I bought a crimping tool a few years ago and have to say that I haven't found anything that works better. It's a lifetime tool. I think I paid $60 or thereabouts - 4 cases of beer - perfect crimps every time. Charlie
VT- I have the Taylor tool. It's really not as usefull as you might think. The stripper/cutter part is identical to a standard wire stripper, and the part that crimps the wire terminal to the wire could easily be done with pliers, a punch, and a hammer. Ed PS- I re-read your post. Strip the wires with a $5 craftsman wire stripper. I'm sure you have one in your tool box already. Like I said above, it's the same exact tool as the Taylor. Ed
[ QUOTE ] I bought a crimping tool a few years ago and have to say that I haven't found anything that works better. It's a lifetime tool. I think I paid $60 or thereabouts [/ QUOTE ] I am buying a better tool for the next set of wires that I crimp. Ed
Take a short 2-3 inch long piece of 1X2 lumber and drill a hole slightly smaller than your plug wires in it. Then cut the 1X2 in half thru the hole. Put your wire and crimp between the 2 halves and put in your vice and squeeze together slowly. You end up with almost a perfect crimp. If you want a little additional insurance lay the crimped wire on half of your 1X2 and use a punch to put a dimple in the crimp to hold a little better. Also spend a few bucks for a good wire stripper and it will make the job go much better. Don't forget to put your boot on the wire before you crimp, don't ask why I know that. Put a little Dawn dish detergent wire on the wires to make putting the boots on the wire easier. It will wipe off beter than oil or silicone. This method has worked great for me.
most cut to fit wires these dayz come with a small crimping to in them. you put it in the vise and camp it down.
I got the little "pencil sharpener" from Mallory for stripping the wires...you can't beat it. Mallory's crimping/cutting tool is fair, but I probably wouldn't buy another. MSD's crimper, on the other hand, is worth every dime. It's got a ratcheting jaw that gets the crimp perfect every time (granted you put the plug end in correctly).
[ QUOTE ] most cut to fit wires these dayz come with a small crimping to in them. you put it in the vise and camp it down. [/ QUOTE ] <font color="green"> YUP. Last set I bought had the two little metal pieces. Worked prtty good. I saw a tech post where someone took those two pieces and welded them to a set of vice grips. I really liked that idea as it eliminated the need for a third hand. RASHY </font>
Damn we are GOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!!...question answered NO funny **** and on top of that a pattern to form by!! I love the HAMB and HATE all the Newbies at the same time
VT- If you can picture those two halves mated to your average wire crimper, you have the Taylor tool. Ed
I bought an Accel crimper & have to say it was worth every penny, i think it came from PAW or somewhere like that. & yeah its a tool for life unless some lowlife steals it!
The best crimping tool that I have found is the higher quality cable tv fitting crimper at Radio Shack. It has two sizes is about 1/2" thick so it crimps the entire end. It is the same tool that cable installers use. I'll crimp with the bigger opening then if I don't think it was enough I may lightly crimp it some more with the smaller opening. I've thrown my crimping tools away and only use this crimper now.
Here's the Accel crimpers helded to an old pair of plyers. I hated them before I welded them to the plyers. Now they work great. Clark