I *do* have personal experience with both tools that Carl mentioned -=20 I have both and used to use them extensively. But it takes *much*=20 practice and experience to get reliable crimps. I speak from=20 experience - both my own and from teaching others how to use tools properly= .. Pull-testing (to destruction) is required when first learning how to=20 use the manual tools. Of the two tools that you mention, I found that the Waldom HT1921 and=20 its sibling (don't recall the exact number) worked the best for many=20 different terminals, not just the Molex 0.093" and 0.062" terminals=20 that they were designed for. However, I now rarely use those tools. Instead, I spent the big=20 bucks and purchased proper full-cycle tools. The first of those=20 tools was the Amp "certilock" tool frame and several die=20 sets. Serious coin 20 years ago and even more so today. But worth every penny. I still do pull-testing on a regular basis, just to make sure that=20 everything is working properly. I now have MANY different crimp=20 tools, including that $1500 tool that Neil needs for those Hirose=20 connectors. Thanks, eBay! dwayne At 06:56 AM 3/13/2013, Carl Denk wrote: >Agreed that it does take some skill to make good crimps. I find theMolex >easier to do then the AMP insulated terminals. I think it would be >difficult to distinguish my Molex crimps from "Professional" crimps. I >have seen thees and similar crimpers in field tool kits wherethey work >just great. But especially in aproduction environment with less than >skilled workers, the crimpers that fairly foolproof strip length, wire >and terminal position and amount of crimp are the way to go. :) But if >you have many crimps of a standard harness, maybe better to farm it out >to the true automated guys. >On 3/12/13 11:30 PM, Sean Breheny wrote: > > Hi Carl, > > > > I have not tried the particular crimpers you mention, but looking at > > the Molex one, it looks to me like it would be difficult to get a nice > > crimp with that. I'm not talking about hydraulic assisted crimpers but > > rather regular ratcheting with machined, hardened-steel dies and > > proper mechanisms to hold the wire and the terminal while you squeeze > > the handle. I have found that those are the only type which produce > > consistently good crimps on terminals for connectors like mini-fit JR, > > mini-fit SR, microfit, KK, C-grid, circular plastic connectors (CPC), > > D-sub connectors, etc. > > > > If I look at all of the Molex hand ratcheting un-assisted crimpers on > > Digikey, there are 395 listed. Only 8 of them are less than $100. Only > > 3 are less than $50. The median price seems to be $345. > > > > Sean > > > > > > On Tue, Mar 12, 2013 at 6:34 PM, Carl Denk wrote= : > >> Not entirely true,I'm looking at Amp "Super Champ" and Waldom (Molex) = # > >> w-HT1921 crimpers, and probably under $30, granted for volume > >> quantities you would want something probably power operated, and a > >> positive indication of proper pressure/distance for crimping. Many tim= e > >> those approved crimpers are severely overpriced where they extract > >> ransom. :( I believe at least as important as a proper crimp is > >> stripping the conductor without nicking to cause fatigue failure at so= me > >> later time. > >> On 3/12/13 4:49 PM, Sean Breheny wrote: > >>> Crimping is awesome IF you have all the proper tools. Carl - crimp > >>> tools are, in my experience, VERY expensive. Sure, if all you need to > >>> do is crimp ring terminals or spade terminals, those tools are fairly > >>> inexpensive. However, proper crimpers for Molex, Amp/TE Connectivity, > >>> Amphenol, etc. are usually $300 to $500 each. Often the aftermarket > >>> universal crimpers or even ones that are purpose-made for a particula= r > >>> terminal but are not made by an approved manufacturer do not produce > >>> reliable crimps. > >>> > >>> Sean > >>> > >>> > >>> On Tue, Mar 12, 2013 at 4:30 PM, Neil wrote: > >>>> I'd still love to find a cost-effective (ie: not the $1000+ for the > >>>> Hirose-brand) crimper for Hirose DF13's. Apparently some universals > >>>> might do this, but I've yet to find one. > >>>> > >>>> Cheers, > >>>> -Neil. > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> On 3/12/2013 2:12 PM, Carl Denk wrote: > >>>>> Why solder when crimp is available?? Crimps are much preferred in > >>>>> Aircraft work and are very reliable, less fatigue issues. Generally > >>>>> crimp tools are not expensive and last a long time. > >>>>> On 3/12/13 12:58 PM, alan smith wrote: > >>>>> > >>>> -- > >>>> http://www.piclist.com/techref/piclist PIC/SX FAQ & list archive > >>>> View/change your membership options at > >>>> http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist > >> -- > >> http://www.piclist.com/techref/piclist PIC/SX FAQ & list archive > >> View/change your membership options at > >> http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist > >-- >http://www.piclist.com/techref/piclist PIC/SX FAQ & list archive >View/change your membership options at >http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist --=20 Dwayne Reid Trinity Electronics Systems Ltd Edmonton, AB, CANADA (780) 489-3199 voice (780) 487-6397 fax www.trinity-electronics.com Custom Electronics Design and Manufacturing --=20 http://www.piclist.com/techref/piclist PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist .