IDEAL Electrical 30-429 Multi-Crimp Tool - 9.75 in., High Leverage Pivot Wire Crimper with Knife-To-Anvil Blades, Dipped PVC Grips

The new Ideal crimper with the blue handle is very similar to the original one with yellow handle. I bought the yellow handle crimper off a Snap-On truck 35 years ago and they’re still in my main HVAC service bag to this day. These crimpers have served me very well over the years and I was looking for another for a new install bag I’m assembling. I have a backup set of Kliens, which are ok, but I think the Ideal produces a better crimp.Out of the package the new crimpers feel correct in my hands, they have a soft gritty type of handle coating, dipped into something. I suspect after a few years it will peel away. The tooling surface isn’t cleanly machined like the original is. Meaning the casting surface is still visible we’re on the old one that was made in the USA was smoothed and refined.What really matters is it produces the same quality crimp as my 35 year old tried and true does. I’m confident it will serve me well until I retire.I would deduct 1/2 a star for the casting finish if I could.

I deal makes the best electrical tools they’re made here in America. I work in the HVAC industry and do electrical work. These are amazing. If you can afford them buy them you won’t regret it.

I've used a pair of Ideal 423 for the last 30 years. Finally bought a new pair and handed the original pair over to my son to use for another 30 years.

Don't buy the "smart grip" version (30-3429), don't buy the Channelock 909 version. Both of those are the same factory / same tool and don't clamp down hard enough on red terminals (18-22awg). 30-429 with regular dipped handles is the one you want that has a crimper that works.

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This is the second best crimper I own.I've had the yellow handle Ideal crimper for about 20 years.Have'nt had one like it,until now.I highly recommend it

Stranded on a desert island and can only have one tool, this would be it. Those cheapo-multi-stripper-crimpers are junk. You can use this tool for just about anything, it is indestructible, unless you cut into live wires, then it may save your life. I am never without this tool regardless of the project.

I gave one star because the item arrived very fast and is a quality product none the less BUT the item described and the item in the picture are DIFFERENT items. The item you are ordering here is a set of Cutting pliers NOT the multi crimp/cutting pliers I had originally wanted. Don't order if you're looking for the ideal multi crimp+ cutting tool item # 30-5429. The item being sold here is set of Ideal diagonal cutters item#35-3028.UPGRADED TO 2 stars due to such a timely response from seller after I requested a refund. We'll see how long this takes though.