ENGINEER PAD-02 Handy Crimp Tool Kit Complete Set. Made in Japan: Versatile Precision Universal Crimping Set with 3 Inter-Changeable Dies. Orange

It's cliche to say but I will anyways, I don't often leave reviews and you can look at my profile to see that's true. When I do, It's usually because the product sucks and I try to help people avoid it or work around it, or the product is one of the best things I've ever laid my hands on.This 100% falls into the latter category.Let me put it this way... I originally bought just the PAD-11 because I mostly crimp things like JST or Molex Mini-Fit. I had saw this set but was like eh... I'm not spending double the amount when I might never even use the larger crimp heads.When the PAD-11 was delivered, I was IMMEDIATELY impressed but just how much BETTER it was than any of the other cheaper crimp tools I've ever used was. I've probably used half the chinese crimp tools under the sun and they all suck in one way or another. THIS THING is extremely thoughtfully designed and just FEELS good. The handles look weird in the picture but believe me, They FEEL awesome.So let it be known, I immediately put it back in the plastic holder and clicked return on Amazon. Why you might ask? Because I was so impressed that I immediately knew I wanted to get the whole set and the case. This is one of those tools where you realize if you treat it well, It will treat you well for a LONG time.I figured if the single crimp tool was that good, The case would be too and it 100% doesn't disappoint. It's nothing super fancy but it's not cheap crap either. It's not that hollow blow molded type case that everything else comes in to save cost. This is very solid and the fully metal snaps are well designed to engage perfectly when closing. It's even got little plastic holders for you to store your most common types of crimp connectors if you're going to carry it around.Okay, You might be saying. But does it actually crimp well?I'll leave you with this parting thought... I'm nearly 40 years old and I've been messing with electronics since I was around 10. I've fumbled with crimping in every way possible. I've built 5 or 6 3d printers which require a ton of crimping. Needless to say, If there is a crimping duty. I've been there.I don't think I've EVER made a professional, solid crimp before I got this tool. They look SO much better and just FEEL so much more solid when you use this right.Highly recommend.

The PAD-02 is my choice of crimper after reading review blogs by whom I would consider crimping enthusiasts (Matt Millman's site is especially detailed). The PAD-11, which is included in this set, is described as producing better crimps and releasing the crimp connectors more cleanly than the PA-09 and other generic crimpers.Some pros: the jaws are precisely machined and feel very high quality, the handles are comfortable, crimps look very clean, the interchangeable jaws will handle just about any wire gauge for hobbyist electronics, and the protective case is a nice bonus. It is a tool made to last.Some cons: only does B-shaped crimps and not O-shaped ones that need cylindrical dies, the case exterior and interior feel cheap compared to the crimper and the interchangeable jaws aren't tightly held in the case. However, the case's hinges are metal and *not* plastic living hinges that inevitably break.Patience is needed to carefully line up the crimp connector. It needs to be aligned straight at 12 o'clock to get a perfect crimp that will fit in housings like JST PH connectors, Molex SL connectors, etc... Because of the time it takes, this crimper is best for hobbyist work, prototyping, and other one-off jobs rather than crimping for mass production.I have also found, perhaps unsurprisingly, that brand name connectors work much better than generics. Not even the PAD-11 can make a cheap generic connector mate as well as ones produced by a reputable manufacturer like JST.

This has been working really well for JST XA crimp pins. It seems well made and versatile and probably will work for many other kinds too. Crimping is a two-step process, you crimp the wire and the insulation separately. That lets you select the optimum size for each section of the crimp pin, but of course it takes longer than an all-in-one tool. So this tool is great for prototyping but is not suited to medium or high volume production.

This crimping tool is masterfully made in Japan. From the latches on the case,to the perfectly lubricated hinges on the tool, the fine attention to detail shines through. The handle is ergonomic and soft, which feels great in the hand.The tool works as well as I imagine it should, however, I've never used this type of tool before. I applied slightly too much pressure on the first use, which resulted in too much horizontal expansion of the wings that crimp the wire insulation. This prevented the contact from easily sliding into the female JST housing. I'll assume I just need to adjust the amount of force used before blaming the tool.Other than helping to prevent rust, The hard case & extra jaws are well worth the added expense considering I'll likely never lose the parts if I always put them back when I'm done.

I read all the reviews and my collection of crimpers wasn't covering a new size I was trying to work with. Took a chance and this set is absolutely the way to go. Got rid of my duplicates that this set covers and won't be looking back. Wish I would have bought this set the first time. You always get what you pay for!

If you repair wiring for a living, and you have been looking for a crimping tool that makes crimps indistinguishable from OEM, this is it. I've been crimping in the field for 35 years, and this is my favorite crimper. If you use this tool correctly, your repairs will look factory new. TRUST ME.

Tool appears to be functional however this is a used product. The previous user had packaged the tool wrong and it damaged the tool case. If you buy from this seller you are buying a used tool.

The tool arrived broken, the 11 die was installed in the tool and was broken on arrival. It also had a strange warp to it that prevented the jaws from closing.