Cutting RJ-45 wires

[TheBear]

i am going to wire a home network. so will

http://www.homedepot.com/

search for: Ideal Telemaster

this product be able to cut the network cable?

if there is a better you guys know can you please direct me to it.

 

[Kelledin]

Ehm... linky sez:

We're sorry. We are unable to complete your request. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

As it is...I use a pair of dikes (diagonal cutters) manufactured by XActo (same people who make the mini hobby knives). They were originally intended for cutting excess plastic ("flash") off plastic model parts, but I discovered they cut through solid and stranded wire like nobody's business.

Also, for working with RJ45 cable, it's nice to have a jacket stripper--a cheapo little tool that can help you make a real clean cut on the cable's PVC jacket without nicking the internal wires. I've seen some of those things included as freebies with boxed cable reels. I personally use a more complex tool that can strip the jacket off RJ45, flat silver-satin, and RG coax cable, but you don't really need that if all you're messing with is RJ45.

EDIT: D'oh, you updated the linky while I was posting!

That Ideal Telemaster looks like it would do the trick. What I use for actual crimping is a ratcheting Paladin tool made of laminated metal. Ratcheting is nice, btw, but it makes it sometimes impossible to save an RJ45 tip if you find you've changed your mind in mid-ratchet.

 

[Nybbles]

I have an Ideal Telemaster. It works great for just about everything when dealing with CAT5.

I do recommend keeping a pair of small dykes like Kelledin said. Look at the pic of the TeleMaster. Notice how there's that return spring up about half way from the back of the cutters? That prevents you from just slipping the TeleMaster over a piece of CAT5 and cutting. You have to feed the end in and it sucks.

So for making the initial cuts, I usually use the small dykes. Then I take the very tip off with the Telemaster, strip it, plug it, and crimp it. Overall, nice solid crimper, but definately do yourself a favor and get some small dykes as well.

Kelledin also mentioned a jacket stripper. While this is not required, I have one at work and I've gotten kinda spoiled with it. It definately makes it easier if you're stripping back a lot of CAT5.

 

[BobSutan]

If you're going to be making tons of cables, or you really want them to last, might I suggest a racheting style crimper. Speaking from experience, cables make with the grip type are more prone to failure down the road. Good for patch cables that aren't messed with, but bad for infrastructure wiring or cables that are manipulated very often.

I suggest something like this. The added benefit is that the dies are interchangable. Pop out a pin and you can do RJ-11, RJ-12, etc.


**Edit**
Turns out ideal has a bunch of different versions of their racheting style crimpers now. Take a look:

http://tinyurl.com/yva5j
http://tinyurl.com/392g4
http://tinyurl.com/3gc6t

 

[Kelledin]

Originally posted by BobSutan
I suggest something like this. The added benefit is that the dies are interchangable. Pop out a pin and you can do RJ-11, RJ-12, etc.

Yup, that tool is almost exactly like what I use--except mine is orange-handled rather than blue, it's a different brand, and it has thumbscrews rather than pins for changing the dies.

(Oh, and after examining it a bit, I found you can pop it out of mid-ratchet by flipping a catch down near the plastic handle. Oddly, I've had that tool for years without noticing that...cool! )