That $350 for a good crimper felt like a lot back in '05 | Avionics Technicians

Viola Allen · 2026-04-02T14:05:10.875618+00:00

I remember when I first started, we were using these cheap, worn-out hand crimpers the shop had for years. You'd fight with them on every pin, never sure if you got a good crimp until you did the pull test and hoped. Then I saw a guy at a trade show using a proper ratcheting crimper with the right die set for the connector series we used all the time. I bit the bullet and spent about $350 of my own cash on it. That tool paid for itself in a month just in saved time and rework. These days, the new kids have fancy, calibrated pneumatic ones the company provides, but I still have my old manual one in my box. It's banged up but still makes a perfect crimp every single time. Anyone else still holding onto a piece of kit from way back that just can't be beat?

the_simon6mo ago

Look at it as a time capsule of skill. That old crimper in your hands has the muscle memory of a thousand perfect crimps baked into it. It's not just about the tool itself, but about the craft it represents. Daniel140 calling it "just a crimper" misses how a reliable tool becomes an extension of you. The new pneumatic ones are fast, but they don't teach you the feel. That worn handle tells the story of getting it right through practice, not just because a machine is set up for you.

8

cora5186mo ago

Consider the math of trust. That old crimper has never failed you, so its real cost is zero. New gear always comes with a hidden price of doubt until it proves itself.

4

daniel1406mo ago

I mean, it's just a crimper though. People get way too attached to old tools that probably aren't even that special. Maybe it's just me but a tool is a tool.

1