battery cable crimpers

[bindernut]

Hey guys, looking for a reasonably priced crimper for doing battery cables. It has to be able to do 1/0 & 2/0 cable as i make my own heavy duty cables for my tractors.

Thanks
Mark

 

[Wanna Ride]

A buddy of mine owns an automotive electrical shop (starters, alternators, etc) and he has a set of dies that are like a hundred years old. He sets the female die on the anvil, lays the wire/connector in the female die, lays the male die on top of that, and just whacks it with a BFH.

But then again, he's a cheap SOB, and can't see spending money when something already works.

Me... I'd just go buy a good set of regular crimpers.

 

[PAToyota]

One of these.

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

I have the same tool PAToyota linked above. I works fine, but I still end up with some odd size ends that I can only "crimp" with a hammer and a punch.
I also solder 'em for the best electrical conection and use the heavy sealant line heat shrink to keep moisture out.

 

[cortez]

One of these.

Nice site, lots of nice solutions --I bookmarked it.

 

[bindernut]

Looks like what I need, thanks PAToyota. I don't make many cables, so I don't need anything fancy. Is that site good to deal with, or where should I buy it?

 

[scott37300]

One of these.

That is a really good price if it's a quality crimper.

I used to compete in car stereo comps about 10 years ago and played with miles of 1/0 calbe and ends. My sponser had a really nice hammer crimper and I looked into buying one but it was 200+ so I just used the shops.

 

[wreckercologist]

One of these.

This is the most economical solution for a dedicated cable crimper. There are better, but not cheaper, plus this style does a pretty fair job. My only complaint is sometime you need three hands to work it. One for the hammer, one for the crimper, and one to hold the cable and keep it from slipping out of the terminal.

 

[A29]

http://www.delcity.net/store/Solderless-Connector-Crimping-Tool/p_10383.a_1
Del city has one for 21.53

 

[sanddrag]

For the price, I like this hydraulic crimper: http://www.harborfreight.com/hydraulic-wire-crimping-tool-66150.html

However, the dies are weird sizes, and I'm not confident it would do 1/0 and 2/0 with the dies it comes with (they may be too small). You could probably get some made, or custom make some though.

 

[caper]

For a cheap alternative I often use a set of swaging crimpers for aircraft cables that I picked up at Home Depot for about $40.They work well for most sizes of battery cables.Not big enough once you get to 2/0 but do ok for most automotive applications.They look like a set of bolt cutters.

 

[kbs2244]

Do you have a West Marine store near you?
Every one I have been in is set up to make custom battery cables.

 

[737mechanic]

we use a pair of hydraulic crimpers like the one here hydraulic wire crimping tool except ours are American made and cost a few hundred bucks.

Sanddrag According to the specs they show 00, 0, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 12 gauge wire so even though 1 gauge isn't listed I am sure either 0 or 2 will work OK.

caper Home depot doesn't sell anything made to swag aircraft cables, swagging tools for aircraft are calibrated and cost much more than 40 bucks and are normally air or hydraulic operated and they come with a fixture that holds the swagged cable and lets you proof test it to twice the rated weight before actually installing it on the plane.

Edit: Just read some of the user comments and they say that the gauge sizes are listed for the lug size and NOT the wire size so like sanddrag said they dies might be too small depending on what you size wire you end up crimping.

 

[bindernut]

I've got access to a crimper(looks like a big bolt cutter) at work but I can't borrow it. i need something I can take with me so I can make cables up at the farm, or at home, depending on where the tractor is.

 

[Busted_Knuckles]

I've got access to a crimper(looks like a big bolt cutter) at work but I can't borrow it. i need something I can take with me so I can make cables up at the farm, or at home, depending on where the tractor is.

Ive got a set, sold by AMP, runs from 8 gauge to 4/0, probably 20 years old, its yellow in color, the heads of the crimper have rotating dies. I think I dropped north of $400 for them in the late 80s. still using them. I like making my own cables. I just googled mine, it now sells for $1059.00 , better keep an eye on those..

Any of you guys use solder, or compression fittings on battery cables ? I do all three (crimping being the third). Cant remember the brand, but for car work, I like the compression ones, they are cast copper, coated in tin. I always shrink wrap the ends when I'm done. They are fast, work great, last, and look good. When I'm worried about high amp draw, and durability is not an issue, I do the solder style.

 

[tony p]

What could make a nice compact tool for occasional use would be something like the hammer-crimp device linked above, but with a base that could be clamped in a vice (or even have its own bench-clamp) with the wedge driven down by a threaded post with a hex or a square drive-hole on the top. Then you could do a nice controlled crimp using existing tools for the big, bulky part of the tool. Does such a thing already exist?

As for man-handling the cable itself, some folks here - particularly on race cars - use welder cable for batteries just because it's more flexible and easier to route.

 

[scott37300]

Just saw this on ebay, looks like the one posted above.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...tu=UCC&otn=20&ps=63&clkid=5588348432402469134

 

[mrholeshot]

I built a lot of battery cables for custom builds and race cars. I just chuck up a old V notch wrench in the vice and smack it with a round head punch the solder it and seal it with heat shrink. I've though about buy one of those tools to strike with a hammer but the tool guy never had one and most of the time whn I needed it was late at night. It was a pain doing it by myself. That is a good simple solution

 

[caper]

caper Home depot doesn't sell anything made to swag aircraft cables, swagging tools for aircraft are calibrated and cost much more than 40 bucks and are normally air or hydraulic operated and they come with a fixture that holds the swagged cable and lets you proof test it to twice the rated weight before actually installing it on the plane.

Aircraft cable is a generic term.If you go to a hardware store to buy cable it's all called aircraft cable,even if your using it to tie out your dog or fix your e-brake.Not every application requires a calibrated swagging tool hence the $40 one from HD.

 

[737mechanic]

Aircraft cable is a generic term.If you go to a hardware store to buy cable it's all called aircraft cable,even if your using it to tie out your dog or fix your e-brake.Not every application requires a calibrated swagging tool hence the $40 one from HD.

Oh Ok. Guess I have never looked at cable at a hardware store but I am sure it is like when they say something is made from aircraft aluminum when all it is is just aluminum.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I don't crimp, I solder mine. I just get the cable ends, stick it in the vise to hold it, strip the wire, clean it, slide on a section of heat shrink and flux it. Put some heat on the cable end, melt the solder in it (lead wheel weights work too) and stick in the cable. Then finish it with the heat shrink.

No need to buy a set of crimpers. I just use my propane torch to melt the solder or lead.

 

[BigDawgDavao]

+2 on the propane torch, solder and heat shrink. I did a bunch of terminals like that during my battery relocation to the truck project. Worked great and looked like I almost knew what I was doing. I put and extra layer of heat shrink on for added protection but probably wasn't necessary.

 

[6530]

Here's another one that I use.

 

[Monte]

www.klauke.com

 

[PAToyota]

Is that site good to deal with, or where should I buy it?

http://www.delcity.net/store/Solderless-Connector-Crimping-Tool/p_10383.a_1
Del city has one for 21.53

I'd go with DelCity. Used them lots of times. I was just looking for a quick link to what I was talking about and found the other link first.

 

[Busted_Knuckles]

I'd go with DelCity. Used them lots of times. I was just looking for a quick link to what I was talking about and found the other link first.

Why you guys are talking DelCity, the sell quality wire and accessories, most all of my low voltage stock is from them...been a customer for over 20 years.

 

[lowceiling]

Hi,

I was searching the site looking for an answer to my question, and this is the closest one I can find in relation to my question.

I was wondering if there is a pneumatic hand tool, that can crimp aluminium sleeves?

I use this tool to currently crimp the aluminum sleeve.

With the tool i have thats 24" long and with the space I have to do it, it is very difficult to crimp the aluminum sleeve.

So, I was wondering if there is a smaller version of it thats powered by air?

The cable size I work with is only 1/8".

I have tried google and ebay looking for a certain tools but I cannot really find one.

Help!?

thank you in advance.

malcolm

 

[May Pop]

There are battery crimpers made for electric but are specialty so big bucks.
Ron

 

[930dreamer]

I have a bunch of these somewhere.