Vention Multi-Function Crimping Tool (KEDBO)

The Vention Multi-Function Crimping Tool (KEDBO) combines cable crimping, wire stripping, and cutting capabilities in a single ergonomic tool for students learning network installation and professionals maintaining IT infrastructure. This all-in-one tool crimps RJ45, RJ12, and RJ11 connectors onto Ethernet and telephone cables while simultaneously stripping insulation and cutting cables to length. The ratcheting mechanism ensures consistent crimp pressure across all connections, preventing the loose or incomplete crimps that cause intermittent network failures.

Key Features & Benefits

• 3-in-1 Functionality: Crimp connectors, strip cable jackets, and cut cables using one tool instead of carrying separate crimpers, strippers, and cutters—reducing toolbox weight and simplifying field installations
• Universal Connector Support: Crimp RJ45 connectors for Cat5e/Cat6 Ethernet cables, RJ12 for phone systems, and RJ11 for telephone lines without switching tools or blade attachments
• Ratcheting Crimp Mechanism: The automatic ratchet ensures full crimp compression before releasing, preventing weak connections caused by premature release or insufficient pressure that plague non-ratcheting tools
• Integrated Cable Stripper: Built-in stripping blades remove cable jackets cleanly without nicking internal conductors, eliminating the need for separate stripping tools during installations
• Precision Wire Cutter: Sharp cutting blades positioned near the tool tip enable precise cable cuts and trimming excess wire during connector preparation in tight spaces

Key Features & Benefits

• 3-in-1 Functionality: Crimp connectors, strip cable jackets, and cut cables using one tool instead of carrying separate crimpers, strippers, and cutters—reducing toolbox weight and simplifying mobile installations
• Universal Connector Compatibility: Crimp RJ45 Ethernet connectors for Cat5e/Cat6 cables, RJ12 for multi-line phone systems, and RJ11 for single-line telephone applications without tool changes
• Ratcheting Crimp Action: The progressive ratchet mechanism prevents premature release, ensuring consistent crimp pressure across all eight pins even when hand strength varies during repetitive installations
• Built-In Cable Stripping: Integrated jacket stripping blades cleanly remove outer insulation to your desired length without scoring internal conductors that cause signal degradation
• Comfortable Ergonomic Design: Cushioned handles with finger grooves reduce hand fatigue during installations requiring 20+ terminations, maintaining accuracy when crimping dozens of cables consecutively

Technical Specifications

Crimping Specifications

• Connector Types: RJ45 (8P8C), RJ12 (6P6C), RJ11 (6P4C/6P2C)
• Cable Compatibility: Cat5e, Cat6, Cat6a solid and stranded cables
• Wire Gauge Support: 22-26 AWG network cables
• Crimp Mechanism: Progressive ratcheting system
• Crimp Force: Automatically calibrated per connector type

Stripping Specifications

• Stripping Capacity: Round cables 4-10mm diameter
• Cable Types: Network cables (Cat5e/Cat6), telephone cables
• Stripping Blades: Adjustable depth control
• Strip Length: Variable, typically 10-20mm
• Blade Material: Hardened steel

Cutting Specifications

• Cutting Capacity: Up to 26AWG solid or stranded cable
• Blade Type: Bypass-style precision cutters
• Blade Material: High-carbon steel
• Cut Quality: Clean, square cuts without conductor deformation

Physical Specifications

• Model Number: KEDBO
• Overall Length: Approximately 200-220mm
• Weight: 280-320g
• Handle Material: Fiberglass-reinforced plastic with TPR rubber grips
• Body Construction: Chrome vanadium steel frame
• Color: Typically black and yellow or black and red

Mechanism Features

• Ratchet System: Progressive engagement with manual release
• Safety Release: Emergency ratchet release lever
• Crimp Die Design: 8-position for RJ45, 6-position for RJ12/RJ11
• Handle Lock: Optional storage lock (varies by model)

Compatibility

• Cable Standards: TIA/EIA-568-A/B compliant
• Connector Standards: 8P8C (RJ45), 6P6C (RJ12), 6P4C/6P2C (RJ11)
• Wire Types: Solid conductor and stranded conductor
• Shielded Cable: Compatible with both shielded and unshielded connectors

Environmental

• Operating Temperature: -10°C to 50°C (14°F to 122°F)
• Storage Conditions: Dry environment, room temperature
• Durability Rating: 5,000-10,000 crimp cycles before maintenance
• Maintenance: Periodic cleaning and lubrication recommended

Use Cases & Applications

For Students

Networking certification programs including CompTIA Network+, Cisco CCNA, and vocational IT courses require hands-on cable termination practice. The Vention crimping tool enables students to create custom-length patch cables for lab environments, gaining practical experience with the same professional tools they’ll use in IT careers. The multi-function design means students need only one tool for coursework rather than purchasing separate crimpers, strippers, and cutters.

Students setting up apartment or dorm room networks benefit from creating custom-length cables that fit their specific spaces perfectly. Run a 3-meter cable from router to desktop rather than using an excessive 5-meter store-bought cable that creates clutter, or make short 0.3-meter patch cables for connecting equipment in entertainment centers without excess coiling.

Computer science and engineering students working on robotics projects, IoT devices, or embedded systems frequently need custom network cables connecting single-board computers like Raspberry Pi devices to switches or routers. The crimping tool enables rapid prototyping with cables cut to exact specifications for cleanly organized project enclosures.

For Business Professionals

IT technicians and network administrators maintain cable plants requiring frequent repairs, additions, and modifications. The Vention KEDBO tool provides field-ready capabilities for creating replacement patch cables on-site rather than returning to workshops or ordering pre-made cables. Respond to emergency network failures by crimping new connectors onto damaged cables within minutes, minimizing downtime.

Small business owners establishing office networks save money by purchasing bulk cable spools and creating custom-length patch cables as needed. A 305-meter (1000-foot) Cat6 spool costs approximately $100, while 100 pre-made 3-meter patch cables cost $200-$300. With connectors costing pennies each, the crimping tool pays for itself after creating just 20-30 custom cables.

AV installers and systems integrators working on commercial projects need portable tools for terminating cables during installations. The multi-function design reduces the number of tools carried to job sites—one crimping tool handles all connector types rather than separate specialized crimpers for RJ45 and RJ11 applications.

General Applications

• Home Network Customization: Create exact-length patch cables for home office setups, entertainment centers, and smart home installations without excess cable clutter
• Office Cable Management: Make short jumper cables for patch panels, switches, and router connections, improving cable organization in server rooms and wiring closets
• Phone System Installation: Terminate RJ11 and RJ12 connectors for landline phones, VoIP systems, and multi-line business phone installations
• Data Center Operations: Produce custom patch cables for server rack connections where precise lengths improve airflow and cable management
• Security Camera Systems: Create IP camera network cables cut to exact lengths running from cameras to network video recorders or PoE switches
• Industrial Networking: Install Ethernet connections in manufacturing facilities linking programmable logic controllers, HMIs, and industrial computers
• Marine and RV Applications: Make weatherproof network cables for boats or recreational vehicles where standard lengths don’t accommodate unique layouts
• Emergency Repairs: Fix damaged cable ends in the field by cutting off failed connectors and crimping fresh RJ45 connectors without returning to workshops

How to Crimp RJ45 Connectors: Begin by using the integrated cable cutter to cut your cable to the desired length with a clean, square cut. Position the cable in the stripping blade section, squeeze the handles gently to score the jacket, then rotate the cable and pull to remove 12-15mm of outer jacket, exposing the four twisted pairs inside.

Untwist each pair only minimally—approximately 12-13mm for the pairs themselves—then arrange the eight conductors in the correct sequence following T568A or T568B wiring standards. Flatten the conductors parallel to each other, trim them to approximately 12-13mm length from the jacket using the cutting blade, and insert them into an RJ45 connector ensuring all eight wires reach the front of the connector and remain in proper sequence.

Insert the connector with cable into the RJ45 crimping die slot, aligning it carefully. Squeeze the tool handles firmly—the ratchet mechanism engages and progressively applies pressure through several clicks. Continue squeezing until the ratchet releases automatically, indicating the crimp completed successfully. Remove the cable and inspect the connector, verifying all eight metal contacts penetrated their respective conductors and the jacket strain relief engaged properly.

Understanding the Ratcheting Mechanism: The progressive ratchet ensures consistent, complete crimps by preventing premature release. As you squeeze the handles, the ratchet engages in stages, each click indicating increased crimp pressure. The mechanism releases automatically only when sufficient force has compressed all connector pins fully into their conductors.

This feature proves particularly valuable during extended installation sessions when hand fatigue reduces grip strength. The ratchet compensates for weakened grip by mechanically ensuring each crimp receives identical pressure regardless of the installer’s physical condition. Non-ratcheting tools produce inconsistent results as installers tire during repetitive work.

If you need to abort a crimp before completion—for instance, if you notice incorrect wire sequencing—locate the safety release lever typically positioned near the pivot point. Press this lever to disengage the ratchet mechanism, allowing handle opening without completing the crimp. Remove the connector, correct the wiring error, and restart the crimp process.

Wire Sequencing Standards: Two wiring standards exist for Ethernet cables—T568A and T568B. Both function identically, but mixing standards within installations causes connectivity problems. T568B dominates commercial installations in North America with the sequence: white-orange, orange, white-green, blue, white-blue, green, white-brown, brown. T568A reverses the orange and green pairs.

Memorize your chosen standard or keep a reference card in your tool kit. Many crimping tools include small reference diagrams on the handle showing both wiring sequences. Consistency matters more than which standard you choose—use the same standard throughout your entire installation to ensure all cables function as straight-through patch cables.

Crossover cables, once necessary for connecting computers directly without switches, use T568A on one end and T568B on the other. Modern network equipment includes auto-MDIX technology making crossover cables obsolete, but understanding their construction remains valuable for troubleshooting legacy networks.

Cable Preparation Best Practices: Sharp, square cable cuts create the foundation for successful crimps. Angled or crushed cuts make it difficult to insert all eight conductors evenly into connectors, resulting in some wires not reaching the front of the connector housing. Use the cutting blade near the tool’s tip for clean cuts, replacing or sharpening the blade when it begins crushing rather than cutting cleanly.

Strip jacket carefully, removing only enough to expose the twisted pairs without cutting into the pair insulation itself. Over-stripping exposes excessive untwisted wire, degrading signal quality and failing Cat6 certification requirements. Under-stripping prevents the connector’s strain relief from gripping the jacket properly, creating mechanically weak connections that fail under cable tension.

Minimize untwisting of the four pairs. Cat5e tolerates approximately 13mm of untwisted wire, while Cat6 specifications limit untwisting to 12mm maximum. Excessive untwisting creates crosstalk between pairs, reducing network performance and potentially causing connection failures at Gigabit speeds. Work carefully to maintain twist geometry as close to the connector as physically possible.

Testing Crimped Connections: Visual inspection catches many crimping errors before cables are deployed. Look through the front of clear or translucent RJ45 connectors to verify all eight conductors reach the front of the connector housing. Examine the top of the connector to confirm all eight metal contacts penetrated downward into their respective wires—visible as small indentations in the metal pins.

Verify the cable jacket extends into the connector body and the strain relief tab engaged the jacket during crimping. Connections lacking proper strain relief fail quickly when cables experience tension—when users accidentally step on cables, equipment gets moved, or cables route through tight bends.

Invest in an inexpensive cable tester that verifies pin-to-pin connectivity and detects common wiring errors including reversed pairs, crossed wires, split pairs, and open connections. Test every crimped cable before deployment to prevent troubleshooting network problems caused by faulty cables—far more time-consuming than the 10 seconds required for pre-deployment testing.

Stranded vs. Solid Conductor Cables: Solid conductor cables use single-strand copper wires for each of the eight conductors, while stranded cables use multiple thin wires twisted together forming each conductor. Solid cables provide superior electrical performance for permanent installations running through walls and ceilings, while stranded cables offer flexibility for patch cables experiencing frequent flexing.

Most RJ45 connectors designed for solid conductors feature blades that pierce single solid wires effectively. Stranded cable connectors use slightly different contact designs accommodating multiple thin strands. Using mismatched connectors and cable types creates unreliable connections—solid cable in stranded connectors may not maintain contact with all strands, while stranded cable in solid connectors can deform under the piercing blades.

Purchase appropriate connectors for your cable type. For typical home and office installations using solid Cat6 cable for permanent runs and stranded patch cables for equipment connections, maintain separate inventories of solid and stranded connectors. Label them clearly to prevent mixing during installation sessions.

Maintaining Your Crimping Tool: Clean the crimp dies periodically by wiping them with isopropyl alcohol to remove accumulated debris, oxidation, and cable insulation residue. Dirty dies produce inconsistent crimps with visible gaps or incomplete pin penetration. Inspect dies for damage—worn or chipped die surfaces require professional sharpening or tool replacement.

Lubricate the pivot points and ratchet mechanism annually using light machine oil. Apply 1-2 drops to each pivot point, work the mechanism through several complete cycles to distribute lubricant, then wipe away excess to prevent attracting dust and debris. Proper lubrication maintains smooth operation and extends tool life significantly.

Store the crimping tool in a dedicated case or toolbox to protect it from impacts, moisture, and dirt. Some models include handle locks keeping the tool closed during storage, preventing damage to the crimp dies and reducing the tool’s storage footprint. Always store the tool clean and dry to prevent rust formation on steel components.

Common Crimping Mistakes: Failing to fully insert conductors into the connector before crimping creates open connections where some pins don’t contact their wires. This manifests as intermittent connectivity or complete connection failure. Always verify conductors reach the front of the connector housing before inserting it into the crimp die.

Incorrect wire sequencing results in crossed pairs or completely non-functional cables. Double-check wire order against your reference standard before crimping—removing crimped connectors damages both the connector and the cable, requiring re-stripping and using fresh connectors.

Insufficient crimp pressure from prematurely releasing non-ratcheting tools creates weak connections that function initially but fail under cable tension or when connectors experience slight pulling forces. The Vention tool’s ratcheting mechanism eliminates this issue by preventing release until full crimp pressure is achieved.

Safety Considerations: The cutting and stripping blades are extremely sharp. Keep fingers clear of blade areas when squeezing handles. Store the tool with handles closed or locked when not in use to prevent accidental contact with sharp edges when reaching into toolboxes.

Wear safety glasses when crimping cables, particularly when working overhead or in tight spaces. Trimming excess wire during connector preparation occasionally produces small wire fragments that can become projectiles, potentially causing eye injuries.

Apply firm, controlled pressure when operating the tool rather than jerking or forcing the handles closed. Smooth, deliberate squeezing produces better crimps and prevents hand strain during extended installation sessions requiring dozens of crimps.

When This Tool Excels: The Vention Multi-Function Crimping Tool (KEDBO) suits anyone creating custom network or telephone cables regularly—students practicing for IT certifications, network technicians maintaining corporate infrastructure, homeowners installing structured wiring systems, or small business owners establishing office networks. The 3-in-1 design eliminates carrying multiple tools, while the ratcheting mechanism ensures consistent professional-quality crimps regardless of user experience level.

For occasional home use creating 5-10 custom cables, this tool proves far more economical than purchasing pre-made cables at retail prices. For professional installers crimping hundreds of cables monthly, the tool represents an essential investment delivering reliable, consistent results that prevent costly callback visits to repair failed connections. The combination of universal connector support, integrated stripping and cutting, and ratcheting reliability makes this crimping tool valuable for anyone working with network or telephone cable installations.