Wire Crimping Techniques & Tools by Molex

The crimp is often the most critical point in your entire electrical wiring assembly. In fact, poor crimps are one of the leading causes of wiring failures — resulting in intermittent connections,  excess heat, equipment downtime, and costly troubleshooting.

Fortunately, a reliable crimp is achievable when you have the right tools, proper preparation, and proven techniques. Molex, a longtime leader in interconnect solutions and crimping technology, has developed educational resources to help professionals achieve consistent, high-quality results.

Molex has a history of making industry-leading crimp tools, so it’s no surprise they also offer resources for learning proper wire crimping techniques.

Preparation

Preparation is an oft-overlooked aspect of a quality crimp, yet it can make all the difference between a dependable connection and a future failure point. In the video below, Molex outlines how to lay the groundwork for the perfect crimp, including selecting the proper crimp profile for the wire gauge being used, verifying correct strip length, and other key setup considerations that help ensure long-term reliability.

Molex - Quality Crimping Preparations

 

Execution

Once the preparation work is complete, the next step is executing the crimp itself correctly. In this follow-up video, Molex takes a deeper dive into the hands-on process, demonstrating how to achieve a precise, professional-grade crimp using a hand tool.

Molex - Quality Handtool Crimps

 

 

 

Crimping Reference Guide 

While video demonstrations are always helpful, Molex also provides an even more comprehensive reference guide for anyone looking to sharpen their crimping knowledge even further:

MOLEX QUALITY CRIMPING HANDBOOK

More than just a simple how-to manual, this comprehensive guide serves as a veritable encyclopedia on crimping. It includes an overview of the technology behind crimp connections, detailed explanations of materials and measurements, best-practice procedures and processes, and valuable reference materials such as a convenient wire gauge chart and much more.

Tools + Technique = The Perfect Crimp 

Armed with the right knowledge and the proper tools, you can dramatically improve connection reliability, reduce rework, and help prevent wiring failures before they happen. Now that you’ve had a chance to brush up on crimping best practices, explore our full collection of Molex crimping tools — including some of our top recommended picks below:

                                                

Mini-Fit Jr. Crimp Tool        Premium Grade Crimp Tool          MX150 Rachet Crimp Tool