Rating - HF Ratchet Crimper - unacceptable

[Donald]

I purchased this the other day and it seems reasonably well made. However the die to do the crimping does not seem to be designed properly. The die to crimp is about 1/8" wide crimp, then 3/16" wide space, then a second 1/8" wide crimp. You can see that in the second picture on their website. You you end up putting a crimp where is should be, then at the same time you mash the insulation-only section with a second crimp.

I do have an Ancor double crimper that is made for some of the Ancor double crimp connectors. It has one wide crimp, not crimp, space, crimp. So this is not made for double crimp connectors.

I cannot believe the reviews on the HF website.

Mine will be returned.

Not a negative post of HF tools in general, just this one.

http://www.harborfreight.com/ratcheting-crimping-tool-97420.html

 

[spackard]

Your description matches what a die for a Paladin ratcheting crimper, or any of the other quality ratcheting crimpers (AMP). It's made for crimping insulation and a sleeve within the insulation. You have to step up in quality on the solderless connectors to get the metal sleeve inside insulation type.

http://www.aeroelectric.com/articles/terminal.pdf

I think the Anchor you describe is for uninsulated terminals.

 

[Donald]

Originally Posted By: spackard
Your description matches what a die for a Paladin ratcheting crimper, or any of the other quality ratcheting crimpers (AMP). It's made for crimping insulation and a sleeve within the insulation. You have to step up in quality on the solderless connectors to get the metal sleeve inside insulation type.

http://www.aeroelectric.com/articles/terminal.pdf

I think the Anchor you describe is for uninsulated terminals.


I see what you are saying in the article.

The Ancor (no "H") connectors are top rated among the boating community. The Ancor double crimp connectors are definetly insulated.

 

[durallymax]

If you want good ones try any of KNIPEX's pliers.

I like the Snap-On CP29's, I use them all of the time, good leverage and very compact which is my favorite part about them. I'm tempted to grind the cutting end off of it. While it is very very handy, there are enough tight situations where I almost cut other wires or have to fight a bundle of wires for adequate clearance.

I never understood a ratcheting crimper for the smaller 22-10awg connectors. The Snap on pliers are long enough to give you adequate leverage in a small amount of space.

Get something forged if you want to be able to put the torque to it without it slipping, twisting, failing or ruining your hands.

 

[Tempest]

Originally Posted By: spackard
Your description matches what a die for a Paladin ratcheting crimper, or any of the other quality ratcheting crimpers (AMP). It's made for crimping insulation and a sleeve within the insulation. You have to step up in quality on the solderless connectors to get the metal sleeve inside insulation type.

http://www.aeroelectric.com/articles/terminal.pdf

Nice link and yes, that is how the AMP crimpers worked back at the wire house. The rear plastic portion should be crimped for a strain relief. There is also a pull test for these and the wire should pull out before it breaks. Too tight a crimp and the wire will break before separation.

 

[Tempest]

Quote:
I never understood a ratcheting crimper for the smaller 22-10awg connectors.

Repeatability for proper crimp pressure. This is very important for manufacturing operations.

 

[durallymax]

Originally Posted By: Tempest
Quote:
I never understood a ratcheting crimper for the smaller 22-10awg connectors.

Repeatability for proper crimp pressure. This is very important for manufacturing operations.


If you need something that precise I'm not thinking the HF is the best choice.

The snap-on pliers are setup to stop when the wire cutter is closed, preventing overcrimping.

 

[spackard]

How do you get an employee to crimp full-pressure on every crimp? Make a one-way crimp tool that doesn't let him do a half-squeezed crimp. It's not so much for precision as it is for repeatability.

 

[spackard]

Originally Posted By: spackard
How do you get an employee to crimp full-pressure on every crimp? Make a one-way crimp tool that doesn't let him do a half-squeezed crimp. It's not so much for precision as it is for repeatability.
Also, the tool+die does prevent overcrimping.