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CRIMPING 6 pages of detail

Very helpful. I knew these cheap aluminum terminals were crap but it seems they are everywhere. Also I didn't know there existed crimping tools of such high caliber.
 
For many applications, and especially military, aircraft and aerospace, the only crimpers that can be used are those specifically designed or designated by the termination manufacturer for the particular termination. Crimping specifications will then include what settings to use on that particular tool. For example, can't use a Panduit crimper for Amp terminals.

Nearly all the correct crimpers will be of the ratcheting type that (when set properly) automatically compress and crimp only as far as needed, then release. It could be compared to using "clicker" type torque wrenches.
 
That was a long read for what was essentially an advertisement of a particular tool, but filled with loads of good information. Makes me happy I bought a decent crimping tool along with my vintage connectors
 
850GT_Rider said:
For many applications, and especially military, aircraft and aerospace, the only crimpers that can be used are those specifically designed or designated by the termination manufacturer for the particular termination. Crimping specifications will then include what settings to use on that particular tool. For example, can't use a Panduit crimper for Amp terminals.

Nearly all the correct crimpers will be of the ratcheting type that (when set properly) automatically compress and crimp only as far as needed, then release. It could be compared to using "clicker" type torque wrenches.
Click to expand...

For all these reasons is why I recommend for the DIY type to buy ONLY one of these if you want to avoid spending $2K on a fully selection of crimpers. It is the most versatile crimper becuase it does not combine insulation with conductor crimp and it is a parallelogram type v.s. scissor type crimper which does not twist the crimp.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Molex-Style...869648?hash=item19ffbeb110:g:NeIAAOSwie5XS-lT


For the motorcycle environment I couple this with small amount of solder directly at the end of the crimp (avoiding wicking beyond the insulation crimp) for mechanical and electrical reliability.

I have been using this same crimper to crimp 2.5mm JST contacts; I used a grinding wheel to narrow the jaws to about 3 mm.
 
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"the only crimpers that can be used are those specifically designed or designated by the termination manufacturer" and "open barrel only"- I hadn't thought of that!...varying insulation thickness and what-all? So the open barrel crimps once made can be insulated with shrink tube? That sounds like the most versatile way for sure.
I just got some open-barrel spade connectors from local store thinking they were merely useful for the motorcyle's multi connectors but I had to order them. ALL the auto outlets are very strong marketing collections of the vinyl coated connectors and have certainly led ME astray. RETHINK! eh?
 
Until I ran out of aircraft crimp connectors that's what I used. Shrink tubing over them works great. Need to get more, they are good if you have the right tool. Haven't found any of decent quality anywhere, can't find any connectors without the stupid plastic parts which make proper crimping impossible. I guess I should go visit the local boat place.
 
I'm sure many of the long-time members here know of these guys, but for others who don't:

http://vintageconnections.com/

The crimping tool they offer is pretty good, but I do find it a smidge wide for some connectors. I never thought about grinding the jaws like posplayr has.
 
Tkent, per "I guess I should go visit the local boat place". No-you don't want to do that! anything for a yacht has a huge premium... though every so often commercial chandlers can be good...
I ordered at my auto-parts place....

I like that vintageconnections.com! but shipping and exchange rate keeps me hunting around the local town. I expect I can get all that here but it needs more hunting about.
 
850GT_Rider said:
For many applications, and especially military, aircraft and aerospace, the only crimpers that can be used are those specifically designed or designated by the termination manufacturer for the particular termination. Crimping specifications will then include what settings to use on that particular tool. For example, can't use a Panduit crimper for Amp terminals.

Nearly all the correct crimpers will be of the ratcheting type that (when set properly) automatically compress and crimp only as far as needed, then release. It could be compared to using "clicker" type torque wrenches.
Click to expand...


I've used them many times on EA-6B jets. some sets come with interchangeable jaws for different size terminals. they can be a PITA in cramped spaces or with short wires. the ones I'm most familiar with are the ones that use 4 pins 90* apart from each other that compress 4 sides of the terminal. I actually kinda like and miss those. otherwise what I like to do is solder wires together and if I have to put a terminal on, I remove the plastic insulator, put a SLIGHT crimp on the terminal, then finish by soldering the terminal to the wire and then run some heat shrink over the soldered part of the terminal
 
60ratrod said:
the ones I'm most familiar with are the ones that use 4 pins 90* apart from each other that compress 4 sides of the terminal. I actually kinda like and miss those.
Click to expand...

I have that crimper, left over from when I was an electrician at Boeing, but can't find the connectors for it anywhere. It really worked well until Boeing Surplus closed it's doors and I ran out.
 
tkent02 said:
I have that crimper, left over from when I was an electrician at Boeing, but can't find the connectors for it anywhere. It really worked well until Boeing Surplus closed it's doors and I ran out.
Click to expand...

it won't work with unshielded connectors? I say unshielded cause some of the pins I had to crimp were TINY! I'd think that unshielded connectors or connectors with the shields removed would work ok.
 
I have used the el-cheapo crimper to great effect on any occasions. I guess you just need to know how to use a tool to make it effective?
I always crimp as many times as the collapsible tube on the connector allows. Never had a connector pull out once. But then most connections are not created for mountain climbing ropes.
 
tkent02 said:
I have that crimper, left over from when I was an electrician at Boeing, but can't find the connectors for it anywhere. It really worked well until Boeing Surplus closed it's doors and I ran out.
Click to expand...

I loved going there when I worked at the Wichita facility. I have a couple of those crimpers somewhere. I may even have some of the connectors. I know i had a lot of them at one time. Next time I'm out in the shop, I'll look and see.
 
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