Where to find a good crimper ?

[Huw Powell]

Just to add one minor point to Cobram's, heat shrink butt splices can 
work very well.  It helps to have a little room to apply the heat, of 
course, but I have done some pretty tight work with a butane torch device.

Just dip the stripped wire in a smidge of dielectric gel, insert, crimp, 
then heat to seal.

I also like solder and heat shrink, but it has a "reputation" for 
stiffening a section of wire if the solder wicks up into it vary far.

Of course, anywhere flexibility is needed at a break or splice, the 
break should be replaced with a segment of new wire, and the connections 
made where no motion is required.  This is a lot easier to type than it 
is to do, as many who have had to redo the spaghetti going to their 
driver's doors can attest!

- Huw

On 9/10/2015 12:16 PM, cobram at juno.com wrote:
> MCM electronics has some very good prices on crimpers.  I bought one of
> their ratcheting crimpers which came with 4 die sets and have been very
> happy with it over the years.
>
> On smaller gauge wires, I've had great luck using 3M connectors, the kind
> that linemen use which are round and have insulating gel inside.  Put the
> wires in and squeeze with any pliers and you're done.
>
> It maybe overkill, but for a few bucks more (not that many more with
> FleaBay deals) you can use waterproof connectors.  They can be good
> insurance when used under the hood or anywhere water or moisture may be a
> problem.
>
> For PITA locations, a pen solder gun and a few coats of "liquid
> electrical tape" has worked well for me also.
>
> Good luck, a 1976 Lotus?  Better you than me!  ;-)
>
> BCNU,
> Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes.
>
> On Thu, 10 Sep 2015 11:26:38 -0400 <laraa at sympatico.ca> writes:
>> Hi people of infinite knowledge,
>>
>>
>>
>> The same guy that bought the 914 also have a 1976 Lotus Elite, and
>> this car
>> is now in my driveway. I know, I know, he has strange tastes. Since
>> both
>> cars will need some rewiring, I'm looking to buy a
>> professional-quality wire
>> crimper, with the appropriate crimps. Anyone has a lead to such a
>> device for
>> an amateur like me ?
>>
>>
>>
>> Another solution would be shrink-tubes over soldering. I saw back in
>> the day
>> some tubes with a product inside that solder wires when one heat
>> from
>> outside. It was in a workshop manual at Renault, where there was a
>> need to
>> maintain a very high conductivity when repairing a broken wire. The
>> main
>> reason was those cars were multiplexed, and low-voltage twisted-pair
>> looms
>> were need for communication between ECUs. The heat gun was a
>> specific
>> device, with a deflector to protect the other wires. Very clever
>> stuff.
>>
>>
>>
>> So, what are my best, cost-effective solution to repair the two
>> old-timers ?
>>
>>
>>
>> Louis-Alain
>>
>> PS : the guy that owns the cars used to have a built Quattro (AAN
>> engine,
>> 034EFI) that is now somewhere in Oregon. His fleet of older cars
>> spawned
>> from the sell. Could he miss the high-maintenance nature of the urQ
>> ?
>
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