TRENDnet RJ-11/RJ-45 Crimp/Cut/Strip Tool TC-CT68 (Blue)

For your variety of network needs, TRENDnet has a tool specifically designed to maintain network accessories. Our professional crimp tool TC-CT68 crimps, strips, and cuts cable for 8 and 6 position modular plugs. The crimp tool offers reliable, easy-to-use, and affordable solution to meet immediate cutting needs. Our professional crimp tool delivers convenience at a very economical price.

I have used this for over a year, while its always better to punch cables down and use patch cables, this tool comes in handy from time to time to make a cable quickly to run temporarily. Ratchet action is nice but does not keep tool locked like more expensive crimpers, you have to count the clicks to get it to lock if you go too far it unlocks very easily. I use a seperate cable stripper but the one built in does the job.

I am buying this for the first time and after 2 wasted RJ45 plug I learned how to crimp properly... great tool.... I can crimp Cat 6 cables with it....

I have tried to use this crimper to make my own CAT-5 cables a few times and I have never had success. It seems to push the contact areas on the connectors (where the network card makes contact with the connector) down too far so that the network card's contacts can't reach the contacts on the connector. I have tried not squeezing too hard and it seems to still have the same problem. The other functions like stripping the sleeve off the CAT-5 cable seem to work fine but it doesn't perform it's main function very well.

This product not only met my expectations, but exceeded them. Buying a 10' cable would have cost me $10, now with the cable I already had, and some ends I also bought, I have been able to make them so easy. Shipping was very fast, had it about 3 days after I ordered it. Very happy with the purchace.

These RJ Crimpers do the job as expected and have a fairly solid feel to them. The ratcheting mechanism could be a little better, but for the price it does just fine. If you're a professional, you will probably want the Ideal or similar brand of crimpers for the hundreds or more of connectors you'll do a week. For all you DIY guys who will use them a few times a year, they are great and will do fine for your home networking projects. I never use the strippers or cutters on the tool as they never seem to do that great a job without more effort than a razor knife and wire cutters, but that is the same with all other brands of the same tool across the board.