DMC vs JRready vs TOOL AID, the crimper showdown !!

Doing a small tool comparison today to see if the higher end tool is worth the money. Hope you enjoy

[@waynem604]

Thanks for the video. I just did a similar test. The best way to test is actually to measure the pull out force. I don't have a test setup to measure the force, so I did a plier pull test. For pulling, I used big pliers on either ends and pulled until failure. On my cheaper crimpers (red Tool Aid, and an IWISS) the wires pulled out of the crimped connection. On the DMC, the wire pulled out and broke at the crimp... so the crimp did not fail - it still held the conductor because I can see the strands are still in the inspection hole. The conductors had failed before the crimp let go. I did this twice on all the crimpers and got the same result. So visually all the crimps looked good, however, only the DMC made a cold weld like it's supposed to.

[@athhud]

Do you know if the Tool Aid crimper has provisions for adjustment/calibration?

[@wesleyneal6270]

One other thing to keep in mind, the JRready and DMC crimpers will do size size 20, 16 and 12 contacts. As far as I know the cheap red one will not do size 12. The size 12 contacts are not common in automotive applications but they are in use on a lot of agricultural and industrial equipment (Deutsch HD30 circular connectors).

[@madflyer1093]

Buy the cheapest tool you can, use it till it breaks. Then buy the expensive one. That way you don’t buy the expensive tool that you think you will use all the time but only use once or twice

[@SeriousSchitt]

That’s exactly what I did, then I had to add the price of the junk one (when it clapped out) to the quality one, costing me a poultry NZD$1,235.10 (currently USD$781.08). I’m the complete opposite to what you’re saying. I’ll lash out a thousand bucks on a speciality tool that I think I’ll only use once or twice, but then I find it opens doors to other jobs that I never envisaged doing and am quite often amazed at just how much I do use it!

[@semperfi73533]

That can be hit or miss you got things like festool where you can buy a domino for $1,200 and depending on the joinery that you use for your projects or how much you produce for projects It's a one trick pony for the most part or you could buy a machine that lets you do multiple different types mortise and tendons That might take longer but give them more options for cheaper. But I've gone both routes because I'm generally a buy once cry once kind of person. But it depends on the tool If it's too I'm going to lose harbor freight is usually fine If it's a pair of crimpers I'm going to use daily spend the money If it's a pair of crimpers I'm going to use once in a while DIY save money. The jr readys that I have Work fine and have work fine for over 5 years in the oil field. I've got several sets of them actually now and I bought some for the rest of the guys in the shop as well no issues. So just because it's cheaper doesn't mean it's necessarily unreliable either My harbor freight icon tools seem to do pretty well I haven't had one fail yet The Pittsburgh as a higher value rate but still a lifetime warranty so as long as you have a couple of sets of whatever if you break one who cares grab another one finish the job and whenever you're in town swap it out at harbor freight

[@dougsgtp]

DMC is what we have at work. Those stay in the leads cabinet. They are definitely a nice piece

[@athhud]

Can the crimp depth be adjusted/calibrated on the cheapo Tool Aids? I know that there is an adjustment screw hidden behind a glued on “calibration cover” on my Balmars (same as Daniels/DMC). If the crimp depth of the cheapo stuff could be calibrated to the same as the Daniels there is no reason that they couldn’t yield a crimp that is as good for at least a few dozen crimps. That’s not to say they would maintain calibration as long or wouldn’t wear out, but the first few hundred crimps would probably be just as good and occasional calibration would save a fella a lot of cash. If I remember correctly, the minimum “go gauge” size for my Balmar tool is .013” and the No-Go is .016”. I always check it at the minimum size and just assume if that’s good, all of the larger sizes are fine too. I’d bet anything that the Tool Aid crimper is out of spec and I can’t imagine that it can’t be adjusted, but the Chinese cut any corner they can get away with, so who knows...

[@brianlongmire5846]

Depends on type of work. Some tools are not MIL-certified even though they do crimp the mil pins.

[@shitmyhellcatsays]

I have the JR Ready tool and haven't had a single issue with it.

[@BAMotorsports]

The JR Ready is a really good tool. I still use mine even though I have the DMCs.

[@sketchyhondas8061]

That jready is a clone of the hdt-48-00 from TE (the company behind the deutsch connectors) and the TE one is a usa made product like the DMC.

[@GraysonAndDave]

That's the one I use at work and have in my toolbox. I also have the other pair TE shows in their video for the other style pins. Both work perfect.

[@tookitogo]

The TE tool is made by DMC.

[@newera3757]

What turret head is that ?

[@BAMotorsports]

TH1A I think is the Turret # the crimper are AF8.

[@BattlePhrog165]

I'm over here looking at crimper reviews and I'm like hold up... why does BA Motorsports sound so familiar? I know why! My buddy Tom Mueller! Small world 😆

[@BAMotorsports]

That's awesome. Hope it helped answer questions for you.

[@BattlePhrog165]

I definitely got the info I was looking for!

[@mazur50]

What model DMC is that

[@BAMotorsports]

It is a AF8