12
Jul
The only thing that sets us apart from other animals is that we have the Internet. Oh, that, and the fact that we have fully opposable thumbs that render us capable of using tools. Human civilization really took off with the invention of more an more elaborate tools. Starting with simple cutting tools, building tools, agricultural tools, weapons, all the way to today’s machines, computers, and a whole lot of hand held tools, each with a specific purpose, without which we could not possibly imagine the society we currently live in.
For people that work with wires and cables, cutters, snippers, crimpers, and strippers are some of the indispensable tools of the trade. When you are dealing with wires you need a tool that is both precise, consistent, and reliable. Whether you are working on cars, electrical or network wiring in homes and buildings, or you are making fine jewelry, quality tools are essential.
Using a clipping, stripping, or a crimping tool, has its own separate purpose. Universal tools that can cut, strip and crimp are very common and they offer convenience and versatility. However, if you are planning to do more serious wiring, you will need a dedicated tool for each purpose, since it’s much more efficient and comfortable to handle. Whichever tool you need, make sure it features a handle that has a rounded or contoured ergonomic grip which will allow you to work with it for extended periods of time without any strain on your hands.
A crimping tool needs to effectively form permanent physical bonds between cables and connectors. This type of connection is essential for a system to operate properly and a lot of manufacturers are designing crimping tools for attaching connectors to the most common types of cables. The most typical and practical types of crimping tools are ones that are handheld.
Handheld crimping tools are either designed for a specific type of connectors or they can use interchangeable dies for increased versatility. When you are using interchangeable dies you need to be able to modify the crimper quickly and not compromise the quality while doing so.
As I mentioned before, comfort plays a very important role. With the increasing reports of repetitive stress related injuries, a lot of the companies are focusing on making ergonomic tools. Such features include a round handle that perfectly fits in your hand and a shorter grip diameter for people with smaller hands that also offers more mechanical advantages. Don’t forget to consider the weight of the tool, since it also plays a role in terms of comfort.
Just like any other product, price is often closely related to quality. Depending on the number of features and the materials used to manufacture the tool, prices can range from 30$ up to 500$. People often say that you get what you pay from, but unless you are doing wiring at NASA, I wouldn’t suggest buying the most expensive one since you can get great performance and durability with some of the cheaper models too.
