Decent punchdown tool

[Teddy Lop]

Any recommendations?

They all seem to be the same, fairly tacky and not very robust tool, which is fine for a couple of goes but when you have hundreds of the bleeders to terminate something a bit more comfortable and hardy would be nice.

 

[pc1966]

You mean for IDC network terminations?

This sort of thing:

C.K Automatic Punch Down Tool - Screwfix

Order online at Screwfix.com. Automatically seats and trims excess wires during punch down action. Suitable for a wide range of terminal blocks. FREE next day delivery available, free collection in 1 minute.

www.screwfix.com

 

[timhoward]

I agree most don't last long.
I've had one like this for about 10 years:

PUNCHMASTER PUNCH DOWN TOOL - IDC / Punchdown - Tools - TL03170 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for PUNCHMASTER PUNCH DOWN TOOL - IDC / Punchdown - Tools - TL03170 at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[timhoward]

You mean for IDC network terminations?

This sort of thing:

C.K Automatic Punch Down Tool - Screwfix

Order online at Screwfix.com. Automatically seats and trims excess wires during punch down action. Suitable for a wide range of terminal blocks. FREE next day delivery available, free collection in 1 minute.

www.screwfix.com

I have had a few of those and they work but are not nice to use. The pull out side tools are a liability and prevent you grabbing the thing comfortably in my opinion.

 

[nicebutdim]

I have had a few of those and they work but are not nice to use. The pull out side tools are a liability and prevent you grabbing the thing comfortably in my opinion.

Good few wraps of tape would keep them out of the way, make for slightly more comfortable grip and help stop them falling apart. The Punchmaster looks nice, but hard to swallow £79, against roughly £7, if it's only used once in a while

 

[timhoward]

Good few wraps of tape would keep them out of the way, make for slightly more comfortable grip and help stop them falling apart. The Punchmaster looks nice, but hard to swallow £79, against roughly £7, if it's only used once in a while

Agreed, at the time I was on-loan to a company doing exclusively data.

 

[pc1966]

Good few wraps of tape would keep them out of the way, make for slightly more comfortable grip and help stop them falling apart. The Punchmaster looks nice, but hard to swallow £79, against roughly £7, if it's only used once in a while

Well CPC has it for a slightly less usurious price:

https://cpc.farnell.com/ideal/35-485/punchmaster-punch-down-tool/dp/TL03170

 

[Timbo]

I'll stick with the one I've already got. Didn't cost me anything.

 

[Teddy Lop]

I agree most don't last long.
I've had one like this for about 10 years:

PUNCHMASTER PUNCH DOWN TOOL - IDC / Punchdown - Tools - TL03170 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for PUNCHMASTER PUNCH DOWN TOOL - IDC / Punchdown - Tools - TL03170 at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.

www.ebay.co.uk

Thanks

If you needed another tomorrow would you spend 50 sheets on one?

They seem to have a following and fetch a price s/h too so I guess they're worth it.

 

[timhoward]

Thanks

If you needed another tomorrow would you spend 50 sheets on one?

They seem to have a following and fetch a price s/h too so I guess they're worth it.

If I expected to be using it a lot, then yes I would.
I've since recalled that before I had that I modified the cheap one, removed the side tools completely, and stretched an old inner-tube over it a couple of times. It made quite a difference, but the blade/cutting part didn't last.

 

[Simon47]

I've used several over the years - and something to watch out for is that there are two common terminal formats that aren't (completely) compatible. All the terminals I've seen in the last few years have been Krone style, but going back a bit I also used to work with "110" style terminals which need a slightly different tool (one of the tools in my box does both, I suspect doing each slightly less well than the right tool would).
But when I first needed a tool they were new fangled and ... reassuringly expensive. I spent a couple of hours in the garage with a small bit of steel and some fine files to make my own. At some point, I mislaid it, then a couple of jobs, and decades, later I found it again - it had found it's way to someone local, it had found it's way to his son, he was now my manager, and my punchdown tool was in the shared toolbox !
I have one of the CK tools in my box, though IIRC it has a BT logo on it I had two at one time, but I think I gave one away. It's done me plenty of good service, and I've had it many years.

I actually don't like punchdown sockets. For networks I used to use a lot of Nexans LANconnect 808HD connectors, but they eventually made changes that made them awkward, plus hard to get hold of and I've been forced to use punchdown sockets for some years now - still takes me longer than the 808HD ones did. Downside, they needed a special tool that only had that one function for that one connector. I see from this post that it's over a decade now since the design changes kicked in - still miss using them.

 

[Teddy Lop]

If I expected to be using it a lot, then yes I would.
I've since recalled that before I had that I modified the cheap one, removed the side tools completely, and stretched an old inner-tube over it a couple of times. It made quite a difference, but the blade/cutting part didn't last.

Used it in anger this week, nice piece of kit, much more solid and comfortable than the old plastic fantastic.

Still a little bamboozled as to why there's not something decent for half the price but it is what it is!