Warning: I picked the cheap crimp tool over the good one, bad call on a 6-hour job

Last Tuesday I had a big apartment complex install, 14 units, and my old crimper finally gave out. I was at the supply house and had to choose between the $45 no-name tool and the $120 Klein that I knew was solid. I grabbed the cheap one to save cash, idk, thought it was just a crimp. By unit 8 the die started slipping and I had to redo 3 connections, that added almost 2 hours. The customer watched me struggle and asked if I knew what I was doing, not a great look. I ended up buying the Klein anyway the next morning and it crimped perfect every time. Has anyone else tried to save a buck on a crimper and regretted it on a big day?

1 comments

1 Comment

lane.joel18d ago

Cheap tools have a funny way of turning a simple job into a full-blown DIY apology tour. That customer staring at you while you wrestle with a slipping die is basically the universe saying "you played yourself." Bet the Klein paid for itself in saved embarrassment before lunch.