lumphammer
Active member
I've seen the sort that press a dimple into the top of the terminal and the hydraulic ones that compress the terminal from all sides. My feeling is that the hydraulic ones are better, but is there a difference?
Which crimper for copper tube terminals
- Thread starter lumphammer
- Start date
Boathook
Well-known member
I've used a C.K model T3676 for tube terminals. Does 6, 10, 16 and 25mm square cable. Puts a bit of a dimple onto the fitting. Haven't had a problem yet with the cables that I have done.
Hydraulic would possibly be better for the larger size cables.
PaulRainbow
Well-known member
The hydraulic one is vastly better. Make a crimp, cut the terminal in half and the cable looks like a solid copper bar.
PaulRainbow
Well-known member
Norman_E
Well-known member
I have one like this. 6mm² - 50mm² Plug Crimp Crimping Tool Battery Cable Lug Hex Terminal Crimper | eBay
It squeezes the terminal into a hexagon shape, and I have attempted to pull terminals off, and failed.
It squeezes the terminal into a hexagon shape, and I have attempted to pull terminals off, and failed.
KompetentKrew
Well-known member
Having used @GHA's hydraulic crimper on a number of occasions, very similar to those on @PaulRainbow's eBay links, it doesn't crimp 50mm terminals properly - you have to use the 35mm, which gives a mangled-looking crimp (but a perfectly secure one, as far as I can tell). I assume this is a minor manufacturing defect with the crimper's 50mm dies - it leaves the terminal slightly too lose and the wire just falls out.
As a consequence I would favour the dimple type if I ever had to buy my own, but I'm not sure I'd pay twice as much for one.
As a consequence I would favour the dimple type if I ever had to buy my own, but I'm not sure I'd pay twice as much for one.
Keith-i
Well-known member
The lugs play a significant role in the process. Cheap lugs with thin walls don’t have enough volume to work properly. Get some decent lugs and the hydraulic crimper is the way.
MikeCC
Well-known member
I'd echo the comment about the dies not being ideal on the eBay type hydraulic crimper. Even using good quality ones with a thick wall doesn't help.
However if you start with correct size and then go down one, but don't close the dies right up you can get a decent result without little 'wings' forming on the terminal. No, it's not a factory finish but I think more robust than dimple punch type, with better contact area overall.
However if you start with correct size and then go down one, but don't close the dies right up you can get a decent result without little 'wings' forming on the terminal. No, it's not a factory finish but I think more robust than dimple punch type, with better contact area overall.
iamtjc
Member
Another alternative (less extreme than going down a size) is to use a strip of copper sheet as a shim in the die of an ebay hydraulic crimper. A couple of my dies were a touch too big and this worked well for me.
GrahamHR
Well-known member
I bought one of that type some 7 years ago, a lot cheaoer then ! They work fine, the crimps are very neat There is about 9 sets of dies in the one I bought. , As usual, with China sourced stuff it seems , the hydraulic seals are poor, so there is oil leakage. It still works though. I wonder about the hydraulics on Chinese miltary stuff !
fredrussell
Well-known member
I do the same and then file off any sharpness on wings before heat shrinking them.
starfire
Well-known member
The crimpers are designed for installation conductors, with a lot less strands, rather than battery cables which have lots of fine strands for flexibility, these crush down more during crimping.
I have crimped both, something like 95mm or 50mm steel wire armoured produces good crimps, fine stranded flexible needs go down a die size & trim the flash
Yngmar
Well-known member
I've got one of those £30 hydraulic ones from China and it does a good job. Made quite a few cables or borrowed the thing out to others. Some minor issues, the magnets holding the dies fell out once, but a drop of glue fixed that, and the label on the valve fell off, but it's still working fine after many crimps and never had to refill oil.
Important to buy good quality cable shoes, the cheapo ones don't have enough material and you have to go down a size die because the terminal walls are too thin. With quality ones that wasn't the case and they fit the size printed on them.
Don't forget to put the heatshrink over the cable before crimping ;-)
Important to buy good quality cable shoes, the cheapo ones don't have enough material and you have to go down a size die because the terminal walls are too thin. With quality ones that wasn't the case and they fit the size printed on them.
Don't forget to put the heatshrink over the cable before crimping ;-)
