where can I buy crimp tool?

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Nate Nagel - 20 Aug 2007 01:15 GMT

I'm looking for a crimp tool that will do factory-style crimps on the
little electrical connectors used on European cars, the ones with two
tabs that fold over and crimp over the wire and then two more that fold
over and crimp over the insulation for strain relief. I had a cheap
tool that I'd bought at a Pep Boys in Michigan years ago, but it's wore
out and I lent it to a technician anyway. I'd prefer to replace it as I
have a little wiring project coming up on the Porsche and would like to
make it look factory-esque. But my local pep boys does not stock the
tool and I can't seem to find one at any of the German parts places
online. I'm not a pro shop so I don't have access to a Snap-On or Matco
truck :(

thanks!

nate

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JRE - 20 Aug 2007 02:07 GMT

> I'm looking for a crimp tool that will do factory-style crimps on the
> little electrical connectors used on European cars, the ones with two
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
> nate

If you can find the tool online at snap-on.com, then look in the phone
book. Many Snap-On dealers will be happy to meet you after hours or
tell you where they will be. (Both the local dealers in my area are
happy to do this.)

JRE

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Jim Behning - 20 Aug 2007 02:16 GMT

http://www.fis.uniroma3.it/~nucleare/argo/molexconnectors/
http://www.marvin3m.com/connect/index.htm

The crimper I was looking at when I thought I needed one was a few
hundred. I gave up on that idea. The second article has some good
sources.

>I'm looking for a crimp tool that will do factory-style crimps on the
>little electrical connectors used on European cars, the ones with two
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
>nate

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William Maslin - 29 Aug 2007 20:22 GMT

> I'm looking for a crimp tool that will do factory-style crimps on the
> little electrical connectors used on European cars, the ones with two
> tabs that fold over and crimp over the wire and then two more that fold
> over and crimp over the insulation for strain relief.

I've wanted a good crimper for years. I saw some in an electronics
catalog years ago that cost hundreds. They used changeable dies, etc.

The tools in the link that Jim pointed to look good for $32. But it
might be worth looking at ebay for the real pro models. Recently there
were some band clamp tools (Band-It) on ebay that were selling for 1/4
to 1/3 what they cost new.

When watching American Chopper I was always amazed to see them build a
chopper that cost $50,000 or 100,000 and then wire it using solder and
shrink tube. VERY unprofessional IMO. For that kind of money they
could buy the best crimping tools. And I believe that research has
shown that a properly made crimp is better than a soldered joint anyway.
Plus the wire doesn't get brittle and weak like it does when you use
solder.

Bill

78 Rabbit...10/77 - 4/02 82 Convertibles(s)...since 93
95 Golf 11/99 - 3/07
07 Passat 2.0T
06 GTI DSG

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PeterD - 29 Aug 2007 20:42 GMT

>When watching American Chopper I was always amazed to see them build a
>chopper that cost $50,000 or 100,000 and then wire it using solder and
>shrink tube. VERY unprofessional IMO. For that kind of money they
>could buy the best crimping tools.

I'd never use a crimp on a motorcycle, only soldered joints. Then
again, I'm an EE with about 30 years of automotive experience so what
do I know.

Oh, and FWIW, Delphi recommends solder unless you use their *exact*
crimper on their terminals.

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Nate Nagel - 30 Aug 2007 01:58 GMT

>>I'm looking for a crimp tool that will do factory-style crimps on the
>>little electrical connectors used on European cars, the ones with two
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> were some band clamp tools (Band-It) on ebay that were selling for 1/4
> to 1/3 what they cost new.

I ended up buying this one:

http://www.ledfoote.com/osc/product_info.php?products_id=204&osCsid=63b977dfe2fa
a6d6ef016931d37b5283

worked great on the one test crimp I did. Have not tried to wire up the
rear wiper or rear fog in the Porsche yet.

> When watching American Chopper I was always amazed to see them build a
> chopper that cost $50,000 or 100,000 and then wire it using solder and
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> Plus the wire doesn't get brittle and weak like it does when you use
> solder.

That may be true of machine crimped joints, but the average crimp from
the average hand crimp tool probably could only be made better by adding
solder.

nate

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