iCrimp SN-2549 Ratcheting Wire Crimping Tools for JST ZH 1.5mm, PH 2.0mm, XH 2.5mm, VH 3.96mm, JWPS 4.0mm Pitch, Dupont 2.54mm Pitch Open Barrel Terminals, AWG28-18 (0.08-1.0mm²)

Suggested by WestHobbies RC. Awesome tool. Works great. Servo, esc, and transponder connections are secured. No more splicing and soldering to shorten wires.

These crimpers work real well and have enough different sized dies to accommodate many size wires/pins. You have to use your own judgement on which size die to use, and not 100% follow the size chart that comes with it. So far I've used the crimpers for just the tiny JST XH 2.54mm series pins, and the smallest die was appropriate because it's narrow and matches the pin size.In the first picture you can see each of the 4 dies has a small side, and a larger side. The "dividing line" between the two die halves has to align with the white line in the second picture to properly crimp the wire and insulation in the pin. The insulation is crimped by the larger side of the die.The third picture shows how the pin is placed in the die. If you look closely, you can see the tabs that grip the insulation are seated in the larger side of the die.

Works as described!

I bought mine in 2021 and only used it a couple of times so I did not get enough experience until today when I started making wires in earnest.Mine does not form the O crimp properly, that being the one at the insulation end of the connector. I am using 24ga silicone insulated wire which is very flexible, tinned and all around excellent. But this insulation is squishy and while the O crimp I think is intended to go around the insulation I cannot do that or the insulation squishes out and prevents the connector from sliding into its shield.In fact it’s not an O crimp at all, it’s just a bigger B crimp. On mine that bigger B is malformed, I think because of a defect on the hammer jaw. (One jaw moves which I call the hammer and the other remains stationary which I call the anvil. The anvil forms the curves of both the O and B crimp except as I say they’re really both B’s).The defect is in the casting and looks like it forms both an inclusion and a drop out which is to say one bit of it makes the channel smaller and the other bigger but these are by very small amounts. I think the malformation distorts the way the material flows in the die because one half of the O-which-is-really-just-a-bigger-B is malformed and the other isn’t. The top loop is squashed so the connector will not slide into the shield and requires fussing with pliers to get the shape right.The only way I can get a usable crimp is by using the 28-24ga jaws, setting the connector depth as recommended, crimping it and then pushing the connector in farther so the O crimp is in the B hammer/anvil and crimping it again. This is done with insulation stripped far enough that it’s bare wire through both the O and B areas (about 5mm).The resulting crimps are consistent, very strong and insert easily.I have only used these on one vendors connectors (gikfun) which I got at the same time as this crimper and they’re excellent but they state in the listing they’re for 22ga wire (and I’m using 24ga). Mine had the same behavior with 22ga silicone wire, I just didn’t go far enough in testing to find out if the same double-crimp solves it.

Pair these with heat shrink and connectors and you have the cleanest possible electrical connections for your car or anything else with wires! The tool is well made and easy to use highly recommended for anyone working with electrical wiring!

I have all three of these crimpers and I recommend that plan. I can always find a fit in one of the tools and the quality is good enough that I have gotten to the point that I almost never mess up crimps anymore. I have not done any of the tiny 1mm JST crimps but everything else has worked well. I just keep all of them in the same place and I can always find the best fit. With the right size you wont damage the pin (especially the retention barbs) As long as I don't lose these I will probably never have to buy another crimper in my life time. Well worth the price and I heard enough recommendations from the 3d printing community that I was confident that I was making a good purchase. And they were right. I also recommend a lighted desk magnifier since you don't appreciate how hard crimping can be on the eyes without one. If you have to crimp something (avoid it if you can) these are just right.

I tried to get a cheaper model than this, but it just didn't work very well. The crimping die on this is very precise and everything works smoothly. I'm a total klutz and even I can use it.

I now have about 6 sets of pin crimpers. 5 of them I hate with a passion because they just suck. I now have one pair that works well and makes crimps even on tiny PH2.0 pins perfectly every time (if I align the pin right) These crimpers are the ones to buy hands down. you need to align the pin properly, if you get it in wrong these will smash the heck out of the little socket with no cares. make sure the pin's connection box is outside the metal close to one click and it holds the pin there while you try and insert the wire. I use a nice big lighted magnifying glass on a stand for this. out of 20 crimps today I messed up 2 and only because I did not make sure the pin was set in the tool right. (PH2.0 is the very tip crimp spot) the dupont connector pins work fantastic in this as well and is the second hole in.I wish I found these a year ago and 5 crimpers ago.