terminals & crimper recommendation sought

[s.e.charles]

You still haven't provided the details on what the application is.

Or was that model RR bit serious?

yes; serious. the fellow was given trains when he was young and now at 72, he is allowing himself to enjoy them.

 

[john61ct]

Well then never mind, I assumed more like weather, corrosion, higher amp current levels etc.

Just one good crimper can cost more than a dozen train sets

 

[john61ct]

And metric - which those big xTon cheap chinese ones **only** come in - is a whole 'nother world

 

[Toyaddict]

Installing terminals doesn't always involve 1 wire - 1 terminal. Many times I'll have 2-#18 into #14 terminal or 2-#14 into #10 terminal.

I have a couple ratcheting crimpers but I grab the Klien insul / non inusl crimpers 95% of the time and carry them when traveling. Had them for years.

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Couple sets of these for wire stripping. I'll use the next size up so the copper is not damaged i.e. 12ga hole for 14ga wire

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A set of flush cutters that will trim zaps straps off flush so no one gets cut by the sharp end of a zap stap.
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I've been using the first two daily for years at work, perfect for my needs. I do warranty the strippers at Home depot twice a year but only because they get a little worn, they're still usable though.

 

[Buddha.]

Fwiw, these are clown approved. Steer clear.

I bought a pair of stippers similar quality to those and couldn't figure out what I was doing wrong. The painted over cutting edges where what finally tipped me off.

 

[luthj]

I like these strippers. Really worth the money. I don't use the crimp function.

IRWIN VISE-GRIP Wire Stripper, Self-Adjusting, 8-Inch (2078300) - Wire Stripping Tool - Amazon.com

IRWIN VISE-GRIP Wire Stripper, Self-Adjusting, 8-Inch (2078300) - Wire Stripping Tool - Amazon.com

www.amazon.com

 

[billiebob]

Then there is the option of going to a heavy truck repair shop who build cables daily. Which is what I do, all you need is the length of cable you need and the minimum gauge. Way cheaper than buying the tools to use once... or twice.

But you need to KNOW what you need and respect their time.

Heres what my winch cables look like.

 

[shade]

Everybody knows already, solid and stranded conductor are different diameters for each gauge.
Its little known, This Klein stripper yellow grips indicate its for solid conductor. Were it red, thats for stranded.
Similar strippers from Ideal, list solid and stranded gauges at each hole.

A legitimate ExPo guy would already know that, of course.

It's also usually written on the tool somewhere, too.

 

[s.e.charles]

… one good crimper can cost more than a dozen train sets

I take it you've never bought post-war Lionel.

 

[Alloy]

Everybody knows already, solid and stranded conductor are different diameters for each gauge.
Its little known, This Klein stripper yellow grips indicate its for solid conductor. Were it red, thats for stranded.
Similar strippers from Ideal, lists the different solid and stranded gauges at each hole.

When I first stared working I was helping a electrician on a job. He told me to never use wire strippers on solid copper.

This is what he used.

Many years later I hired an electrician do a 200A service upgrade in our house. A few days later I'm in the panel to add breaker and I find a loose wire then find the stub of copper sticking out of a breaker. About 1/4 of the wires had been cut into by the wire strippers.

 

[Hillbilly Heaven]

Neither one of them would be allowed to work in a nuclear power plant. Ringing a wire to strip it is a huge no no.

 

[john61ct]

Who uses solid wire anyway?