Lug Crimper

[HangOutdoors]

Anyone close to me have a lug crimper i could use? I am making battery cables 4 guage. Cant seem to find any in stock anywhere around me. I could order on line but was hoping to finish tommorrow or Monday.

 

[PastMaster32]

Get a roll of 50/50 solder, paste flux a vice and propane torch... Plenty of videos... Beware though, it's about 15 bucks for a quarter pound of solder

 

[HangOutdoors]

I Was doing some reading and from what I understand, in a Marine or Off Road environment crimping is preferred over solder. A lot of opinions on the matter it appears.

I ordered one which will come in Tuesday, just puts me behind schedule a bit for this years first launch.

 

[RobbieO]

I Was doing some reading and from what I understand, in a Marine or Off Road environment crimping is preferred over solder. A lot of opinions on the matter it appears.

I ordered one which will come in Tuesday, just puts me behind schedule a bit for this years first launch.

Maybe your local equipment rental place has one...

 

[BlkGS]

Hydraulic Wire Crimping Tool

Amazing deals on this Hydraulic Wire Crimping Tool at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

 

[drewkaree]

I'm nowhere near you, but I gots one ?

Did the Big 3 upgrade on my old truck, just one more tool I may never use again before I die LOL

 

[TimW451]

Advanced Auto and/or Auto Zone has a tool borrowing program. No idea how it works though.

 

[Ihateimacs]

Autozone doesn't offer one, not sure about Advance.

 

[HangOutdoors]

I went to both, they didn't have one.

 

[mrcleanr6]

solder always. i dont know of any manufacturer or any good marine svc center that just crimps only...period. even yamaha's cables in your boat now are soldered.

 

[HangOutdoors]

That is not quite the info I am getting from Marinas and shops around here that I asked, while in my quest to find a crimper. Soldering causes oxidation and some other issues I don't understand. Some Crimp and then solder, but I was told multiple times that crimping is preferred in Marine as well as extreme motorsports, with the proper crimper. From what I understand either way is fine as long as it is done correctly. From what I was also told, solder joints can be brittle and prone to failure under continual vibration. When in extreme conditions, solder joints are strayed from.

I am by no means knowledgeable but I solicited info from multiple local sources. Even had a long conversation with the guys from West Marine over in Harrison Township. They can do both, but prefer and recommend crimping. They also have the tools available in house for free for both that the public can use. I just didn't have my cable lengths and it is a bit a drive to go back.

 

[mrcleanr6]

Well either way you go the most important thing really is that the connection is 100% sealed. At a min you need heat shrink with the hot glue in it to seal the connection. You also should be using real marine cable with tinned wire. The wire strands will be silver not copper. Bare copper strands and just crimped is going to turn green, corrode and fail in no time in a salt environment. Marine cable has no bare copper and the strands are finer so the cable flexes.

 

[HangOutdoors]

@mrcleanr6 Yes. I purchased the Wire from West Marine and it is Marine. Brand is Ancor. I was going to order online but since the guy, Joel, was really taking his time and explaining everything to me and walking me through my electrical I purchased from them and he cut me two 16' lengths, one black and one Red. Everything will be sealed with heat shrinking.

ANCOR Battery Cable by the Foot | West Marine

 

[mrcleanr6]

yep thats the right wire. just wanted to point that out because alot of people will walk into an auto parts or hardware store to buy wire for their boat. there is a big difference

 

[Julian]

@mrcleanr6 Yes. I purchased the Wire from West Marine and it is Marine. Brand is Ancor. I was going to order online but since the guy, Joel, was really taking his time and explaining everything to me and walking me through my electrical I purchased from them and he cut me two 16' lengths, one black and one Red. Everything will be sealed with heat shrinking.

ANCOR Battery Cable by the Foot | West Marine

The last time I bought wire at West Marine, they had crimping tools available there to use. Then they got rid of them due to liability issues........grrrrrr.....damn contingency law suit BS!!!!!

 

[HangOutdoors]

@Julian Yes, they have one at that location but until I actually mount the switch, acr, two buss blocks, a fuse block etc. I won't have measurements. I could guess, but I am sure it will be wrong. I would prefer to just make them here on the fly at the house so I can make it look clean. As I look at your wiring as well as others I am trying to follow suit.

As an aside, they said the Harrison Twp. one here is the largest one in the country. I think I may have almost blacked out while walking around looking at all the stuff I don't need, but think I do.

 

[BlkGS]

That is not quite the info I am getting from Marinas and shops around here that I asked, while in my quest to find a crimper. Soldering causes oxidation and some other issues I don't understand. Some Crimp and then solder, but I was told multiple times that crimping is preferred in Marine as well as extreme motorsports, with the proper crimper. From what I understand either way is fine as long as it is done correctly. From what I was also told, solder joints can be brittle and prone to failure under continual vibration. When in extreme conditions, solder joints are strayed from.

I am by no means knowledgeable but I solicited info from multiple local sources. Even had a long conversation with the guys from West Marine over in Harrison Township. They can do both, but prefer and recommend crimping. They also have the tools available in house for free for both that the public can use. I just didn't have my cable lengths and it is a bit a drive to go back.

I wouldn't agree with this. We make products at work that go through a lot of vibration and we use a lot of solder. What I would say, is that good soldering is harder than using a crimper.

Soldering is IMO better because you're going to in theory cover any surface that was etched by the Flux with solder. If you crimp, anything you do that damages the surface or the metal is exposed to corrosion unless you heat shrink with glue over it.

Soldering a 4ga terminal correctly is a HUGE pain though. What I always do is use a standard set of crimper and really give it hell. Get all the way out on the levers and hulk up on them, they'll crimp.

 

[HangOutdoors]

@BlkGS Thanks for the opinion. I think I am going to go with Crimping, glue and Heat shrinking.

 

[Adrian @ JB Solutions]

A hammer works good. Put it on concrete, or a block of wood, smack with a hammer a few times.... just as good as a crimp.

 

[HangOutdoors]

Crimper came in and works great for 24.00 bucks