Lug crimping tool

[kblee27]

I have this tool for crimping battery cable lugs
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003X51S00/?tag=atomicindus08-20

The problem is I can't use on a car if I was terminating an existing battery cable, since you need to put it down on a concrete to whack.

I don't want to spend a lot of money on giant crimpers or hydraulic crimpers, since I may need to use it once in a blue moon.

Is there such a tool, similar to the above, but instead of a hammering action, a tool which use something like a screw to force a die to crimp ?
The screw head can be a 3/8" square where you can use a cordless driver or just a T-handle.

Or maybe a portable hand-held vise which can replace the hammer action ?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Buckgnarly]

I have been happy with this HF tool.....

http://www.harborfreight.com/hydraulic-wire-crimping-tool-66150.html

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

Vice or ball joint press should squeeze that thing plenty.

 

[gungatim]

I have been happy with this HF tool.....

http://www.harborfreight.com/hydraulic-wire-crimping-tool-66150.html

same here. some complain the dies are marked wrong, but for $40 after coupon, it pays for itself after just a few cable jobs...I also use it for ferrules on cable (nothing dangerous, just making cables for emergency hood opening, if you have a vette you'll know what I mean!)

 

[astroracer]

I have one similar to the HF crimper listed above. It works great. I got it off eBay for about half the price of the HF one.

I also modified it with a bolted on plate so I can clamp it to the car or a bench to free up one hand for better control of the cable/fitting to be crimped.

Mark

 

[Alchymist]

I have one similar to the HF crimper listed above. It works great. I got it off eBay for about half the price of the HF one.

Ditto, same crimper, different label, and cheaper than HF. Mine works fine. Just try the various dies on your terminals and make a list of which ones work best with which terminals.

 

[gte718p]

I've build about a dozen electric vehicles. I've built a ton of battery cables. The HF crimper is actually really good. As mentioned, the dies are not marked correctly. Despite what it advertises it can't actually do 2/0 wire unless you modify the dies.

 

[astroracer]

I've build about a dozen electric vehicles. I've built a ton of battery cables. The HF crimper is actually really good. As mentioned, the dies are not marked correctly. Despite what it advertises it can't actually do 2/0 wire unless you modify the dies.

Hmmm. Mine does 1/0 just fine... no mods...

Mark

 

[raddksn]

I have one similar to the HF crimper listed above. It works great. I got it off eBay for about half the price of the HF one.

I also modified it with a bolted on plate so I can clamp it to the car or a bench to free up one hand for better control of the cable/fitting to be crimped.

Mark

nice mod! gonna steel that!

 

[FigureItOut]

Maybe there's a new a batch of the HF one. I had one and the largest die (2/0) crimped 4 AWG, but left little ears. It was secure enough for my project, but not correct by any means. Even still, the crimper itself sure seemed pretty well made. I need to get another one, HF or otherwise, with the right size dies.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Good lug crimpers are $$$$$. I've always used vise grips for crimping low current terminals. For high current terminals (forklift batteries & welders), I trust nothing less than soldering the wire in the terminal. Be sure you're in an open area when soldering because of the lead acid battery gases and the solder fumes.

 

[Ign]

I agree a BJ press will do what OP asked for, albeit somewhat unwieldy.

For hydraulics, it's amazing what search will do:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=278262

 

[48548]

I have been happy with this HF tool.....

http://www.harborfreight.com/hydraulic-wire-crimping-tool-66150.html

That looks pretty awesome for the price and limited use.

 

[kblee27]

Thanks to all the replies. It seems the HF hydraulic crimper is the way to go.
I'll probably get it off ebay since they shipped to my country.

 

[Billythekid1]

I use a nut splitter just don't screw it all the way in and cut the cable

 

[kblee27]

I use a nut splitter just don't screw it all the way in and cut the cable

Thank you.
That's a great idea.

 

[wayne55]

I got one of the crimpers off ebay like the ones pictured above. This may be obvious, but the main thing I learned is that the cable must be a snug fit in the lug to make a good crimp.

 

[ez-duzit]

I have this tool for crimping battery cable lugs
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003X51S00/?tag=atomicindus08-20...

That tool produces lousy crimps.

Here's what I use.

 

[mikegt4]

A lot of people have had good luck with the HF tool but it really doesn't make the best crimps. The dies are really rebadged metric gauge spec, not SAE spec.

I recently bought a FTZ 94284 crimper to make a new set of 2/0 cables for my diesel tractor and can attest to the fact that it makes beautiful crimps. I am fortunate enough to have a automotive/industrial supplier nearby that carries very high quality lugs of every conceivable configuration at a good price. Well worth the investment.

http://www.kljack.com/default.aspx?page=item+detail&itemcode=ET50116&catlist=260

excellent article on making battery cables.
http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/battery_cables

 

[rlitman]

A lot of people have had good luck with the HF tool but it really doesn't make the best crimps. The dies are really rebadged metric gauge spec, not SAE spec.

Never heard of SAE spec AWG, but FYI, AWG is defined in metric terms by MCM. We're in a metric world. Gotta learn to live with that.

 

[Fcvapor05]

Never heard of SAE spec AWG, but FYI, AWG is defined in metric terms by MCM. We're in a metric world. Gotta learn to live with that.

You do realize that AWG and MCM measurements are both based on english units..

 

[redmondjp]

Never heard of SAE spec AWG, but FYI, AWG is defined in metric terms by MCM. We're in a metric world. Gotta learn to live with that.

There is a difference in sizes. The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) has been in the business of writing specifications for a century now - I used to work in the automotive industry and we always had one or more sets of the SAE bibliopedia handy. Not everything is metric, even today.

https://www.kayjayco.com/wiretables.htm

 

[Alchymist]

A lot of people have had good luck with the HF tool but it really doesn't make the best crimps. The dies are really rebadged metric gauge spec, not SAE spec.

I recently bought a FTZ 94284 crimper to make a new set of 2/0 cables for my diesel tractor and can attest to the fact that it makes beautiful crimps. I am fortunate enough to have a automotive/industrial supplier nearby that carries very high quality lugs of every conceivable configuration at a good price. Well worth the investment.

http://www.kljack.com/default.aspx?page=item+detail&itemcode=ET50116&catlist=260

excellent article on making battery cables.
http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/battery_cables

At $170 they should make nice crimps. Those are something designed for production work, and not a top level set in that environment. Have done a lot of heavy cable termination where good crimps are important, and hydraulic is the way to go. (Think 5 volts dc at 400 amps). That said, the HF & associated crimpers will make a usable crimp if used carefully. And as previously posted, the wire should be a good fit in the lug.

 

[texasprd]

Hmmm. Mine does 1/0 just fine... no mods...



Mark

When a crimp leaves "ears" like that, it is not good - you have actually over-crimped. I went through this a few months ago doing battery cables for my Dodge diesel. I tried the Asian-made 20-ton crimpers and got the ears like above. The problem is that the dies are not marked in AWG sizes, but in metric cross-section (I think).

I learned a lot from this http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/battery_cables&page=2, and wound up buying the FTZ rotary-die crimper he uses.

 

[texasprd]

Look on page 1 of that how-to for the first reference to the crimper - FTZ 94284. The best price I found was at kljack.com.

 

[texasprd]

Mike, you must have typed a lot faster than me, or had your references to the tutorial and kljack sight more handy than me! LOL

 

[mikegt4]

Never heard of SAE spec AWG, but FYI, AWG is defined in metric terms by MCM. We're in a metric world. Gotta learn to live with that.

thanks rlitman,
Those were the terms that I was looking for but I couldn't remember them off the top of my head. Must be those pain killers that my Doctor has me on!

texasprd,
I purchased my crimper from them, highly pleased with the tool, the price and the seller. I also have 2 other tractors and some other vehicles to make cables for so I am spreading the cost over a lot of cables which makes the tool purchase more economically viable. I have gotten tired of replacing POS China cables that the big box parts stores sell.

Just tonight my son was talking about using it to put new cable ends on his Dodge truck.