ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area Southwire Maxterm 6T Crimper same as milwaukee?

Thinking about getting a battery operated crimper, will only be used a few times a year, so if some money can be saved, i'd prefer to get one as affordable as possible.
Most likely will only be used for overhead service changes and irreversible ground crimping. It won't be beat up or left in the van. My guess is that it will be used 6-10 times a year.

The Southwire Maxtern version which can be had in like new condition with the D3 head is only about $600. It actually uses Milwaukee batteries.
The Milwaukee 2672 version cost significantly more (and it's the older Milwaukee model).

I realize there is a risk/reward factor that has to be applied.
At $600 if it's a Milwaukee 2672 rebrand it would appear to be worth the risk.
I also compared pics of the heads and cutting tools (i would also purchase a cutting head) and i see little to no difference other than branding labels.

Anyone know for sure if it's just badge engineering?
There is very little info out there on them, my guess is that it was just a failed partnership.

Thanks,
Joe

Granted I don't know a lot about them but why not a simple mechanical crimper if it is used so seldom?
Keeping batteries good is a problem if you don't use them.

Not too worried about batteries, my entire tool arsenal is all Milwaukee. At this point I have upward of 20 different m12 and m18 tools. I even keep duplicates at home because I got tired of using and forgetting them at home over the weekends.
Believe it or not, mechanical crimpers don't come cheap either. I could easily spend more than the $600 I could buy the other one for.

I was amazed at what they get for what is basically a big bolt cutter with crimp dies in it. I guess in the grand scheme of things, they don't sell that many.
The PoCo here used a mechanical one the last time I watched them to a service point crimp.

Power company around here uses the newer model the 2978, which dumps a lot of beat 2672 models onto the secondary market. Too bad they were treated like they were somebody else's tools. I got to sample the 2978 a few months back when i met a guy that does only high voltage for a living. The crimpers are a confusing tool, there are so many models, then you have the dies (or the dieless model which is like 4 grand).
Turns out the easiest way to start sorting through the info was to just buy a crimp at the local supply house, it has the size wire and die printed on it. The D3 head seems to be the most commonly used and the milwaukee dies can be found as low as $60. That cleared up most of the confusion, basically you need to choose a head then the right die, the tool itself doesn't really matter as long as those are available.

Remember too, in most situations the power company also does the connection with a bucket truck, so even when they did use mechanical crimpers, they weren't squeezing that thing closed on an extension ladder. One handed use of the battery operated crimper adds safety when on a ladder.

I have just watched the show. Maybe someone here with more experience will jump in. I do have one mechanical crimper I have never used. It was in a tool lot I bought in an auction (wanting something else) and I am not even sure what size lugs it is for but it is the bolt cutter style with handles about 30" long. I am not even sure where it is right now but it is in the garage somewhere

The battery crispers are nearly essential — too often you’re working at awkward angles in tight spaces.
Have you spoken to your supply house? Electrical supply houses often have a tool you can borrow at no charge (buy now, refund on return).

Has anyone tried the Harbor Freight $70 hydraulic crimper? It claims up to #0 wire capacity.

I think they have a burndy they lend out. (hand crimper, not battery). I had one come undone once, so i'm not overly thrilled by the idea of using that style again.
Also, where my supply houses are located in relation to where i live, they can be a pain to get to and from. So i almost never go there.
If i call by 9am materials arrive that day, if i call by 3pm the day before they arrive by 730am (most of the time) the next morning. I learned to manage my materials better during covid and i've only be in store a handful of times in the last few years. Saves me quite a bit in gas and countless hours.

$600 for this model kinda seems like a steal. I may just go for it. If it's not made by milwaukee i'd be very surprised.