So, yeah, I'm evaluating a couple different crimping tools to handle Dupont, VH, XH, PH and KF2510
One is a non-ratcheting basic tool.
One is a ratcheting, swappable die, adjustable pressure, tool.
Which one do you think does the better job?
Nope, not the ratcheting one.
I don't know if it's me, or what, but the basic tool consistently works better and easier than the ratchet, half the time the ratchet tool makes a real mess of it, and it's never a one-shot crimp like it's supposed to be.
I did make one modification to the basic tool, a rubber band around the handle to hold just enough pressure against the spring to keep the terminal in the jaws while inserting the wire,you do have to straighten the strain relief tongues in slightly to fit in the jaws before crimping, but apart from a quick extra squeeze with some needle nose to make sure it's done, it does a much easier and more reliable job.
The die in the ratcheter is the correct one for the job, it's just not very good at it's job.
To be fair, I also have a typical red/blue/yellow insulated terminal die for the ratcheter, and with those it does a pretty good job.
So there you go, if you want to crimp Dupont, VH, XH, PH and KF2510, and don't know if you should buy a ratcheting or manual tool, I'd just get the manual one.
The ratcheter pictured is a DN-28B, the manual is LS-202B, there are some other ratcheters that use the DN-28B die, namely DN,HS and L series (these are all made by
http://www.lsdtools.com/) so I'd avoid any of those. I might pick up one of the SN-28B which people seem to more commonly use and see if it does any better than the DN, seems the die might be slightly different.