I've converted to crimping electrical connections, but have not been satisfied with the quality of crimps for larger wires (e.g. 2 Gauge). I'm currently using this style, but am wondering if there are better tools for the job. What do you use?
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TEMCo TH0006 Hydraulic Electrical Cable Lug / Terminal Crimper Kit with 18 Die Sets 12 AWG - 00 (2/0) (5 US TON ) https://a.co/d/hfkDhqZ
I have the harbor freight version of this. In retrospect I would have paid the cost difference. While the HF one has held so far, you can see the differences in the dies pretty clearly which should keep a cleaner crimp.
TEMCo TH0006 Hydraulic Electrical Cable Lug / Terminal Crimper Kit with 18 Die Sets 12 AWG - 00 (2/0) (5 US TON ) https://a.co/d/hfkDhqZ
We just use a Greenlee manual crimping tool with the correct die, makes fast and beautiful crimps every time. https://www.toolup.com/Greenlee-K05-SYNCRO-K-Series-Mechanical-Crimp-Tool-8-1-2-AWG
I have this one:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XR8BY65/?tag=wranglerorg-20
I got lucky and found an open box returned one and I think I only paid 30 bucks for mine.
I've done a couple dozen crimps with mine so far.
Weird ass nonstandard die sizes, but there is enough of them I always manage to find one that gives me a good crimp.
There surely are better ones on the market, but unless you are doing a ton of crimps, they are not worth it for the average guy.
Lol, hey guys - here's $260 of Jeep budget on a single seldom used tool.
Buy the best and only cry once. But if you are cheap and want to risk a HF crimper be my guest.
There's many risks that are pretty low consequence, a crimper not having quite as clean lines is one of them.
Unless you are a “professional” doing it every single day and can use that reasoning to justify the fancy tools there is no reason to spend more than what I outlined above...
I’ll put the integrity of the crimps from my $23 crimper, $10 baby sledge and free chunk of wood (as my working platform) against anyone’s expensive crimper any day of the week…
I’ve made a lot of very nice cables over the years. I’ve cut through a lot of test pieces from different gauge cables I’ve done. I’ll stand behind my comments 100%…