I am installing some security cameras and purchased 1000 feet of cable that I need to install RG59 BNC compression cable ends on and so I purchased a tool.  Well the tool didn’t ship with any instructions (not even a diagram) so I had to figure it out myself.  Here’s what I learned.  These instructions apply specifically to the connectors I have linked above and the tools linked above as well.

How to Install RG59 BNC Compression Coax Connectors

Hardware Needed:

• Valley BNC Male Compression Coax Connectors RG59 Pack of 10, Part Number: B001C6HAUY
• Coax Compression Connector Adjustable Tool for RG59 RG6 F BNC RCA
• BestDealUSA Coaxial Cable Stripper Coax Stripping Hand Tool for RG59/6/7/11 CAT 5E CAT 6
• RG59 Coaxial Cable (for our security cameras): UL Listed RG59 Siamese 1000 ft. Coaxial CCTV Cable – Combo 20 AWG RG59 + 18/2 18AWG Power

The first thing I learned is that you ought to purchase a Cable Stripper Tool.  I purchased this one on Amazon.
The Valley Compression tool comes with three different tips:

Compression tool tips

Compression tool tip storage (threaded) holes

Compression tool tips in storage on the handle

Step 1: Install the flat tip on the tool as seen below:

Here’s the flat tip installed in the RG59 compression tool

Step 2: Adjust the height to be as shown below by turning the bolt and then locking it in place with the nut.

The measurement is 5/8″ from the metal body of the tool to the top face of the flat tip.

Measurement for perfect installation of the brand of compression ends I link at the top of this post

Step 3: Set up the coax stripper.

The cutter block can be oriented in two different ways, the 59 needs to be on top as shown below.  If it is not slide it out, flip it over and reinsert.  It will only slide out one side.

Cutter block of coax stripper tool inserted for RG59 cables

Step 4: Strip off the end of the coax.

Orient the cable as shown below.  The important part is where you have the end of the coax lined up.  My experience has been that usually I would have it overlapping too much and therefore the bare conductor would be too long.

Lining up the coax with the RG59 coax stripping tool

Step 5:  While holding the cable, spin the stripper around the cable to make the cut.

My tool never has done a good job of cutting the outside shielding and I’ve needed to do more work to cut all the way through.

For some reason the tool never did make a good cut through the exterior shielding:

It’s difficult to see but there is only a slight cut into the shielding

There is another cutter on the tool with an adjustable depth blade that you can use to cut the exterior shielding.  Adjust it so it doesn’t cut through the copper braiding (and you must line it up by eye on the cut you made in the beginning of this step:

Cutting through the exterior shielding

This is what you should have then.  The exposed copper conductor should measure 1/4″.

Coax cable stripped

Step 6: Fold the copper shielding back over the insulation.

The braided copper shielding folded back

Step 7: Push the stripped cable into the connector by hand.

Important Note: make sure the conductor is straight before you push it on because the conductor will bend over and short out of you are not careful.  You will feel the cable stop when it is inserted all the way.

The coax pushed up into the RG59 Connector by hand

Step 8: Check for a short.

Once you have hand-inserted the cable into the compression fitting I recommend double-checking that you do not have a short between the center conductor and the shielding.  If you catch it now you can keep from waisting a compression fitting and just pull out the cable and fix the problem and start back at 6.  If you don’t catch it now you’ll need to cut off the connector and do it again and your cable will be an inch shorter and you’ll need to throw away the messed-up connector.  I did this mistake a couple times when learning how to install these.  The resistance reading should be nearly infinite:

Checking for a short

Step 9:  Apply the compression fitting.

Open the jaws of the tool as seen below.

Compression tool’s jaws open

Insert the cable into the tool like this until the jaws close like this:

Compression tool clamped around cable

Squeeze the handle of the compression tool until it clicks.  Their should only be a (~1mm) thin black band remaining as seen below:

Compression fitting applied

Once you do a few of these you’ll get good at them.  Hopefully this tutorial helps you.  This is what the finished product should look like:

Coax Cable with RG59 Compression Connector Installed

Here’s a list of everything you’ll need:

• Valley BNC Male Compression Coax Connectors RG59 Pack of 10 , Part Number: B001C6HAUY
• Coax Compression Connector Adjustable Tool for RG59 RG6 F BNC RCA
• BestDealUSA Coaxial Cable Stripper Coax Stripping Hand Tool for RG59/6/7/11 CAT 5E CAT 6
• RG59 Coaxial Cable (for our security cameras): UL Listed RG59 Siamese 1000 ft. Coaxial CCTV Cable – Combo 20 AWG RG59 + 18/2 18AWG Power