XH2.54/3.96,PH2.0,PX,JST,Molex,Dupont Terminal Crimping Tool SN-01BM Rachet Crimper AWG28-20 (0.08-0.5mm ²)

The sleeve is not properly fitting with metal handles

I use this tool for crimping JST XH pins. I gave it 5 stars for ease of use but crimping these small pins is not easy; at least not yet since I am a complete novice to crimping those pins. Positioning of the pins in the tool is the difficult part. Once that is accomplished the tool operation is easy. I also purchase a kit with pins and connector housings. Many of my first crimps were near failures in that the retaining tab was crushed back into the pin and I had to dig it out for the pin to function. I also purchased pins from a popular electronic components company that worked much better in that there was more clearance for the retaining tab to be clear of the tool for the crimp. There was also more spacing from pin to pin on a string of pins. Keeping the pin on a short string rather than breaking the pin off an then trying to insert it into the tool makes pin insertion more manageable. The slightly wider distance between pins helps.

I use the Iwiss crimper tool with the SN-01BM die to crimp the pins for JST XH 2.54mm connectors, using 22 AWG stranded wire. It works extremely well. The fact that it crimps in both places (the wire insulation and the wire, which are different sizes) simultaneously, which means you don't have to crimp twice, is very convenient. The ratchet feature is also very convenient. The tool also releases automatically as soon as it's delivered the precise amount of crimping force so you don't have to think about that. Specialized crimping tools used by professionals cost hundreds of dollars (some even more!). This tool is under $25 and it works perfectly. There are so many types and sizes of connectors and tools that you have to select the right tool for your connector. Assuming you've done that, you need to learn the right way to use it, e.g. which way the pin goes in the crimper, where to place it, how much insulation to strip off, proper wire gauge, etc. For those folks who say they haven't had a good outcome with this tool I can only imagine that there is some detail like the above that they haven't attended to.

it does exactly what it is supposed to do

The seller indicates that the recommended crimper for JST XH is SN-28B. Perhaps my SN-28B is out of tolerance since it does not work for JST-XH and mangles the pin. I do agree with the seller that SN-28B is easier to use, especially with dupont connectors. However, it is not that much more work to take the time to correctly align the pins for use with SN-01BM. My experience was as follows, with the first attempt (a test crimp) for JST XH using SN-01BM the fins failed to fold when the tool was used like it was an SN-28B. For a second test crimp I carefully aligned the pin so that the tool would fold both sets of fins while avoiding damage to the pin head. This was easy enough to do it just required care. I was then able to crimp 20 pins successfully without a single failed or damaged crimp. So I recommend the SN-01BM for JST XH. It worked for me where SN-28B did not.