Strippers (not those kind) and crimpers are standard tools for anyone who deal with networking, electricity, internet and telecommunications work.

A cable or wire stripper will cut the covering, or sheath, around a wire exposing it so that it can be connected either by solder or by crimping it.

Crimping allows for electrical connection without the need for soldering. The benefits of crimping over soldering and wire wrapping include:

• A well-engineered and well-executed crimp is designed to be gas-tight, which prevents oxygen and moisture from reaching the metals (which are often different metals) and causing corrosion;
• Because no alloy is used (as in solder) the joint is mechanically stronger;
• Crimped connections can be used for cables of both small and large cross-sections, whereas only small cross-section wires can be used with wire wrap.

Usually built as a single tool with stripping and crimping capabilities within both, crimping is normally performed by first inserting the terminal into the crimp tool. The terminal must be placed into the appropriately sized crimp barrel. The wire is then inserted into the terminal with the end of the wire flush with the exit of the terminal to maximize cross-sectional contact. Finally, the handles of the crimp tool are used to compress and reshape the terminal until it is cold-welded onto the wire.

At ITS, our expertly chosen range of stripper and crimper tools, all available for next day delivery, are from industry leading brands such as Sealey, Knipex, Draper, CK, Beta and more.