[LettersFromFlyoverCountry]

The answer is:

It's the best crimping tool I've found.

go.

 

[FrankK90989]

u need4

What is X 4?
open barrel -a, b, c, d, e, for Icom pins (molex)and more.
coax -hex crimper for u coax
dsub -pin & socket for Garmin, PS Engineering, and more
terminal -red, blue, yellow, for all them fastons, rings, and more
stein has a ratcheting one with changeable dies for the coax & terminal, and the others.
Mine is my Buchanan "pin pinchers" $2.50 Central Sales --Duluth

 

[BuckWynd]

For AWG 6/4/2 size wires (battery connections and such), the answer is: The Terminal Tool -- although it's not technically a "crimper," Mr. Trebek.

 

[jrsites]

What is this, Alex?

Sorry, couldn't resist the opportunity to bring the '80s into the discussion.

 

[ncarmon]

Couldn't Resist

What is a bridgeport? Easily put the bigest crimp in my budget!

 

[FredMagare]

HA!

Hilarious! You FREAKS make my day!

 

[LettersFromFlyoverCountry]

Now if folks would just post their favorite crimping tool and where they bought it.....

 

[sprucemoose]

Could you narrow it down a bit? There are a zillion crimpers for different applications. Big wires? Small wires? D-sub pins? Molex pins? BNC connectors? Which one are you looking for?

 

[alpinelakespilot2000]

The answer is:

It's the best crimping tool I've found.

go.

The ones Stein includes in their Master Kit seems to work just fine. It doesn't do anything bigger than 10 or 12 AWG however, so you'll need to have your big wires crimped or soldered with something else.

 

[jdeas]

Go to your local hamfest or swap meet

Most of the older ractcheting type crimpers are very good. I have found several different type (some with replaceable jaws) that do a very good job. The new ratcheting knockoffs are not as good but still beat the local automart.
A new one from Klein, AMP or some other source can run several hundread dollars. I usually find them for under $25 at swap meets with little wear.

 

[WilburD2]

Favorite crimping tool..

Mine thats never failed..

A standard pair of 8" vise grips..

 

[Bob Martin]

B&C crimpers

PIDG Style Crimp Tool
left_img This 3-Pocket crimping tool features ratchet handles that capture a new terminal for one- handed operation in tight corners while insuring crimp dies fully close for consistent installations. One tool installs terminals for 10-22 AWG wire sizes. This quality import features machined pins at the hinge points retained with snap-rings . . . no riveted hinge joints
Price: $40.00 Stock #: RCT-1

This is the one I use most!!!

 

[FredMagare]

Bob,

Sprucemoose has a good point: what's your application? I've got three Sargent ratcheting crimpers - one for D-sub pins, one for PIDG connectors, one for RG-400/BNC connectors, a terminal tool for for large gage wire, and another crimper which came with a "Mate-n-lock" connector kit from Terminaltown!

The good thing about the Sargents is you can buy one crimp handle and interchangeable jaws if you're on a budget. (Who isn't?)

Sargent Crimpers: http://crawfordtool.com/sargent.html
The Terminal Tool: https://www.theterminaltool.com/
Mate-n-lock connector: http://terminaltown.com/Pages/Page41.html

I hope this puts you in the right direction!

 

[LettersFromFlyoverCountry]

Run of the mill 14-22 awg pidg-type crimping. One quesiton I have is whether I should buy a kind that you can swap out the heads (or whateve ryou would call it on) or a separate pair for each type.

But the question of what type is a good one because my next question is how MANY crimpers do people need?

 

[FrankK90989]

Bob,
Don,t "say run fof the mill" cause there are lots of junk terminals out there, the good ones have lots of metal in the crimp rings.
the crimpers I use are T&B Sta-kon crimpers. About $20 at the home store. Home Depot sells Klein brand same thing
http://www.drillspot.com/products/66552/Sta-Kon_WT111M_Crimping_Plier
Van talks about them in my 9 manual

 

[sprucemoose]

because my next question is how MANY crimpers do people need?

You need 4, and you can get them all here:

http://www.bandc.biz/cgi-bin/ez-catalog/cat_display.cgi?9X358218#RCT-1

You'll need the ratcheting PIDG crimper(RCT-1), the ratcheting BNC crimper (RCT-2), the machined D-sub pin crimper (RCT-3) and the open barrel crimper (BCT-1). Those should be enough to get you through wiring the panel. Beg borrow or steal a large lug crimper for battery wires

 

[LettersFromFlyoverCountry]

Excellent! Thanks, jeff! I'm also going to put in the Vertical Power system and I understand that takes another type of D-sub crimper.

 

[alpinelakespilot2000]

Run of the mill 14-22 awg pidg-type crimping. One quesiton I have is whether I should buy a kind that you can swap out the heads (or whateve ryou would call it on) or a separate pair for each type.

But the question of what type is a good one because my next question is how MANY crimpers do people need?

the ratcheting crimper Stein sells as part of the master kit includes dies for all the pidg terminals 12-22 i think and then also includes dies for the coaxial cables. The dies swap in and out real fast.