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where can I buy crimp tool?

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

Reply to
Nate Nagel
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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

Reply to
JRE

Reply to
Jim Behning

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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Reply to
William Maslin

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.

Reply to
PeterD

I ended up buying this one:

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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.

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

Reply to
Nate Nagel

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