Punch Down Tool: What You Need to Know

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For those who often DIY home networking, small hand tools are especially essential to handle the network accessories. Ethernet cable tools are important for everything to begin. There are many network cable tools including punch down tools, wire strippers, RJ45 crimping tools, RJ45 testers, and so on.

You know that excess wires may have a bad impact on your network speed and stability, so a punch down tool is needed to keep the wire secure. This article will give you a detailed guide to RJ45 punch down tools.

What is a Punch Down Tool?

Some people may be confused about what a punch down tool is used for. It is a small yet useful hand tool used in telecommunications or low-voltage applications. It can also be named as RJ45 punch down tool, IDC tool, or Krone tool. People often use the punch down tool in the process of wire terminating for telephone or other network installations.

The punch down tool is generally composed of three parts: a handle, an interchangeable blade, and an internal spring mechanism. When you use the punch down tool to press on the Ethernet cable wires, an internal spring mechanism will be triggered and the blade presses the wire into the IDC (Insulation Displacement Conductor) slot to cut and fix the wires. The punch down blade is not only used to cut the excess wires but also to make the connection between wires and slots.

Rj45 punch down tool

3 Steps of Selecting the Best Punch Down Tool 

There are so many punch down tools on the market and it may be a bit difficult to choose the best punch down tool. We will give you an easy guide to finding the best punch down tool.

Step 1: Choose the suitable blade types based on your needs.

To terminate different types of connectors, punch down tools usually have four main blade types: 110, 66, Krone, and Bix. Among them, Bix is not as common as the other three, so we’ll only talk about the other three blade types.

  • 66 Punch Down Tool: it is mainly used to terminate wires for Cat3, which is suitable for voice and telephone systems.
  • 110 Punch Down Tool: it can also be referred to as a cross-connection block or a terminating block for Ethernet cables. 110 punch down tool is also great for telephone systems, but it is more commonly used in Cat5e, Cat6, Cat6a, and the other above network cable wiring as well as other low-voltage wiring applications.
  • Krone Punch Down Tool: It is also a common type of punch down tool used for wiring installations such as standard Ethernet keystone jacks, mount boxes, and patch panels. Krone punch down tool is great for installing and terminating Cat3, Cat5, Cat6, and the above network cables.

blade types

Step 2: Choose the best punch down tool with excellent price and quality.

  • The pricing of punch down tools on the market varies from $6.5 to even $90. Cheap punch down tools look good, but they are actually poor quality and easy to break. These expensive punch down tools cost a bomb but may not feature needed functions. Choosing a punch down tool at a reasonable price is enough for your daily use.
  • Choose the best punch down tool with high quality. A good punch down tool should be designed to be robust and durable. It would be better if it had a year’s warranty.

Step 3: Select those punch down tools with thoughtful designs.

  • A punch down tool with thoughtful design can be user-friendly and suitable for both novices and professionals. Select those punch down tools featuring an easy-to-handle twist and lock holder as well as an ergonomic handle for added comfort.
  • A sharp blade is also very important for quick termination. In addition, a blade may become dull with long time use, so you’d better find a punch down tool with replaceable blades. 
  • The color of the punch down tool should stand out or you will spend a lot of time finding it among all black tools. I guess none of you would like to spend a lot of time finding a black punch down tool in your tool bag. 

What About Other RJ45 Punch Down Tool?

Krone and 110 punch down tools are the most common types on the market. But some users reflected that it takes a lot of time if they want to punch down a number of keystone jacks as they need to punch down wires one by one. If you need to punch down many keystone jacks or patch panels for your office network, server room, or data center, don't hesitate to choose the EZ keystone jack termination tool. This one-strike RJ45 termination tool is designed for both novices and professionals who need do a lot of network work. (Learn more from Keystone Jack Termination) They can help you punch down eight wires in a single action.

keystone jack termination tool

How to Use Punch Down Tool Correctly?

A punch down tool is necessary for your home installation wirings such as keystone jack and patch panel installation. If you often terminate wires in your daily life, the following tutorial will help you better use the punch down tool.

STEP 1: 110 punch down tool is often used for network cable wiring and take a look at the 110 blade type. This double-ended 110 blade has cutting and non-cutting sides.

step 1

STEP 2: Use the wire stripper to cut off the Ethernet cable jacket.

step 2

STEP 3: Separate and straighten the cable wires.

step 3

STEP 4: Arrange and insert the wires into the slot according to T568A or T568B wiring standards. T568B is often recommended for you.

step 4

STEP 5: Put the keystone jack on the punch down stand, which can provide a stable base for easy punching down.

step 5

STEP 6: Put the cap onto the keystone jack and insert it into the Ethernet wall plate.

step 6

Final Thoughts

Punch down tools are easy to use and a great helper for your network wiring, which can save a lot of time in the process of termination. But if you still find it difficult to punch down a keystone jack, the toolless keystone jack is a good alternative option for you. 

 

For more information on this topic, you can keep up on our blogs. While VCELINK offers general and basic information for our customers and other visitors to the website, it’s not professional advice.

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