crimpers, which work best Options

[brownaar]

Sorry,
I spoke incorrectly. I have used the Thomas and Betts WT111M for years. The Klein looks a lot like it, but I didn't have access to my tools when I posted the first time. It's great. Wire range is 22-10AWG and it has 2 crimp sizes as well as a cutter.(IMG:http://www.specialized.net/ecommerce/shop/images/272X190_PLI.JPG)

[Jeffs9146]

QUOTE

Sorry, I spoke incorrectly. I have used the Thomas and Betts WT111M for years. The Klein looks a lot like it, but I didn't have access to my tools when I posted the first time. It's great. Wire range is 22-10AWG and it has 2 crimp sizes as well as a cutter.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/agree.gif)

That's the best crimper! I have had the same pair for 18 years. I used to be the cellphone installer for Cellular One/AT&T when I was younger.

[J P Stein]

I used to wire up electric boilers......had a pair for 20 years & lost em'.Went & bought arother pair. Sta-Kon, eh? Never could speel worth spit. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif)

[Porcharu]

Those crimpers look just like the ones I got at OSH.
I went to Fry's and halted at lunch today - nothing at all crimper wise. Fry's has a bunch of network and telco stuff nothing else, halted had some crap.

[Spoke]

QUOTE (andys @ Dec 13 2005, 01:00 PM)

For all the various wire sizes and connector combinations, why would you not want to solder and heat-shrink the connections?

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/agree.gif)

Unless you have one of those hi-tech crimpers, the cheaper ones usually just squeeze the metal in one place around the wire. The wire and metal will oxidize and could eventually cause a bad connection.

I always solder and heat shrink all connections, especially for wire-to-wire connections.

Spoke

[bwilless]

The T&B set are my choice.

[mightyohm]

Well I took the advice of several folks here and bought a Thomas and Betts WT111M STA-KON Terminal Installing Tool, this is the same one shown in the picture above with the red and black handles.

This is a NICE tool. Specialized Products had one of the lowest prices around, $34 plus S/H.
http://www.specialized.net/ecommerce/shop/...duct_id=272X190

Here is a closeup of the crimping end of the tool. Notice how WIDE the dies are. The tool has some weight to it and the long handles give much needed leverage for crimping larger diameter wires. You can make gorgeous crimps without straining your hands.

[mightyohm]

Here is a comparison of a crimp with the WT111M (top) and a cheapo $10 crimp tool using the non-insul part of the tool (closer to the handle).

The top crimp has a lot more area and took a lot less effort than the bottom crimp. The top crimp also has a much nicer shape and doesn't show bulging of the barrel towards the open end, which I am guessing means a more secure connection.

[McMark]

Thanks for the followup Jeff. I'm gonna have to get one. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wink.gif)

[ClayPerrine]

Added to my list of "must have" tools.


Thanks....

[bondo]

QUOTE (jkeyzer @ Dec 23 2005, 01:25 PM)

Here is a comparison of a crimp with the WT111M (top) and a cheapo $10 crimp tool using the non-insul part of the tool (closer to the handle). The top crimp has a lot more area and took a lot less effort than the bottom crimp. The top crimp also has a much nicer shape and doesn't show bulging of the barrel towards the open end, which I am guessing means a more secure connection.

Cool, now find an adjustable current source and test them both to failure (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smile.gif)

[lapuwali]

Here's the crimp tool I use.

[lapuwali]

Here's the crimp-on connector I use.

[lapuwali]

Here's an example of a crimped connection. Note this takes two crimps, one for the wire, one for the insulation strain relief. I also randomly grabbed a 14g connector and stuck it on an 18g wire, so the wire crimp part isn't perfect. The 18g connector is smaller, and the wire would fill it better.

[McMark]

That's the kind I need to get James. I'm sick of the nasty color coded crap that I've been buying at NAPA. I need the good stuff. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/drooley.gif)

[lapuwali]

The tool I got at Radio Shack for something like $35. Summit Racing also sells a tool like this, for about the same price.

The crimp-on connectors are from Waytek Wire, part no 31703. Problem is, Waytek has a big minimum order (250, I think), which is way more than you need for even a whole end-to-end harness on several cars. McMark, I'm sure you'd use that many eventually.

The same tool can also be used on the pins for the Weatherpak waterproof multipin connectors, which have a similar crimp type. You can get these from Waytek, too. Again, however, the minimum order is fairly sizeable. If you order everything you need from Waytek for a complete harness (wire, connectors, heat-shrink, and wire covering), you'll end up spending about $300, and you'll use about 1/4 of what you buy on one car.

After crimping, heat-shrink should be used over the connector and the crimp, to insulate it. If you really want to do a perfect job, use two sizes of heat shrink, one that just barely fits over the crimped part up to where the spade flares out, and the other that just barely fits over the spade itself, and extends down onto the crimped area a bit. Once done, this should last for decades even in the 914 engine bay with the rain tray removed, which is about the worst case scenario for any wiring job.

On longer wiring runs, heat-proof wire covering should be used to contain bundles of wires, esp. those wires that are in the engine bay, or run through bulkhead holes.

[McMark]

I'm thinking that I should order a few different sizes and sell them here for people. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/idea.gif)

[smooth_eddy]

The T&B, Klein and Ideal are the best general use crimpers. As a 22 year commercial electrician, I rarely solder. It's a great electrical connection but a lousy mechanical connection. One set of crimpers won't do it all, the ones above will go a long way. Eddy

[mightyohm]

James, the crimp terminals you have are the real deal, and I intend to get an open barrel crimper in addition to closed barrel crimper I just bought. The closed barrel stuff is good for larger gauge wires or quick and dirty stuff. I think it is important to have both tools if you plan to do any serious wiring. Those waytek terminals are really nice.

[chrisg]

James,
Do you have a part # for that radio shack crimper? That's what I've been looking for but haven't been able to find.