Favorite Network Termination Tools

EZ-RJ45 is best thing since sliced bread! In addition to speed and accuracy, it's neater if you twist strands into one before crimping.

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Undisclosed #3

IPVMU Certified

...it's neater if you twist strands into one before crimping.

Do you need to crimp stranded wire often?

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Undisclosed End User #1

In reply to Undisclosed #3

No, I should have said conductors. Rarely, I do use stranded for patch cables, but most of the time it's more cost effective to buy various sized patch cables.

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Justin Gant

7PiXL

Is it really that difficult to do a proper RJ45 crimp? Every EZ RJ45 I've run into is terminated poorly with copper not being cut flush.

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Kyle Folger

IPVMU Certified

In reply to Justin Gant

No, it's really easy to do a normal crimp. I tried the EZ-RJ45 and always felt like it was a hack way crimping for those that don't know how to crimp normally. Although I have seen hundreds of bad crimps done by those that obviously didn't have a clue. I do like the EZ-RJ45 tool but I use it with normal 8P8C connectors. I've had it for years and still works well. It takes little pressure to complete the crimp.

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Undisclosed #3

IPVMU Certified

In reply to Justin Gant

Is it really that difficult to do a proper RJ45 crimp?

Well there are some specialty applications that only the EZ can handle ;)

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Michael Miller

In reply to Justin Gant

Been using EZ-J45 for many years with many thousands of ends in the field without issue. Long as your tool is setup correctly and the cutting edge is sharp there are no issues with them.

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Undisclosed Distributor #4

Do you have training wheels on your bicycle too?

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Rob Dunham

•Oct 09, 2017

Tailored IT Solutions

The EZ-RJ45's produce a subpar termination and the boot is typically very loose. On top of the that, the plastic is cheap and prone to breaking during use.

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Undisclosed End User #1

Gem Electronics by Triplett Crimp Tool for High-Speed, Pass-Thru RJ45 | Triplett Test Tools & Equipment

I also have a GEM Pass Through RJ45 crimper that the original owner of GEM gave to me along with many HD-Analog Baluns and Power splitters when he was pitching his product line. Been very happy with all his tools and equipment that he provided. Here is link to crimper:

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Luis Carmona

Geutebruck USA • IPVMU Certified

"Doesn't make any difference!"

Maybe if you don't use the tools everyday. But when I was a bench tech and wire puller, the quality RJ45 crimpers lasted about twice as long or more as the "cost effective" versions. And we seemed to have to go back a lot less to recrimp the wires done by the quality crimpers versus the cost effective crimpers.

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Brian Karas

IPVM

In reply to Luis Carmona

I tend to agree. Same thing for cheap tools with a "lifetime warranty". Warranty is of little value if the tool breaks halfway through the day and you have to stop to go and exchange it. I would rather pay more for something that was reliable.

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Ari Erenthal

I've always been a big fan of Klein. They last forever and ever. The only time I replace a Klein tool is when I lose one.

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Undisclosed Integrator #2

I guess I know where the Klein beard trimmer is.

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Undisclosed #3

IPVMU Certified

The only time I replace a Klein tool is when I lose one.

That would be a great line for them to use in print ads. Who said writing is really hard?

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Kyle Folger

IPVMU Certified

I bought Klein side cuts after I misplaced my Ideal ones. They work really well. I also like the electrician scissors as well.

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Trisha (Chris' wife) Dearing

IPVMU Certified

The only time I replace a Klein tool is when I lose one.

Similarly, the only time I replace a Chicago Electric tool is when I lose one.

If it breaks, I buy a different Harbor Freight brand ;)

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Kyle Folger

In reply to Trisha (Chris' wife) Dearing

IPVMU Certified

I'm selective with what I buy at Harbor Freight. I have been impressed with the Hydraulic Punch set. It makes a great conduit punch for racks and other relatively metals. Their utility carts seem to be decent. I just bought a rivet tool because I needed one that worked with 1/4" rivets. It worked better than the Arrow brand one I had. I also bought a chain link punch because I needed to repair a chain on a motor and that worked as well. I bought two just in case one failed in the processes. I probably won't ever buy power or battery powered tools from there, but they have been useful for things I didn't have time to order online and no one else carried locally.

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Trisha (Chris' wife) Dearing

IPVMU Certified

In reply to Kyle Folger

It makes a great conduit punch for racks and other relatively metals.

Many of their tools are made out of what is best described as "relatively metal" ;)

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Kyle Folger

In reply to Trisha (Chris' wife) Dearing

IPVMU Certified

Ha...true. I meant to say relatively thin metals but I guess thin didn't make it from the brain to the keyboard.

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Jeremy Cass

Totally agreed - Platinum Tools EZ-RJ45 Crimp - fast and especially useful, if one has only been left with enough cable for one shot at terminating it! One can get it right one time, every time.

For cutters and pliers, I'm a big C.K. fan. Still using a pair of right angle nose pliers I bought when I was 12. They will be celebrating their 40th birthday in a few years time. We don't let them leave the workshop anymore, in case they don't make their way home!!

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Sean Nelson

Nelly's Security

Platinum Tools EZ-RJ45 by far. I loved it so much that I had to stock it.

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Paul Grefenstette

•Sep 12, 2017

I took a chance 6 years ago with this crimper from Monoprice when Ideal died and I still use it (did 30 today)

https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=3352

I look down on anything that has "easy" in its name lol

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Undisclosed Distributor #5

I would just use this stripper and punch tool and a pair of good cutters, and just use blocks and patch panels with pre made patch cables.

When I was an installer I made the decision to never use an RJ45 crimp and always terminated the cable into a patch panel or wall plug and use pre-made cables.
I found it dropped the service calls for intermittent issues. We also had a rule that if we went to a site and needed to replace another techs RJ45 crimp, then the original tech owed a 6 pack of beer.

Here's an interesting question as a followup, how many of you actually put an RJ crimp at the camera end and how many use a block and a small pre made patch cable into the camera ??

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Jonathan Strauss