Crimping Tools | Hydraulic, Ratchet & Self-Adjusting Crimpers | Torchmark
Crimping tools from a China factory: hand-held hydraulic YQK/YQY 4-400 mm², split heads to 1000 mm², ratchet terminal crimpers and self-adjusting ferrule pliers. Sizing by cable mm² and AWG.
Crimping is one of the few electrical tasks where a bad joint looks fine and fails later. That is why buying a crimper is not a matter of picking a price point — it is a matter of matching the tool to the conductor cross-section, the terminal system and the duty cycle. This page maps the Torchmark crimping range by what it actually crimps, so a distributor can build a range from 0.25 mm² ferrules up to 1000 mm² cable lugs without guessing.
Three families in the range
Family | Typical capacity | Drive | Where it works |
|---|---|---|---|
Hand-held hydraulic crimpers (YQK / YQY series) | 4–400 mm² | Manual hydraulic, 8–20 T | Cable lugs and splices on site, panel building, maintenance |
Split hydraulic crimping heads (WXY series) | 16–1000 mm² | Remote pump, electric hydraulic 11–12 T (60 kN class) | Large cable, substation and industrial termination work |
Ratchet terminal crimping pliers (WX series) | 1.25–38 mm² | Manual ratchet | Insulated and non-insulated terminals, control wiring |
Self-adjusting ferrule crimpers | 0.25–10 mm² (AWG 23–7) | Manual, self-adjusting | Ferrules in panels, PLC cabinets and field wiring |
Crimp width ranges from 15 mm to 42 mm depending on the model, and hand-held hydraulic output runs 8 T to 20 T. Source: Torchmark Crimping & Hydraulic catalog.
Sizing by conductor cross-section
Start from the cable, not the tool. Below is how the range maps onto common sizes — this is the table to put in front of a customer who "needs a crimper".
Conductor | Recommended family | Representative model capacity | Tool weight |
|---|---|---|---|
6–50 mm² (10–1 AWG) | Ratchet / ferrule | 6–50 mm² | 1.3 kg |
10–120 mm² (7–4/0 AWG) | Ratchet terminal | 10–120 mm² | 4.0 kg |
25–150 mm² | Ratchet terminal | 25–150 mm² | 4.0 kg |
70–240 mm² (2/0 AWG) | Ratchet terminal | 70–240 mm² | 5.6 kg |
16–240 mm² | Hand-held hydraulic | 16–240 mm², 15.5 mm crimp | 6.3 kg |
10–300 mm² | Hand-held hydraulic | 10–300 mm², 17–18 mm crimp | 6.4–9.5 kg |
16–400 mm² | Hand-held hydraulic | 16–400 mm², 20 mm crimp | 8.4 kg |
50–400 mm² | Hand-held hydraulic | 50–400 mm², 32–38 mm crimp | 11.0–11.9 kg |
50–630 mm² and 50–1000 mm² | Split hydraulic head | Remote pump driven | Head only |
Weight is worth reading carefully: above about 300 mm² the hand-held tools approach 9–12 kg, and at that point crews realistically move to a split head on a pump. Selling a 12 kg hand tool for daily 400 mm² work is how a range gets returned.
Hydraulic, ratchet or self-adjusting?
Hydraulic delivers a consistent hexagonal crimp and is the correct answer for cable lugs above roughly 16 mm² where pull-out strength is specified. Ratchet crimpers give a controlled, repeatable cycle on terminals and are lighter and faster for control wiring. Self-adjusting ferrule crimpers remove the sizing decision entirely for small conductors — the WXC8 6-4Pro covers 0.25–10 mm² (AWG 23–7) at 175 mm and 0.36 kg, which is the tool panel builders actually keep in a pocket.
Beyond crimping: cutting and punching in the same range
The same hydraulic programme covers punch dies from 16 mm to 60 mm, hole punches from Ø6 mm to Ø22 mm, and pipe/hose cutting heads covering Ø21.3–60 mm and Ø21.3–88.5 mm at 250 mm and 320 mm. If your customer is terminating cable, they are very likely cutting and punching on the same job — bundling the heads into one quotation is the easiest way to raise the order value.
What to check before approving a sample
- Cut a crimp and section it: the conductor should be fully compressed with no voids.
- Confirm the die marking matches the conductor size stamped on the terminal.
- On hydraulic tools, check the ram returns fully and that the relief valve releases cleanly.
- On ratchet tools, verify the ratchet cannot release before the crimp cycle completes.
- Weigh the tool against the duty cycle — a 9 kg hand tool is a two-hand, occasional-use item.
Our hydraulic crimping tool sizing guide goes deeper on matching a crimper to mm² and AWG, including when a ratchet crimper is the better buy.
Ordering, samples and OEM
Minimum order quantity is 500 pieces; mixed orders are available with the model mix agreed in the quotation. Samples are charged, and sample shipping is refunded after an order is placed. Typical lead time is 15–45 days subject to the confirmed order. OEM and private-label packaging, logo marking and instruction language are supported.
Confirm the terminal, conductor and die combination before approval — catalog capacity does not establish compatibility with every terminal system.
Frequently asked questions
What size hydraulic crimping tool do I need for 240 mm² cable?
A hand-held hydraulic tool in the 16–240 mm² class with a matching die set. Above roughly 300 mm², move to a split head on a pump for realistic handling weight.
Do the dies come with the tool?
Die sets are quoted by size range. State the conductor sizes you terminate and we confirm the die set on the same quotation.
Can I mix hydraulic tools and ratchet crimpers in one order?
Yes. Mixed orders are available with the model mix agreed in the quotation; MOQ 500 applies to the order.
Continue reading
Request a quotation
Send conductor sizes in mm² or AWG, terminal type, quantities, packaging and branding requirements. We will come back with the matching model, die set, MOQ, lead time and sample cost in one quotation.
