Klauke K32 TWIST-it and K507 WF: electrician review

The two manual crimping pliers from Klauke that I have in hand respond to two different concepts: the K32 TWIST-it covers ferrules from 0.14 to 10 mm² in a bag format of 177 mm and 0.298 kg, the K 507 WF covers ferrules from 0.5 to 50 mm² with its dies stored in the handle, at 220 mm and 0.657 kg.

One lives in the bag, the other on the workbench: that is the first conclusion to remember before buying.

These two crimpers were sent to me by Klauke for this test. The photos in this article are test photos taken on my workbench, they are not customer site photos, and no figure comes out of my work documents.

The impressions that follow come from real use over several weeks: common 1.5 mm² ferrules and handling/crimping trials on 35 and 50 mm² samples on my workbench, supplemented by the official datasheets. I do not present these large cross-sections as customer-site experience. No verdict exceeds 4/5 in this article.

Two manual crimping pliers, two clearly separate uses

Klauke has been building connection tools since 1879, and the German brand is above all known, in the connection trade, for its electromechanical and hydraulic crimpers.

The Klauke story tells of this move upmarket: the manufacturer went from manual crimping pliers to powered tools without abandoning the first level of the range.

The K32 and K 507 WF are precisely what occupy this first tier: no battery, no hydraulics, just the hand, a ratchet and dies.

The difference with the EK 50 ML electromechanical crimper comes down to one sentence: on manual crimpers, the force comes from the handle, the ratchet only guarantees that the cycle runs to the end. The motorised tool delivers 15 kN with no hand effort, but it costs more and requires a battery.

For anyone crimping ferrules a few times a day, the manual crimper remains the simplest and most reliable tool: no battery to charge and a controlled action, while the ratchet and dies still need regular inspection.

On this ground, the two models target two different audiences:

• The K32 TWIST-it is a short, light crimper, designed to follow the technician into their bag and handle the most common wiring ferrules.
• The K 507 WF is a longer crimper designed to stay in the workshop or the vehicle and cover ferrules up to 50 mm² with interchangeable dies. In my use, it is the one I take for larger ferrule cross-sections and workbench preparation, not a claim of industrial-site use.

The TWIST-it principle, without twisting

It has to be said clearly, because the name is misleading: the TWIST-it does not twist the sleeve. This mistake appears in trade discussions and is easy to explain: the name suggests a rotation, and the first photo of the crimper makes you believe there is a twisting movement.

In reality, the rotation is that of the crimping die itself.

The official Klauke datasheet mentions a « rapid transition between inserting the sleeve from the front and from the side »: the die, toothed and pivot-mounted, tilts to receive the connector in line with the tool or perpendicular to it, depending on the available access. This is a sleeve crimping tool, not a twisting tool.

This pivot brings two things in the field. First, side insertion: when the connector is already on the conductor and access is awkward, the sleeve is slid into the die laterally instead of being threaded in from the front.

Then, a single crimp profile for all cross-sections: the datasheet states automatic cross-section adjustment, meaning that the die adapts to the inserted connector without any intermediate adjustment.

The resulting profile is trapezoidal, a shape that Klauke deems suitable for the box terminals of cabinets. The toothed die is claimed to give good pull-out values for the connection, and a ratchet locking mechanism ensures uniform results.

The head also carries a die lock to prevent mishandling, and a safety eyelet allows a lanyard to be attached.

The K32 in hand: the bag crimper

The official datasheet gives 177 mm and 0.298 kg, and a distributor datasheet rounds it to “298 to 350 g, 177 to 210 mm” depending on the version.

In the hand, the difference in size compared with the K 507 WF is striking: the K32 fits in the palm, the blue and yellow non-slip handles are short, and the opening angle in the hand stays small, a point Klauke highlights for comfort of use.

The engraving on the black head is complete: K32, 0.14-10 mm², 26-8 AWG and the “Pat. Pend.” marking, meaning patent pending.

The tool also carries a Made in Sweden engraving, visible on the head: I describe it as it is, because Klauke does not officially document the country of manufacture of this crimper and I am not going to claim it on its behalf.

The blister packaging, which I photographed before taking the crimper out, confirms the range and adds the detail of the twin ferrules from 2×0.25 to 2×4 mm². The cardboard box marks “NEW” and illustrates the TWIST-it mechanism: it is packaging designed for sale through the trade, not for the job site.

On the workbench, the open tool shows the rotating die and the compact black head. The ratchet is crisp: with each squeeze, the jaw advances one notch and does not move back until the cycle is complete, a behaviour I check on manual crimping tools before anything else.

The automatic cross-section adjustment can be felt when going from a 1.5 mm² ferrule to a 6 mm² ferrule: no adjustment, no die change, you insert the sleeve and crimp.

1 Rotating die Rotating die

Head and die of the K32

The open tool reveals the rotating die at the end of the head and the ratchet that advances notch by notch.

Where does it fit in the range? In my comparison of ferrule crimping tools, the K32 sits in the ratcheting rotating-die crimping tool category, one notch above fixed-anvil crimping tools.

The cited manufacturer specifications give no UK retail price: ask a UK distributor for a dated quote on the exact K32 reference. The K32 is justified by the pivot, the ratchet and the consistency of the profile, not by the maximum cross-section.

Day to day, it’s the crimper I reach for first for wiring: faster than a die-based crimper, versatile on all common cross-sections, light enough to stay in hand for the whole preparation of a cabinet.

K32 TWIST-it

Advantages

• The rotating die engages the sleeve from the front or from the side, depending on the access available.
• Light and short: 0.298 kg and 177 mm, a tool-bag format.
• The trapezoidal profile is the one Klauke considers suitable for the box terminals in cabinets.

Drawbacks

• Range limited to 10 mm² for single ferrules and 2×4 mm² for twin ferrules.
• No UK retail price is established by the cited manufacturer specifications: request a current quote from a UK wholesaler.

What you discover after purchase

Hidden benefits

• The patented TWIST-it pivot keeps the same action across the whole range: nothing to adjust, nothing to change, even when working in series.
• The common twin ferrules up to 2×4 mm² are covered without an accessory, as Klauke publishes.

Hidden costs

• Beyond 10 mm² or a 2×6 mm² twin ferrule, the K32 no longer keeps up: you have to move up to the K 507 WF or a motorised tool.
• The ratchet requires a full action: an interrupted cycle does not guarantee the crimp.

The K 507 WF in hand: the workshop crimper

The K 507 WF takes the opposite approach: a fixed crimper and interchangeable dies.

The principle is stated in the official datasheet: quick die changes without tools, thanks to a dedicated fixing system, and a single crimping profile for all common conductors.

The range goes from 0.5 to 50 mm², which covers virtually all the wire ferrules found on an installation.

The documented kit includes three sets of dies: the AE5071 for 0.5 to 6 mm² ferrules, the AE5072 for 10 to 25 mm² and the AE5073 for 35 to 50 mm².

The Klauke datasheet for the K 507 states that spare dies are integrated into the handle, and a distributor datasheet for the K 507 WF repeats the same point: on the tool, the sets are therefore stored in the grips, which keeps them from getting lost in a drawer.

An adjustment disc compensates for the natural wear of the tool, a rare detail on a manual crimper.

The process used by this range is a square crimp — « square pressing process » in the Klauke documentation — applied by wide dies: for most ferrules, a single pass is enough to compress the barrel, where other crimpers require two.

Pre-crimping is made easier and the adjustment disc compensates for die wear, not the crimping force.

1 Wear-adjustment disc Wear-adjustment disc

K 507 WF adjustment mechanism

The small toothed disc beside the pivot compensates for tool wear.

The supplied die sets are also compatible with the Klauke Micro tool: if this little crimper is already lying around in your truck, the same dies work with both tools. The K 507 WF is a recent crimper in the catalogue, launched in summer 2022.

The dies I received bear the reference AE5072 engraved with the 10, 16 and 25 mm² cross-sections under each imprint: three profiles in a single die, which explains the reduced number of crimps advertised by Klauke.

This is the most telling image of the concept: a multiple die, marked imprints, no tool to change it.

The dies are stored in the handle and are removed by the dedicated fixing system; after a few changes, the movement becomes straightforward.

In hand, the verdict is more nuanced than the weight suggests: 220 mm and 0.657 kg is heavy for a manual crimper, but light for its capacity — next to a hydraulic tool on a job site, it carries without any discussion.

The gripping force is significant and the tool is very comfortable in hand despite its length; the jaws are what I like best about this crimper: wide, the ferrule goes in squarely and the square crimp is usually completed in one pass.

On larger cross-sections, the manual ratchet naturally requires more hand force. For repeated high-section work, motorised crimping mainly changes the physical effort and cycle repetition; INRS notes more generally that force constraints contribute to hand and wrist fatigue.

For common ferrules, I use the K32. I keep the K 507 WF for larger ferrule cross-sections and workbench preparation; for repeated high-section runs, the comparison of battery-powered crimpers shows where motorisation becomes useful.

The official product sheet shows the overall layout of the crimper, with its head and handle mechanism. The close-up of my photographed tool shows K 507 WF and Made in Germany engravings on the head.

Those markings describe this example; the cited UK product specification does not independently state a country of manufacture for every unit.

One thing to know before buying: the twin ferrules require an optional insert, the ZAE5072 for 2×6 to 2×16 mm². The supplied crimper covers single ferrules across the entire range, but not twin ferrules without this additional part. For anyone who crimps only twin ferrules, it is better to include this insert from the quote stage onward.

The cited manufacturer specifications do not establish a UK retail price. Request a dated UK quote for the K 507 WF and any optional dies.

With its supplied dies, the K 507 WF crimps wire-end ferrules, not power lugs. Klauke separately lists the PV502 die (2.5–6 mm²) for specifically compatible photovoltaic connectors; it is not included and does not make the tool suitable for arbitrary contacts. Power lugs need tooling specified for the connector.

This Klauke video shows the K 507 WF and its interchangeable crimping dies:

Usage framework: crimping on de-energized conductors

These are mechanical crimping tools used during conductor preparation on a de-energized installation. The official K 507 WF documents checked on August 12, 2026 do not state VDE 1000 V insulation.

Neither the cited K 507 WF specification nor the June 2022 manufacturer datasheet (reference FLK507WFGB) establishes VDE insulation for live working. I use this mechanical crimper only on isolated circuits after checking that they are dead.

The conclusion is the same for the K32: its official spec sheet and its datasheet carry no VDE marking.

In wiring practice, this is almost never a hindrance: a ferrule is crimped before the panel is energised.

The working rule is the same as for mechanical crimping tools generally: isolate the circuit and check for absence of voltage before crimping.

The requirements for insulated tools, detailed in my article on 1 000 V insulated tools, do not apply here: neither of the two tools is marked VDE, and nothing should suggest otherwise.

Which one to choose: K32 or K 507 WF?

The answer lies in the actual maximum cross-section of your work, not in the price. With their supplied dies, both tools are designed for bootlace ferrules, not tubular power lugs, ring terminals or power splices. The K 507 WF can also take the optional PV502 die for specified photovoltaic connectors, provided the contact-system compatibility is checked.

Choosing the right crimping tool starts with the right type of connection, as my guide to crimping lugs and ferrules explains.

If your wiring doesn’t go beyond 10 mm², which covers the vast majority of cabinets, panels and device connections, the K32 is enough, and it stays in the bag.

If you regularly prepare 16 to 50 mm² ferrules, only the K 507 WF covers them, and its dies stored in the handle save you the bag of spares.

The positioning may be surprising: the K 507 WF covers more cross-sections than the K32 despite a simpler build. The explanation is simple — the K32 includes the patented rotary mechanism and an automatic adjustment, while the K 507 WF is a classic plier accompanied by three sets of dies.

On paper, the TWIST-it technology justifies positioning above the cross-section range.

The Klauke catalogue open on the workbench shows the whole family: cutting, stripping and crimping pliers sit side by side in the same chapter, and the K507 family sits alongside the K32 there.

This is useful reading before buying: Klauke doesn’t sell a plier, it sells a connection logic, and the accessories matter as much as the basic tool.

Reference check: 6 mm² or 10 mm²?

A distributor datasheet for the K32 contradicts itself: its title states “0.14-6 mm²”, while its technical data gives a “crimping range 0.14 to 10 mm²”. The blister packaging also indicates 0.14-10 mm², and the tool itself is engraved 0.14-10 mm² on the head.

Klauke officially states 0.14-10 mm² for single ferrules and 2×0.25-2×4 mm² for twin ferrules.

This kind of title mismatch is a classic of distributor listings fed by several channels: the title comes from an old catalogue, the technical data from another one. The risk for the buyer is wrongly missing out on the 10 mm², or conversely taking the product for another model.

The fix is simple: check the range on the official Klauke page and on the tool itself before buying, not on the distributor’s title alone.

My verdicts on the two crimpers

What the Klauke collaboration changes, and what it doesn’t change

These crimpers were gifted by Klauke. What that changes: I didn’t pay for the tools and I was able to handle them, photograph them and compare them on my workbench before publishing.

What that doesn’t change: if I found the crimpers mediocre, the article would say so. The mug lying around in the photos, sent with the crimpers, remains a mug.

By the same logic, these two manual crimpers don’t cover all crimping: for cable lugs and power connections, electro-hydraulic machines remain the subject, and the history of the Klauke brand recounts that move upmarket.

The manual ferrule crimpers, for their part, have their place at the end of the chain, on wiring connections.

Quiz: the useful reference points

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