Crimping tools

[Matata]

I'm replacing 35mm battery leads and plan to do some occasional crimping else where. i've seen hydraulic crimping tools on e bay. They come with a series of tools to crimp various sizes. Another design is the giant plier lever type. Has anyone any suggestions or advise. Regards and a happy Christmas Nic

 

[swifty]

I have used the hydraulic crimping tool purchased off Ebay with excellent results.

 

[bobthesailor2]

Hi Nic
I too have 35mm battery wiring. I bought a pair of used indent crimpers (about 18" long) to do mine, but I was not satisfied with the crimps - not tight enough without soldering in addition.
I put them back on eBay and luckily made nearly £40 profit! I can now buy a set of the cheapest new hydraulic ones which do hexagonal crimps. They may not be top quality, but I hope they'll be ok for the limited use I'll give them.
Regards
Bob

 

[sarabande]

I've just looked at those ebay small hydraulic crimping presses.


Some Qs.

1 which size is the best for standard battery cable pls (12v, 110 Ahr batteries, boat and car

2 if one got an engineering workshop to make up a cutting die instead of the crimping die, would the tool be OK to use for emergency rigging wire cutting ? I see there is only a 10mm gap.

 

[JSK]

And soldered too

We have the Ebay crimping tool works well but soldered with gas lamp as well on battery terminals.

 

[Malish]

I got the 6-50mml option from vehicle wiring products (second one down)
http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.eu/VWP-onlinestore/battconns/battcrimp.php

worked a treat 5 years ago, connections still perfect good, no soldering needed

 

[santelmo]

I bought one of these
http://www.kimballmidwest.com/Catalo...3.315.467.3573

from an electrician in Malta its great. best used with a vice but can be used with a hammer. I think that you woukd need to have it shipped though.

 

[Billjratt]

I just use copper pipe of the right bore soldered to the wire and hammered flat/drilled.
A hot air paintstripper augments the 75watt iron. Tin (plate) the whole thing with solder and it will look nice longer.

 

[santelmo]

sorry my link doesnt seam to work try this one
http://www.boatersworld.com/product/MP80819694.htm

its called the crimpace and would have to be shipped from the USA, but they are very good and worth having onboard you can get them cheaper than the above source

 

[petehitch]

I have also used the hydraulic crimping tool from ebay. Can highly recommend, excellent results.
You need the 4 to 70mm, costs 49.99 and free postage.

 

[mitiempo]

santeimo
The crimpers you purchased are not going to give you as good a crimp as possible. A good crimp "cold welds" the wire and requires a lot of pressure. The proper shaped dies are in good crimpers. Here's a link to making proper battery cables and the crimpers that cost effectively do the best job. I use the long handled ones in the link and they're excellent. http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/battery_cables

 

[2Tizwoz]

I've crimped hundreds of lugs and connections using this type with no problems.

The pictures are from an ebay listing (click here)

As they are adjustable rather than using fixed size tooling, they will accommodate varying size cable and tags. As others have said tinning helps to resist corrosion, but I haven't found that electrically necessary.

 

[mitiempo]

That looks like it uses plenty of force but does not give a crimp that is squeezed in on all sides like in the link I posted. But it is much better than the one you hit with a hammer or use in a vise. A proper crimper also has dies for each different size lug. $232 US at http://shop.genuinedealz.com/Items/...itle=Heavy Duty Crimping Tool 6 AWG - 250 MCM