Punch Down Tool

This Cable Matters punch down tool has been a really handy tool to have around for Ethernet and keystone work. It feels comfortable in the hand, the size is easy to control, and it makes seating wires much cleaner than trying to improvise with a small screwdriver or something else. The 110 blade fit the terminals well, and the punch action felt solid without taking a lot of effort. I used it for network cable work and liked that it made the job faster and more consistent. The tool is simple, but that is part of what I like about it. It is easy to use, does what it is supposed to do, and feels versatile enough to keep in the toolbox for future wiring projects.

I was torn with this item whether to rate it 4 or 5 stars. Pros: ~ cheap ~ reversible blade, one side cuts, the other does not. ~ adjustable spring, however so far in my experience I am not sure where you would need to adjust the spring. ~ Some people are suggesting that they aren't getting clean cuts from it. This the first punch down tool I have every used, but from my experience it seems to cut fine. I realized immediately the effectiveness of the cutting action is really dependent on how you hold the keystone jack and how sharply you punch the wire down. Initially I tried punching down against the wall, but after a practice round, I found it functioned better when I placed the keystone jack down on a flat hard surface like the floor. Half the time the wire would cut cleanly, and half the time it would score the wire to that a very light bend or touch would cause the end to fall away. Maybe if you are a network specialist and very experienced with a variety of punch down tools you would expect it to fully cut away the wires with no further intervention every time. But for me in my home...having to gently "pluck" the wires off after punching down seems fine. Cons: ~ it does feel like a cheaper tool. That is sort of an intangible concept, but you can tell when holding something in your hand by the mass and the solid feeling of it how well its made. This does feel a bit light and flimsy, but that sort of explains the low price. So I decided to not deduct a star for this. In summary, given that I will likely only use this tool one time while installing all my home network, the cost seems to justify the functionality and cheaper feeling of the tool. I would much rather spend $10 on a limited use tool than $50 for a professional tool merely for the convenience of not having to barely touch the wires after punching down to get them to fall away. I am a very satisfied DIY user. Here are the supplies I used to built my media infrastructure: Keystone plates = http://amzn.com/B006IKGHVC and http://amzn.com/B006IKHAZY Blank Keystone = http://amzn.com/B006IKH0EA Keystone Mounting Bracket = http://amzn.com/B003JQL0S8 Cat6 Keystone = http://amzn.com/B004D5PFGW HDMI Keystone = http://amzn.com/B0039L3P86 Coax Keystone = http://amzn.com/B003099HOI Cat6 Cable = http://amzn.com/B0049KV52E (the cable this review is written in) Coax Cable = http://amzn.com/B0069F4H3G Coax Right Angle Adapters = http://amzn.com/B00DUW3Y7G Wall Mounted patch panel = http://amzn.com/B000HZES42 Cat6 Crimp connectors = http://amzn.com/B00BS92DCA Strain Relief Boots = http://amzn.com/B000I20B86 Crimp Tool = http://amzn.com/B0000AZK4G Punch Down Tool = http://amzn.com/B0072K1QHM Coax Crimp Tools = http://amzn.com/B003J7YOTO

I’ve owned one of these before and it lasted 3-4 years and worked well the size is standard so it’s great. It’s easy to use and looks cheap but gets the job done. After 3 years or so my bag got wel on the bottom and it rusted the release for the bit, that made it fall out but other then that it was still working. This is good for everyday but I would say it’s good to have this as a backup or spare in case for some reason you left your punch down somewhere and you have this one on hand to get the job done.

Works easy. Good for making RJ45 sockets.

Edit of previous review: After posting my original review, which you can read below, I was contacted by the company with an apology and an offer to send a new tool at no charge. After responding to the email I received a new tool within 2 days. The new tool was perfect, it worked beautifully. I changed my rating to 5 stars simply because of the very rare AWESOME customer service. The company Cable Matters really care about their customers and about their customers happiness after purchasing one of their products. (Original Review 1 '): I found out the hard way that with this type of tool you're better off spending more money for a better quality tool. Ended up having to return this because it practically fell apart right after opening the package. Didn't even get to try to use it.

I've been a fan of Cable Matters products for quite some time. Purchased this with the expectation of similar quality despite the incredible price/value for a punch down tool. I should have known better. Pros: - It's cheap. - It fits my hand fine and has no rough or unfinished plastic edges. Cons: - It's cheap(ly made). - The blade, as others have mentioned, doesn't cut well. - Worst of all, it lasted all of 4 punches before the blade retention collar slipped out of place, jamming the punch down mechanism. Bottom line: Stay away. It's cheap garbage.

Perfect punchdown tool! Very versatile if your using it for keystones or on a wall for telco. Very easy to use and the tip fits and cuts right

Worked perfectly.

A mí no me sirve para nada

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Dopo qualche punchata ha iniziato a perdere forza nel Colpo

I had a Krone copy I was struggling with but since this was a one-time job I did not want to spend extra money. This is under 10 pounds and it works far, far better. Both Euro RJ45 modules and patch panel were no problems. Naturally, if you can spend double (or more) you can get a better tool, but for very occasional jobs (not your day job) I think this is pretty good.

I like it