Wire Terminal Crimpers - What do you use?

Posted By: STLDuster

Wire Terminal Crimpers - What do you use? - 03/11/10 06:15 PM

I am looking at upgradeing my wire crimpers. I have always used the cheap ones that came in a kit from the autoparts store.

This style:

What would you recomend for an upgrade?

Posted By: StukaJU87

Re: Wire Terminal Crimpers - What do you use? - 03/11/10 06:42 PM

Mine looks pretty similar to that and works fine. I suppose there might be some really nice ones out there, but I never looked.

Posted By: 500Stroker

Re: Wire Terminal Crimpers - What do you use? - 03/11/10 08:38 PM

I upgraded from those to this.

http://www.amazon.com/Channellock-909-Cr...9871&sr=8-3

Posted By: PlumCrazy73Dodge

Re: Wire Terminal Crimpers - What do you use? - 03/11/10 08:40 PM

I agree with

TO crimp they are better and get a tighter crimp...the other style can still do your stripping and odds and ends

Posted By: Lefty

Re: Wire Terminal Crimpers - What do you use? - 03/11/10 09:10 PM

These work the best from my experience and I've tried them all in a lifetime of working in electronics. I can say from experience these work better then the blue handle ones in the pic as I've had both.

$20 is cheap too...

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/OTC-4497/

Posted By: 2DoorPost

Re: Wire Terminal Crimpers - What do you use? - 03/11/10 09:43 PM

I use a small vise grip

Posted By: sg66mopar

Re: Wire Terminal Crimpers - What do you use? - 03/11/10 09:46 PM

Quote:

These work the best from my experience and I've tried them all in a lifetime of working in electronics. I can say from experience these work better then the blue handle ones in the pic as I've had both.

$20 is cheap too...

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/OTC-4497/

Built and wired trailers for 26 years. These, or any similar decent quality substitute are by far the best.

Posted By: scratchnfotraction

Re: Wire Terminal Crimpers - What do you use? - 03/11/10 09:52 PM

I use a set of klien crimper...looks like the blue channel lock ones posted

Posted By: STLDuster

Re: Wire Terminal Crimpers - What do you use? - 03/11/10 09:59 PM

Quote:

I upgraded from those to this.

Hmmm... My Dad has a set of those in his tool box that I have been overlooking for years. To be honest I didn't know what they were.

Thanks for the tips, I am going to have to try out a set like those from Summit.

Posted By: Jim_Lusk

Re: Wire Terminal Crimpers - What do you use? - 03/11/10 10:00 PM

It really depends on what type of terminals you are crimping. I recently got some factory-style terminals and went looking for a tool that would put a factory-style crimp on. That tool is not easy to find, but my boss had one at home...... Well, ok, it's not that they are hard to find, but they are expensive.

Posted By: STLDuster

Re: Wire Terminal Crimpers - What do you use? - 03/11/10 10:04 PM

Quote:

It really depends on what type of terminals you are crimping...

Something like these from Napa, Crimp-on not the solder-on (old picture)

Posted By: Boise Chall

Re: Wire Terminal Crimpers - What do you use? - 03/11/10 10:06 PM

I remove the piece of plastic on the crimp area of the terminal slide a piece of shrink tube on the wire crimp the terminal with a set of panduit crimpers then solder the wire/terminal then slide the shrink tube over the crimp area of the terminal and shrink it this makes a perfectly conductive permanent connection

Posted By: Hangtowner

Re: Wire Terminal Crimpers - What do you use? - 03/11/10 10:12 PM

The crimper from Griot's Garage is from Germany and is quite fantastic and a pleasure to use.

Posted By: John_Kunkel

Re: Wire Terminal Crimpers - What do you use? - 03/11/10 11:05 PM

A good crimper for insulated terminals should crimp both the terminal and also crimp the strain relief portion behind it onto the wire insulation in one operation.

Posted By: j3wbagell

Re: Wire Terminal Crimpers - What do you use? - 03/11/10 11:08 PM

THese are hands down amazing "Ceramic tile nippers"

Posted By: Sport440

Re: Wire Terminal Crimpers - What do you use? - 03/11/10 11:31 PM

Quote:

A good crimper for insulated terminals should crimp both the terminal and also crimp the strain relief portion behind it onto the wire insulation in one operation.

Now when I see that type, and pic thats the crimper I want. There out there ,I think you can get them on Ebay for around $30 bus or so. mike

Posted By: sthemi

Re: Wire Terminal Crimpers - What do you use? - 03/12/10 12:04 AM

I finally broke down and bought a pair with the spring loaded fingers that allow you to strip the wire in the jaws by squeezing them closed.
It is a great tool for fixing wires under the dash or in a bad place because you only need one hand to strip off the insulation, instead of one hand to hold the pliers and the other to pull the wire thru....

Posted By: 62maxwgn

Re: Wire Terminal Crimpers - What do you use? - 03/12/10 01:43 AM

Quote:

It really depends on what type of terminals you are crimping. I recently got some factory-style terminals and went looking for a tool that would put a factory-style crimp on. That tool is not easy to find, but my boss had one at home...... Well, ok, it's not that they are hard to find, but they are expensive.

If you go to NAPA,they have the correct tool to crimp factory type terminals.Paid around $35.They also have the terminals.

Attached picture 5859320-P3110130.JPG

Posted By: CHAPPER

Re: Wire Terminal Crimpers - What do you use? - 03/12/10 02:02 AM

Sta-Kon brand is good if you cam find them. I have one I have used for 25+ years and still crimps and cuts like new. Long handles for extra leverage.

Posted By: Jim_Lusk

Re: Wire Terminal Crimpers - What do you use? - 03/12/10 03:18 AM

The NAPA price on the terminals is excessive at best. I found them in similar quantities at a local supplier for less than 1/4 of NAPA's price.

Posted By: denfireguy

Re: Wire Terminal Crimpers - What do you use? - 03/12/10 03:18 AM

Quote:

These work the best from my experience and I've tried them all in a lifetime of working in electronics. I can say from experience these work better then the blue handle ones in the pic as I've had both.

$20 is cheap too...

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/OTC-4497/

Another vote. Ratcheting crimpers are state of the art in electronics. I crimp coax, battery leads, radio wiring and Power Pole connectors in applications where lives depend on their dependability. Ratchets apply the crimp with the right force before they release, not before and not after. The result is a uniformly good crimp and repeatable over and over.
Craig

Posted By: Lefty

Re: Wire Terminal Crimpers - What do you use? - 03/12/10 06:01 PM

Quote:

A good crimper for insulated terminals should crimp both the terminal and also crimp the strain relief portion behind it onto the wire insulation in one operation.

This one does that better than any others I've tried. Nice crimp in the wire portion and on the insulator portion.