CW1308 phone cable

After reading this post i think i will avoid the Maplin CW1308:-

http://forums.thinkbroadband.com/general/3747015-cw1...

Does this CW1308 look like good stuff?
http://cpc.farnell.com/pro-power/2-pair-100m/2-pair-...

Are these plastic IDC tools adequate for the job?
http://cpc.farnell.com/pro-signal/31043r/idc-telepho...

(replacing the ~5m cable between RF3 and master socket due to split sheath in a couple of locations).

In a word no, it is a steel core with a thin coating of copper, you should get the proper copper cable for best results.

Well spotted!

This range looks better:- http://cpc.farnell.com/jsp/level5/module.jsp?moduleI...

The tool you suggest will do about four insertions and that will be it!

There are some better ones around at about £3 each and they will last.

But he can get 6 of them and have some change from £3.

This is the one I use has metal insertion bit last for ages.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/KROHN-IDC-INSERTION-TOOL-A...

I've had one of those plastic insertion tools for years without a problem.

Just my two cents

The point being, that if you are going to use one of these tools on a regular basis, the plastic ones just are not up to scratch.

To be fair most people will only ever need to use an IDC tool once to complete an installation and as long as you are installing just 1 wire in each IDC terminal and are careful to push the tool in upright it should be fine for several insertions. The trouble is many people have never used an IDC tool before so can easily damage the plastic tools by trying to push more than one wire in, having the tool back to front or not holding it straight when pushing it down. For these people ordering a second one is a good idea, it saves on postage or having to go running off and pay crazy prices from a DIY shop to complete the job if you damage the first one.

If you have two or three jobs to do, perhaps helping out a couple of family members with a similar installation it might be an idea to go for the tool with the metal blade as it will probably last longer than the all plastic type.

If you want a tool that you are going to use several times then better to get the proper tool that has a metal head complete with a little pair of snips that trims the wire when pressed into the IDC terminal as this type of tool will last for thousands of insertions and works much better when installing more than one wire into the terminal. They also make a satisfying click so you know when you have pushed the wire fully home.

In reply to a post by Going_Digital:

... proper tool that has a metal head complete with a little pair of snips that trims the wire when pressed into the IDC terminal as this type of tool will last for thousands of insertions and works much better when installing more than one wire into the terminal.

Have had mine for over 20 years ... cost around £25 at that time! And it is still going strong!