AC Hose Crimper

[lemondana]

Anyone have one of the Chinese knockoff portable AC hose crimper, manual, hydraulic with pump on the handle or hydraulic with a separate pump. Opinions? Vevor brand? Or spend the money on a Mastercool?

 

[toolmanmike]

Anyone have one of the Chinese knockoff portable AC hose crimper, manual, hydraulic with pump on the handle or hydraulic with a separate pump. Opinions? Vevor brand? Or spend the money on a Mastercool?

Mastercool gets my vote but I used to sell em.

 

[rklein383]

You could cut the hoses and mark them and then take them down to a local AC or high pressure hose company and have them crimp them for you. I checked into it here in Amarillo and found a shop that would do it for less than the cost of the Chinese crimpers.

 

[Syleng1]

I tried the Chinese versions. - Junk.
Mastercraft was what I purchased 4 years ago and still kicking butt.

 

[340sFastback]

My son bought this one when he crimped AC lines on his project car. He left it in my garage so I used it to crimp the AC lines on my car. So 2 project cars and worked flawlessly. He told me it was a Chinese knockoff he bought online somewhere. Has a quality feel to it seems well made.

 

[Professor Fate]

Whatever you do, do NOT use a crimper for hydraulic hoses on AC fittings, or one of the "does 'em all" tools. Use a dedicated AC crimper. The dies are different for the hose diameters that AC uses, using dies for hydraulic hoses will result in premature failures. Use AC tools only. If they tell you they can do both with the same dies, run away- if there's 3 sets of dies (hydraulic, standard AC and reduced barrier AC) you're probably okay.

 

[lemondana]

Our local AC shop closed a couple years ago when the owner retired. So I just want to get yhe tool set myself. Have a couple projects I need it on. Thanks for all of the replies.

 

[Big.J.007]

Price is almost too cheap to go with the knockoff version

 

[jeff alder]

I can tell you this about Vevor. I have 2 of their rebar cutters we use to cut stainless tubing. They cut hundreds of feet of stainless every day and have been in service for 4 years. I had to repair a trigger switch assembly on one of them today...only because the operator damaged the trigger. The AC crimper I have never used but these 2 cutters have been incredibly reliable and cutting stainless is no joke.

 

[ESP47]

I got lucky and nabbed a used Mastercool 71550 manual crimper on facebook for the price of one of the new knockoff copy cats and I'm very happy with it.

$50 cheaper than Amazon...

Pardon Our Interruption...

Actually maybe try this one. This seller has better reviews and doesn't call it a crumpet.

MASTERCOOL A/C MANUAL HOSE CRIMPER 71550 EXCELLENT SHAPE | eBay

This MASTERCOOL A/C Manual Hose Crimper 71550 is a must-have tool for professionals in the business and industrial sector. It is designed to make the process of crimping hoses easier and more efficient. With its durable construction and excellent shape, it is sure to provide reliable performance...

www.ebay.com

 

[lemondana]

On these manual units, I assume it's a good idea to put grease or antiseize on the big bolt that you tighten down. All of the videos that I've seen, it looks like their threads are dry. Do the manual and pump up units both give equal crimps? And on the manual units on the videos I've watched, it looks like the frameworks are really loose?

 

[ESP47]

I didn't use any grease. Just tightened until the jaws came together and made contact. No need to try and go any further than that. The framework is loose but once the dies make contact with the fitting, it all tightens up. I'm the 3rd owner of the one I bought and you can't even tell that it's been used at all.