, sharp points get driven deep into the insulation, weakening it, reducing the effectiveness of the strain relief.If you look at contacts designed for m-shaped insulation crimps, the wings are almost always squared off and symmetrical, and when crimped with the official tooling, either penetrate the insulation only slightly, or in some, actually curl up so that the insulation isn’t pierced at all.Regardless, if the crimped terminal doesn’t fit into the housing, then it clearly has the wrong crimp dimensions. (For some reason, Chinese crimpers seem to usually veer on the side of making flat, wide crimps, rather than the more squarish crimps made by a lot of official tooling.)

author: wifikebab
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2025, 09:12:53 pm
content: Quote from: tooki on February 05, 2023, 10:10:48 pmDoes anyone know what those tiny wings are right before the conductor crimp section of the male 2.54mm dupont connector is? I noticed they get crimped down when I use my AMP 90202-2-N. On the female version of the connector they are not individual tabs, but I do think they get crimped a little bit which might prevent a pin from going through all the way, was this your experience? I haven't had a correct size pin to test it with since I just got it recently.I can't find any mention of what that area of the crimp is online or if it's supposed to be crimped or not. Also, has anyone used a hozan p-707? What areas of the die have you used to crimp dupont terminals? Thank you for your time.This is a great resource online, appreciate it.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2025, 06:01:05 pm
content: Hi wifikebab,Any chance you could post a picture of them?I suspect what you’re thinking of are some kind of stabilizers that help to keep the contact properly positioned in the connector housing.

author: wifikebab
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 08, 2025, 08:27:42 am
content: Quote from: tooki on July 03, 2025, 06:01:05 pmh! Yes, that's what it's crimping, it's the anti-rotation tabs. I got the two topics confused and posted there thinking the comment got deleted or something.They aren't separated tabs on the female version of the connector but get crimped all the same and can prevent insertion of a male connector fully or pin. Do you have any suggestions for lifting these tabs such as a razor blade or some other tool?Also, I picked up a Hozan P-707 and I can't figure out which die size should be used for the conductor side of the connector, any suggestions? I emailed them but they didn't knowAppreciate your time, thank you in advance.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 08, 2025, 04:50:36 pm
content: You’ll need to take much closer pictures; no detail is visible in those. With that said: can you take one of the female contacts and carefully (use calipers if possible) measure the overall length of the contact? I had similar troubles with some batch of “DuPont” contacts from eBay. There are several variants, and the shorter ones (I think they were maybe 9-10mm long?) had some problem like this. I think they’re the ones intended for very thin wires. The longer ones are about 12mm, and have no interference when crimped. But also, if just the anti-rotation wings get crimped, but the actual socket area itself is untouched, it should still work fine; not all DuPont contacts even have the anti-rotation wings.As for which cavity to use in your Hozan:The Knipex crimper I have at work is intended for D-sub contacts, but which I use for DuPont-style contacts (specifically, Harwin M20, which is what the Farnell parts suggested in the other thread are suspected to be), and its conductor crimp dimensions are approximately 1.45mm width and 0.7mm height.With my AMPMODU MOD IV crimper (169481-1), the dimensions are 1.43mm width and 0.73mm height in the 20-24AWG cavity. In the 26AWG cavity, the width is 1.40mm and the height is 0.55mm. And in the 28-32AWG cavity, the width is about 0.85mm and the height about 0.42mm.In my cheap Lidl crimpers (which IMHO are the best low-cost DuPont crimpers I’ve tried), the width is about 1.66mm, and the height is about 0.7mm.So I’d probably try the 1.7L and 1.4L cavities in the Hozan and see which works best. For 20 and 22AWG almost certainly the 1.7L, and for 26 AWG and thinner the 1.4L, but 24AWG you’ll probably best determine by testing.

author: wifikebab
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 08, 2025, 08:05:12 pm
content: Quote from: tooki on July 08, 2025, 04:50:36 pmI'll be dipped! You're right, I've stood the contacts up next to each other and the gold female one is taller!!! Just tested a crimp and it's perfect! Have you got any leads on a male version of this contact you suggested of similar quality?Also, your suggestions for the die on the Hozan P-707 were pretty good, 1.7 and 1.4 seem to get the job done. That said, the Amp 90202 did a far better job, that said, with a bit of practice on the amount of pressure I'm applying on the compound action it will probably come out better, especially if I try the gold ones you mentioned on it.I picked up a cheapo kit of dupont housings and connectors off of ali... sadly the tin ones I got from moddiy are only slightly better quality than the kit and are the short version, I happened to buy a 100 of the gold ones from Moddiy at the time and those are the correct sizing to work with the amp 90202. I had male connectors connectors coming but the order was incorrect, so I'm waiting on them. I looked at the photos of the female one you mentioned and they seem identical to the gold ones I got from moddiy on a lark. I will just get them from the place you mentioned in the future, seems like a better deal.Besides the largness of the tool I really am fond of the AMP 90202, it's got a bit of rust, but, I've oiled and cleaned it the best I can and I think it has a good home here.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 08, 2025, 09:41:06 pm
content: While I’ve had no trouble whatsoever with AliExpress DuPont housings, the quality of the contacts is… all over the place. Harwin M20 contacts are decent, basically on par with the very best from AliExpress, but entirely predictable and still not very expensive. I use these in real projects just fine. But they aren’t designed for the high mating cycles needed for test leads, and for those I’ve been switching to better options, like real Mini-PV (the absolute gold standard).

author: M4dMike
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: July 08, 2025, 11:11:07 pm
content: Since Tooki linked to Matt Millman's blog in 2020, an awesome piece of work, in a comment from 2023, someone specifically mentioned this tool from Rennsteig, which appears to be made specifically for Mini PV and is currently on sale here:https://www.mattmillman.com/info/crimpconnectors/dupont-and-dupont-connectors/#comment-109587https://www.erschwinglichwerkzeug.com/produkt/rennsteig-616-006-3-1-crimpzange-pew-6-awg-26-22/Personally, for house and machine wiring or high-current applications, I’ve settled on Knipex and Klauke. But for electronics projects with low voltage and low current, I’m satisfied with my IWISS SN-3220M, SN-48B, and even the PL2100, which I bought with matching sets of contacts. At the moment, I’m still tolerating the bad crimp on the Dupont insulation.A friend of mine has the Preciva tool with jaws that better match the round part of Dupont insulation crimps, and he really likes it.If you want to try the IWISS pliers with interchangeable jaws, they also offer a quick-change version. However, like Knipex, the selection is limited mostly to larger or more robust contacts. The jaws for smaller contacts are also interchangeable, but require screws to change.In their official shop, you don’t have to worry about cheaper (lol, quality-wise) clones, and you can choose between sets with a bag or individual jaws:https://www.icrimptools.com/collections/terminal-crimping-tool/products/sn-2549-sn-28b-sn-48b-sn-58b-terminal-crimping-tool-crimper-with-replaceable-jaws-sn-series-for-different-size?variant=43150487027873

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 09, 2025, 10:14:41 pm
content: Quote from: M4dMike on July 08, 2025, 11:11:07 pmThat online shop, where every single item has a roughly 75% discount, and for which there are no store reviews at all, reeks of a scam to me. The footer mentions a “Kleopatra Markt”, and googling that finds an online clothing shop with a terrible trustpilot score (2.4 out of 5), and which appears to operate scores of topic-specific online stores that people report to be fake.That tool would be a steal at 75 euros, and even at the usual 350-400 it’s the cheapest high-quality tool made specifically for mini-PV. But it’s squarely outside the “budget” category.

author: M4dMike
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: July 10, 2025, 02:06:29 pm
content: Quote from: tooki on July 09, 2025, 10:14:41 pmSry didnt notice that since i have no interrest in buying it myself actually, thanks for pointing it out!(Also no Impressum)

author: jfiresto
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 10, 2025, 04:11:09 pm
content: Quote from: tooki on July 09, 2025, 10:14:41 pmThe contact address for the shop and the "Kleopatra Markt" share a gmail address – reported byscamwatcher.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 10, 2025, 08:20:07 pm
content: Quote from: jfiresto on July 10, 2025, 04:11:09 pmYup. I already stated it’s one big scam operation.

author: jfiresto
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 11, 2025, 06:09:07 am
content: I just thought it was just a little funny how adding the trappings of a legitimate commerce site, including a contact address, could easily reveal it was a scam.

author: wifikebab
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 30, 2025, 08:20:21 pm
content: Does anyone have a line on some reasonably priced gold molex mini-fit jr male & female type crimps 16 AWG (long wings) and 18-24 AWG gold or bronze?? I think I saw molex wanted 40 cents per crimpI have noticed that the generics I got from moddiy are not the same as alleged to be used in my seasonic power supply and they are much more difficult to de-pin, also needing the wings spread out again because they get compressed by the de-pin tool.I do happen to have a molex 63819-0900H that will take care of all the wiring ranges, the one tool I stretched for since it's for the 24 pin power and will have cold/heat cycles.Thank you for your time.

author: shabaz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2025, 02:25:37 am
content: Are you sure you need gold-plated? If it's a one-off power supply you're connecting up then the cost might be in the noise compared to the work time. Otherwise, it's worth considering if standard tin plating might be fine for the power supply, unless it's for automotive or corrosion likely environment. The standard non-gold plated crimps are a tenth of the price you mention. Also, I would buy them from a distributor, the non-gold ones are so low cost it's not worth the risk accidentally buying fakes which might not make as good contact.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2025, 10:53:45 am
content: Quote from: wifikebab on July 30, 2025, 08:20:21 pmOver time, I’ve come to increasingly see the value in not skimping on connectors. Unless you’re manufacturing things for sale, the cost of contacts is not that big in the grand scheme of things.At a quantity of 100, the cost of genuine gold-plated Mini-Fit Jr. contacts varies from around 23-65¢ on Digikey. It depends on a few factors, including base material (phosphor bronze costs more than brass) and form (strip is cheaper than loose). Compared to the value of your time, and of the equipment you wouldn’t want damaged due to connector failure, the cost of genuine contacts is peanuts, and is money well spent.One thing you could consider is whether a mating-compatible competitor product (IIRC, that’s TE Mini Universal Mate-n-Lok, and Amphenol Minitek Power 4.2, and various no-name clones) is any cheaper. However, I would not recommend, without rigorous testing, using one brand of contacts inside a different brand of housing. And of course there’s no guarantee that another brand’s contacts work properly in your crimper.Also, don’t use gold unless you have to: you should simply match whatever contact plating you’re mating with. What youdon’twant to do is mate tin to gold, like mating gold crimp contacts to a tin-plated header.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2025, 09:56:13 pm
content: Quote from: tooki on August 01, 2025, 10:53:45 amIts OK unless you are in a high humidity or high vibration environment.But I agree its poor choice to choose the more expensive option (gold) when the PC power supply is probably using tin plate connectors on its end, and the motherboard is almost certainly using tin.Some high end seasonic photos I can find, the cable pins appear to be gold:https://acf.geeknetic.es/imgw/imagenes/Tutoriales/2021/2408-seasonic-prime-tx-1600/2408-seasonic-prime-tx-1600-19.jpg?f=webp&s=bBut the connectors look like tin:https://acf.geeknetic.es/imgw/imagenes/Tutoriales/2021/2408-seasonic-prime-tx-1600/2408-seasonic-prime-tx-1600-5.jpg?f=webp&s=bModdiy link:https://www.moddiy.com/products/1321/Gold-Plated-ATX-PCI-EPS-Connector-Pins-Female.html

author: wifikebab
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 18, 2025, 11:12:15 pm
content: Quote from: thm_w on August 01, 2025, 09:56:13 pmThe seasonic cable is why I thought this was okay. (The pins you linked too are the ones I used.)I thought the gold would make it less likely to cause corrosion along with something I thought I read on matt's blog about springing for gold, I must've misinterpreted it.You're telling me that the tin headers on the motherboard are going to corrode *faster* because I'm using gold flashed contacts? The same for the dupont situation, probably worse, they're probably brass flashed with gold.I should've read and re-read your comments, because they didn't sink in until I checked back here and I thought to google after wondering about the brass gold flashed dupont connectors from Moddiy.Oh well, I guess I'll get proper tin contacts from the real deal, that said, the nylon mini-fit jr 24 pin connector wouldn't fit in my computer's black one, so hopefully they will fit into the generic housings I have at least.Thanks for your time

author: maralb
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2025, 01:44:35 pm
content: It ain't easy to find the right crimping tool...In some vintage amusement games AMP 640136 series card edge connectors were used together with AMP 350011-x terminals. These seems to be superseded by AMP 61668-x terminals. Pitch is 3.96mm / 0.156"Does anyone know which tool AMP provided at the time to crimp these terminals? Probably some IWiss crimping tools will work as well but I would like to obtain an original tool.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2025, 10:17:35 am
content: Quote from: maralb on August 21, 2025, 01:44:35 pmIt isn’t always easy. But this case was. Writing this reply took significantly longer.I googled “AMP 350011”. The first result was the product page on TE’s website for the350011-2. And right on that page, I scrolled down to the “Compatible Parts” section, where the first thing listed is the crimp tool for them:91597-1.If you only look for 30 seconds, that’s all you find out. (And if you’re ok with spending $1500 on a premium tool, there’s no need to look further!)Where it gets more interesting is that the same exact contacts appear to exist under another part number,61668. The drawings for them are absolutely identical. But the 61668 product page lists not only the expensive premium 91597-1 crimper, but also the much cheaper “commercial grade”58614-1crimper.The oldapplication specification 114-1015for the contacts actually lists a whole bunch of other contacts, too. It lists 61668 and 350011 contacts lumped together with identical crimp specs, and specifies the 90123-2 crimp tool for normal insulation, and 90123-5 for wire with thin insulation. That obsolete tool is likely the original hand tool for them, and it seems to be readily available used for cheap. Its instructions indicate it was intended for Mate-N-Lok contacts. So any tool designed for Mate-N-Lok contacts is also likely to work.

author: maralb
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2025, 02:42:11 pm
content: Quote from: tooki on August 22, 2025, 10:17:35 amReading this "sharp" answer made me realize I wasn't 100% clear in my question and I didn't provide all the info. Fortunately my brain functions are still sufficient to Google (or Duck in my case) for the mentioned part numbers and I also did find the same info you did in 30 seconds or maybe a minute. And I do not want to spend the $$$ for the modern tools AMP are selling nowadays.At EBay there are many used original AMP crimping tools offered for not too much money and I was targetting one of those but I couldn't find an AMP part number for an earlier itteration of the modern and expensive crimping tools.What I also couldn't find and where I was looking for is the old application specification 114-1015 you found which specifies a few part numbers for earlier crimping tools. Thanks a lot for that! And I am sorry for wasting some of your time. I will be more clear next time.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 28, 2025, 07:20:40 am
content: Quote from: maralb on August 22, 2025, 02:42:11 pmNo worries. Glad I was able to help!Did you find an old tool to buy?

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 28, 2025, 11:04:02 pm
content: Quote from: wifikebab on August 18, 2025, 11:12:15 pmFor your application it doesn't matter, its going to be fine.

author: maralb
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2025, 04:36:12 pm
content: Quote from: tooki on August 28, 2025, 07:20:40 amI managed to find a (hopefully) decent AMP90123-2 crimpingtool on EBay which is right now on its way to me. Another addition to my crimping tools collection... Thanks again