The 5 Best Hydraulic Crimping Tools [Ranked]
Hydraulic crimping tools are specialty, professional pliers designed for the crimping of copper, aluminum, various metals, as well as types cable wiring and butt connectors (Source).
Crimping pliers will crush metal objects to create what is called a crimp, which describes a tight join or closure that will not open back up on its own.
The 13.2 lb., TMS Hydraulic crimper is our top pick- it is a 16 ton crimping tool that ships with 11 dies, a rugged carrying case, 1 die positioning pin, with a crimping range of 16 to 300 mm2.
Top Pick: The TMS Crimper
Users recommend this particular hydraulic crimping tool as a value-buy, though you will have to play around with the different die sizes to get quality crimps.
With many users referencing an online conversion table to decipher the dies that had metric labels.
TMS Video Overview
Many users were initially suspicious that this hydraulic crimping tool would be effective at such a low cost, but they were for the most part pleasantly surprised at its efficacy, though they caution you will need to fiddle around with it a bit to get it working the way you want.
Let's take a look at five of the best-selling hydraulic crimping tools on the market today and see how they compare.
Contents
Comparing The Options
The Five Best Hydraulic Crimping Tools
Effectiveness
Price
Ease of Use
The TMS 16 Ton Hydraulic Cable Lug Terminal Crimper is a solid option for those looking for an effective and easy-to-use crimping tool suitable for different size demands. For most users, the TMS terminal crimper was effective for crimping wires of various sizes.
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Other reviewers, however, felt the build quality of the hydraulic crimper was substandard. All in all, the TMS crimping tool is an effective tool that can be used for a wide variety of crimping jobs.
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Most buyers liked the 16 tons crimping power, 11 sets of hexagon dies, and the on-off controls, which allowed for fast operation when crimping both aluminum and copper wire. One reviewer commented that a nice feature of the TMS crimping tool is the ability to squeeze a larger lug down to fit a smaller size cable.
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Other users, however, found the fit and finish of the TMS battery cable lug terminal crimper to be lacking. Overall, the TMS crimping tool is a proven performer at a reasonable cost.
Video Overview
Pros
- Solid crimping power
- Solid hexagon dies
Cons
- Fit and finish
Effectiveness
Price
Ease of Use
This 8 Ton Hydraulic Crimping Tool is a solid option for those looking for a dependable tool to satisfy their crimping needs. Most users appreciated the ease with which the 8-ton hydraulic crimping tool delivers a smooth and effortless crimping action, regardless of wire size.
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Other buyers, however, found the fit and finish of the tool to be substandard. All in all, the 8-ton crimping tool is a good bargain for value-conscious buyers looking for an effective crimping tool.
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Most users of this 8-ton hydraulic crimping tool found it to be a good bargain due to its ability to deliver 8 tons of force, the on/off knob for easy crimping and arm retraction, and the color-code method of identifying different parts of the tool.
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On the other hand, some reviewers found the build quality of the tool to be lacking due to bad casting and poor finishing of the head component. Still, most users found this 8 Ton Hydraulic crimping tool to be a good bargain.
Pros
- Value
- Color coding
Cons
- Build quality issues
Effectiveness
Price
Ease of Use
This 10 Ton Hydraulic Wire Battery Cable Lug Terminal Crimper is an excellent option for those looking for a dependable and economical crimping tool that is effective for most cables and wires.
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Most buyers appreciated its effectiveness for marine and architectural wire rope applications. However, some users found it less than ideal for wires with smaller diameters. All in all, the general consensus is this 10 Ton crimper provides great value and flexibility.
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Most buyers liked the fact that this 10-ton hydraulic tool is a durable and flexible tool due to its ease of use, solid pressing action, and carbon steel construction.
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In fact, one buyer noted how the tool made quick work of crimping solid connections on cable sizes ranging from 6 AWG to 22 AWG. Other users, however, felt it was ineffective for smaller wire diameters. In general, this 10 Ton Hydraulic Crimper is a solid and well-crafted crimping tool for various applications.
Pros
- Carbon steel construction
- Durable
Cons
- Limited application
Effectiveness
Price
Ease of Use
This 16 Ton Hydraulic Wire Crimper is a tool that provides a variety of robust features.
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It ships with an impressive package of accessories that include 11 sets of different sized, chrome-finished hexagon dies, and features an ability to crimp AWG 6 to 600 MCM sized aluminum and copper wire.
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Users are likely to find this tool to be an effective option for their crimping needs.
Pros
- Good accessories
- Flexible
Cons
- None yet
Effectiveness
Price
Ease of Use
The TEMCO Hydraulic Cable Lug Crimper is a very solid option for professionals looking for a high-quality and durable crimping tool that can be used for the majority of crimping jobs.
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Users praised the TEMCo Lug Crimper for its high-quality construction and 5-year warranty. Other users, would have preferred additional dies for smaller crimping jobs. In general, the TEMCO is a top-notch option for professionals looking for a high-quality crimper tool.
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Most users of the TEMCO cable lug crimper praise the TEMCo for its quality and functionality. They commend its forged cast crimping head frame, black oxide crimp head and dies, which resist chipping or flaking, and its reassuring 5-year warranty.
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Although one buyer comments that he would have preferred additional die sets to allow for crimping ability down to 12 gauge wire, the vast majority of users have found this to be an excellent option for professional looking for a reliable and high-quality crimper.
Video Overview
Pros
- Overall quality
- Functionality
Cons
- Limited use
What are users saying?
One user employed the 95 die for constructing boat battery cables- he describes moving up to the 120 die for a more effortless crimp.
Another user describes needing to crimp 30 different lugs- and just like the user who was working on his boat, he had to fiddle around with the different die sizes before he discovered the right one to produce a quality crimp.
Both users recommend using a hydraulic crimping tool as opposed to a hammer crimp- it was just much easier for them to get the results they were looking for using a hydraulic-powered crimping tool.
Many users purchase these crimping tool sets so that they would have a portable hydraulic option to keep in their service trucks- they don't take up a lot of space, and as other users have said, frequently the dies are metric labeled so you have to print out a conversion sheet for easy reference when you are using them.
These hydraulic crimping planners are typically used in electrical wiring circumstances and feature a variety of different applications. You can often purchase them in specialty hardware stores- or if you have more specific industrial and commercial applications in mind you can find them online or in specialty tool supply catalogs.
In the case of beading crimping situations- the objective is to crush the crimp beads in a smooth and controlled manner so that the outcome is a polished and neat-looking crimp.
Once you have invested in a crimping plier, especially a hydraulic one, make sure that you store them in a cool and dry environment, every so often give them a little bit of oil to prevent rusting, and you will be guaranteed that your hydraulic crimping tool will operate well over the lifespan of its use.
