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Model: Gardner Bender GS-388 Electrical Pliers, Crimper & Cutter, Comfort Grip, Aluminum & Copper Wire, Hand Tool, 8 in. , Red
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Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank madcow3417
My favorite crimping tool for spade and ring connectors is a Channel Lock tool for $29. It obviously doesn't compete with this deal, but I thought I'd share. It's 9.5" for a lot of leverage. The material and the joint feel really strong so I can put as much force as I want. I get way better results with it than with ratcheting crimpers. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00004SBDI
My favorite crimping tool for spade and ring connectors is a Channel Lock tool for $29. It obviously doesn't compete with this deal, but I thought I'd share. It's 9.5" for a lot of leverage. The material and the joint feel really strong so I can put as much force as I want. I get way better results with it than with ratcheting crimpers. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00004SBDI
ill tag along on this... i agree. the version you posted is much better, and the most important part is that it does insulated crimps... which the one in the OP doesnt. and considering 90% of people almost exclusively use insulated crimps, they should avoid the OP tool.
ill go on to say that i bought that tool you linked... and i absolutely loved it. wanted one for at my offgrid cabin where i have to do a lot of emergency repairs with crimp connectors, but we dont buy expensive stuff for up there in case we get robbed. so i picked up this cheaper knock off version https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0778VJZBC
i ended up losing my channelock version so now i have 2 of the cheap version. they have both been holding up great and have stood up to some ridiculous abuse.
Last edited by idiggplants January 30, 2026 at 09:55 AM.
considering 90% of people almost exclusively use insulated crimps, they should avoid the OP tool
I personally use the Channellock tool with non-insulated connectors and heat shrink. I'm usually fixing something subject to the elements that I don't want to ever fix again, instead of making mass connections. But it's a good thing you pointed this out.
One of the first photo reviews is of an insulated spade terminal getting "smushed" without the insulation really getting "pierced". If you read through some more reviews ... it's hard for me to see this in the photos, but it looks like both the male and female sides are closer to a smooth semicircle shape than the Channellock shape, and some people like that for insulated terminals. I wouldn't do it, but whatever.
ill tag along on this... i agree. the version you posted is much better, and the most important part is that it does insulated crimps... which the one in the OP doesnt. and considering 90% of people almost exclusively use insulated crimps, they should avoid the OP tool.
ill go on to say that i bought that tool you linked... and i absolutely loved it. wanted one for at my offgrid cabin where i have to do a lot of emergency repairs with crimp connectors, but we dont buy expensive stuff for up there in case we get robbed. so i picked up this cheaper knock off version https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0778VJZBC
i ended up losing my channelock version so now i have 2 of the cheap version. they have both been holding up great and have stood up to some ridiculous abuse.
You're not kidding about knock off. The photo isn't even of the tool they're selling, it's a picture of a Klein 1005.
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Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank madcow3417
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00004SBDI
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00004SBDI
ill go on to say that i bought that tool you linked... and i absolutely loved it. wanted one for at my offgrid cabin where i have to do a lot of emergency repairs with crimp connectors, but we dont buy expensive stuff for up there in case we get robbed. so i picked up this cheaper knock off version
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0778VJZBC
i ended up losing my channelock version so now i have 2 of the cheap version. they have both been holding up great and have stood up to some ridiculous abuse.
One of the first photo reviews is of an insulated spade terminal getting "smushed" without the insulation really getting "pierced". If you read through some more reviews ... it's hard for me to see this in the photos, but it looks like both the male and female sides are closer to a smooth semicircle shape than the Channellock shape, and some people like that for insulated terminals. I wouldn't do it, but whatever.
ill go on to say that i bought that tool you linked... and i absolutely loved it. wanted one for at my offgrid cabin where i have to do a lot of emergency repairs with crimp connectors, but we dont buy expensive stuff for up there in case we get robbed. so i picked up this cheaper knock off version
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0778VJZBC
i ended up losing my channelock version so now i have 2 of the cheap version. they have both been holding up great and have stood up to some ridiculous abuse.
Leave a Comment