sundance-communications.com/forum Forums Wiring - Telecom Carriers - Trunks & Services Cabling Telephones Systems Wiring Krone bit for Ideal Punchmaster II tool

Hi guys. I work as a CLEC voice/dsl install contractor as a second job. Ex-Verizon now Fairpoint territory. I've run into to a handful of residential locations and a lot of offices where VZ had wired the customer premise wiring to a 6 or 8 pair Krone punchdown block, or that the customer wiring was to be terminated at a Krone punchdown block coming from the NID. I currently have an Ideal Punchmaster II punchdown tool. I'd like to confirm that the Ideal Krone bit would work on the Krone blocks that VZ loves to install.

tool I have: https://www.idealindustries.com/products/datacomm/tools/punchmaster2_turn-lock.jsp

bit that Ideal makes for the tool: https://www.idealindustries.com/prodDetail.do?prodId=35-478

Backstory: I had to get the customer wiring reconfigured on one job in particular, and I know it is a big no-no, but I used the "pass-through" end of the 110 bit to punchdown some customer prem wiring into a Krone block that VZ had installed previously for the residential customer. I carefully applied enough pressure to punch the wiring into the block but not enough to break the connector itself.

Does this bit have a similar design to the 66/110 block bits, where one end is the cut/terminate and the other end is the "pass-through" wiring?

Lastly, I've googled around and saw that this bit sells for at the minimum for $50.00, which seems a bit excessive for the amount of use I would use this bit for. Anyone know a place that would have the bit for slightly cheaper, or an alternative bit that would work fine in my Ideal Punchmaster tool?

Thanks in advance.

Yes it will.

All of the Krone blades I have ever seen were not reversable. But the "dually" blade will do 110 and krone.

Hope that helps

The reason it is expensive will become apparent once you see the blade. It doesn't have a knife type brute force cutter but rather a scissor that operates when the blade is pushed down. There are some mechanical parts involved and it is quite different than the single piece 66 and 110 blades. Incidently, the BIX blade is very similar.

That said, newer Krone blocks allow you to use a 110 blade as well as the Krone. Problem is you won't know what is new and what is older. So unless you are installing brand new Krone blocks you really need to stick with the Krone blade because a 110 blade will damage the older blocks.

If I were you I would get a Krone and a BIX if you want to be in the business and not worry about the $100 bucks.

The new blocks will also allow two wires per clip but that never bothered the telco guys who jam two into the old ones anyway.

-Hal

Verizon started using the blocks here so I went to eBay and bought the Actually krone tool for around 10

I just checked and there are a lot listed there now just search for Krone tool

Yeah, if you can get your hands on the tool made by Krone, that's even better than the third party blades. (German engineering you know.) That price is a real bargain, grab them up. Probably no one knows what they are.

Something else you might want is a test plug. That feature is what makes Krone blocks what they are.

-Hal

So something like this:
https://cgi.ebay.com/KRONE-Punch-Do...171QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Maybe not from that exact seller, but the tools all look the same from all of the auctions I've seen.

I don't install any Krone blocks, but have to use them when they are there.

The CLEC I work for was nice enough to provide me a full Krone test adapter kit, which is pretty much mandatory when doing CO port tests, which I do on occasion. I just hope I don't break the end connector on the Krone adapter as it appears to be pretty fragile.

That's the one. Even has the fold out picks.

I just hope I don't break the end connector on the Krone adapter as it appears to be pretty fragile.

Won't break but they do wear out. There are two types also. One that just plugs into the block and doesn't split the block. That one is a plug with ears. Then there is the one that does split the block. That one has a cord with two pairs terminated with bananna plugs. You can use it like that or do as I do and cut the cable back before the breakout and press a 4 pin/6 pos plug onto it. That way I keep it plugged into one side of a banjo that also has a short line cord on the other side. Keep it handy in my tool pouch and I'm ready to connect to either side of a Krone or jacks at a moments notice.

-Hal

Awesome thanks for the advice everyone. Great forum here btw.

I know you've probably already got your answer, but I agree with the previous posts. The best tool for Krone blocks is an original Krone tool. I've got both original tools and the aftermarket blades for my D814 and even on light mode I feel like I'm gonna break the block. Plus the cutting action on the OEM tool seems to work a bit better.

True. But I would need this tool like a handful of times a year. I think like twice last year it would have been nice. For like 5 punchdowns. As long as the aftermarket tool doesn't break the block, I should be okay. If I were to be making a living putting the Krones in, then yeah I'd invest in a real one. For that matter, I don't even know where to get a real one.