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Tooling up

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cnpeters

Joined: 24 Aug 2006
Posts: 23
Location: Bloomington/Normal, IL

Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2007 8:55 pm Post subject: Tooling up

In starting to gather some electrical tools as I get deeper in my RV-9A 

project, I wanted to sample some opinions on inexpensive electrical 

tools (crimpers, both PIDG and D-sub pin types, strippers for wire and 

coax, etc). After perusing the Connection and website articles, 

archives, etc., I am noting there is a large price difference for the 

same clones of crimpers, strippers, etc, that may not be very 

justifiable. For example, HF has a ratcheting crimper for $10, and the 

exact looking one sells at B and C for $40. Same with Stripmaster clones 

and so on. I am a big believer in spending a premium dollar for a tool 

if it really is above and beyond a competitor's or serves a unique 

niche, but is there a reason I can't utilize some of these inexpensive 

tools successfully (perhaps with a little more practice than needed with 

the high dollar comparable)? Any tools folks recommend really staying 

away from?

Thanks,

Carl

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_________________
Carl Peters
RV-9A wings

john(at)ballofshame.com
Guest

Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2007 9:43 pm Post subject: Tooling up

Remember...this is just my opinion:



1) strippers:  if you're going to buy cheap strippers, get expensive 

el'cheapo strippers (i.e. manual strippers), NOT cheap "automatic" 

strippers.  Or learn to strip wire with a sharp pair of good cutters.  I 

like Xuron's and can consistently strip wire without ever cutting 

through the insulation.  Slight pressure, twist the cutters to get a 

nice ring all around, and give a little tug.  Voila'.  Cheap automatic 

strippers can be very hit or miss.  Some will work OK....others will 

drive you bonkers.  Personally, I really like my manual strippers the 

best of all.  Even the best ones are pretty cheap, easy to adjust and 

they can get into tight spaces.



2) Crimpers:  Buy'em and try'em.  Either they work or they don't.  If 

they don't, just return them to HF.



3) Electrical tools to stay away from:  As far as I can tell, just about 

any tool you can buy at Radio Shack is either a piece of junk, or works 

moderately well but is over priced.  Poor value.  Just my opinion...I'm 

sure I'll be flamed for that one  



You certainly can't ever go wrong with premium tools but unless you're 

in a production environment, using them day in and day out (and 

*calibrating* them, of course), what's the point?  That said, Stein and 

B&C both seem to sell decent (nowhere near premium) tools at a decent 

price.  You probably won't go wrong with either and it'll save you some 

leg work figuring out how good is good enough to keep from driving 

yourself nuts with botched parts...that's what you pay a little extra 

for, I guess.



-John

www.ballofshame.com



Carl Peters wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   

 <say.ahh1(at)verizon.net>



 In starting to gather some electrical tools as I get deeper in my 

 RV-9A project, I wanted to sample some opinions on inexpensive 

 electrical tools (crimpers, both PIDG and D-sub pin types, strippers 

 for wire and coax, etc). After perusing the Connection and website 

 articles, archives, etc., I am noting there is a large price 

 difference for the same clones of crimpers, strippers, etc, that may 

 not be very justifiable. For example, HF has a ratcheting crimper for 

 $10, and the exact looking one sells at B and C for $40. Same with 

 Stripmaster clones and so on. I am a big believer in spending a 

 premium dollar for a tool if it really is above and beyond a 

 competitor's or serves a unique niche, but is there a reason I can't 

 utilize some of these inexpensive tools successfully (perhaps with a 

 little more practice than needed with the high dollar comparable)? Any 

 tools folks recommend really staying away from?

 Thanks,

 Carl



 .

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N6030X(at)DaveMorris.com
Guest

Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2007 11:01 pm Post subject: Tooling up

Strippers: Do NOT get the plastic strippers sold on TV 

(http://www.eclipsetools.com/ProductPics/Latest%20.jpegs/200-091.jpg). 

They are junk!  They might work for the first few strips, and then 

things start going downhill fast!  Now, I know Bob doesn't like the 

other automatic strippers out there, but I used to strip wire with my 

teeth for about 30 years and I finally found complete bliss with 

these things: 

http://www.eclipsetools.com/ProductPics/Latest%20.jpegs/200-003.JPG



PIDG crimper: Bite the bullet and get the correct $40 one from B and 

C Specialties.  You'll use it a LOT and the cheaper ones don't work 

well at crimping the wire and the insulation correctly.  I bought 2 

different "generic" ones, and neither of them crimped as well as the 

one correct one from B&C.



Coax: I can't speak to the special tools now available for this 

because since I was 15 I've always done coax connectors with my 

teeth, a good sharp knife, and a soldering iron (including once while 

hanging from mountain climbing ropes off the side of a 130 foot water tower).



A volt-ohmmeter with audible continuity checker for when you're 

hanging upside-down under the panel holding a different wire in each 

of your four hands.  Cheap ones work fine and you can stash one in 

the cockpit, one at home, one at the hangar, one in the glovebox of 

the car, etc.



Dave Morris



At 09:48 PM 1/18/2007, you wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		  



In starting to gather some electrical tools as I get deeper in my 

RV-9A project, I wanted to sample some opinions on inexpensive 

electrical tools (crimpers, both PIDG and D-sub pin types, strippers 

for wire and coax, etc). After perusing the Connection and website 

articles, archives, etc., I am noting there is a large price 

difference for the same clones of crimpers, strippers, etc, that may 

not be very justifiable. For example, HF has a ratcheting crimper 

for $10, and the exact looking one sells at B and C for $40. Same 

with Stripmaster clones and so on. I am a big believer in spending a 

premium dollar for a tool if it really is above and beyond a 

competitor's or serves a unique niche, but is there a reason I can't 

utilize some of these inexpensive tools successfully (perhaps with a 

little more practice than needed with the high dollar comparable)? 

Any tools folks recommend really staying away from?

Thanks,

Carl

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lhelming(at)sigecom.net
Guest

Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2007 5:18 am Post subject: Tooling up

I am all for saving money too.  Lots of the high priced tools are for 

jobbers who use them day in and out.  We plane builders need them for a 

couple of months at most hopefully.



For wire stripper I like the manual type.  Takes a bit of practice to get 

good but they work.  Most inexpensive automatic strippers do not work well 

with aviation grade wire.  I bought my manual one at Radio Shack.



For crimper, you should get a good one.  I have some HF tools but not their 

crimper.  Too much riding on it in my thinking.  You do not want to be 

debugging things a few years down the road and a bad intermittent connection 

due to crimper could be the problem.  $40 is not a bad price for that peace 

of mind.  I think I bought mine from Wicks which was the ratcheting type.  I 

also have a manual squeeze crimper that has three crimp sizes.  They both 

work well.  You can get the job done nicely with the manual type.  However, 

I like the ratcheting type because it will hold the connector while you 

insert the wire and ensures the squeeze is just right.



For coax, you need the correct type for the wire size you use.  Be careful 

to get the correct size and you will be happy.  I think I bought mine from B 

& C.  Keep the instructions and use them on how to properly cut and prepare 

the coax when using the particular tool for good results.



For crimping D-sub connectors, I got the B&C which is nice and works 

perfectly.  Not cheap.  D-sub connectors are delicate and a precision tool 

is well worth the cost..



You will be happy with B & C or Stein products.  If not, you will be dealt 

with in a manner that makes you happy.  That has been my experience with 

dealing with both of them.



Indiana Larry



---

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nuckollsr(at)cox.net
Guest

Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2007 8:18 am Post subject: Tooling up

At 07:17 AM 1/19/2007 -0600, you wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		  

<lhelming(at)sigecom.net>



I am all for saving money too.  Lots of the high priced tools are for 

jobbers who use them day in and out.  We plane builders need them for a 

couple of months at most hopefully.



For wire stripper I like the manual type.  Takes a bit of practice to get 

good but they work.  Most inexpensive automatic strippers do not work well 

with aviation grade wire.  I bought my manual one at Radio Shack.


	


   The best strippers for teflon/tefzel insulations are expensive.

   OK Stripmasters with the proper dies installed are about $170

   a copy.



   With a little practice, one can produce satisfactory strips

   with ordinary wire cutters but it takes some technique and

   practice. This is one of the techniques I demonstrate in

   my seminars and everyone gets a chance to strip some Tefzel

   wires before installing a variety of terminals/pins.



   I own quite a few stripping tools but they tend to be either

   stone-simple and very process sensitive or the $high$ Stripmasters.

   It's a matter of what you're willing to learn.

 	  Quote: 	
		  For crimper, you should get a good one.  I have some HF tools but not 

their crimper.  Too much riding on it in my thinking.  You do not want to 

be debugging things a few years down the road and a bad intermittent 

connection due to crimper could be the problem.  $40 is not a bad price 

for that peace of mind.  I think I bought mine from Wicks which was the 

ratcheting type.  I also have a manual squeeze crimper that has three 

crimp sizes.  They both work well.  You can get the job done nicely with 

the manual type.  However, I like the ratcheting type because it will hold 

the connector while you insert the wire and ensures the squeeze is just right.


	


   The best PIDG tool is the AMP T-head hand tool illustrated

   in . . .



http://aeroelectric.com/articles/CrimpTools/crimptools.html

   The $40 tool is illustrated there too. Both produce satisfactory

   terminal installations. The last time I put my hands on the

   $10 ratchet-handled tool from Harbor Freight, it appeared to

   be a clone of the $40 tool and a good value.



   See also



http://aeroelectric.com/articles/rules/review.html

 	  Quote: 	
		  For coax, you need the correct type for the wire size you use.  Be careful 

to get the correct size and you will be happy.  I think I bought mine from 

B & C.  Keep the instructions and use them on how to properly cut and 

prepare the coax when using the particular tool for good results.


	


    Get an adjustable tool like



http://tinyurl.com/ypxzv5



    These can be set up for a variety of coaxes and

    comes with the allen wrench needed for adjusting

    the blades. This is the tool I demonstrate at

    the seminars and give away as door prizes.



    See also:



http://aeroelectric.com/articles/Coax_Stripper/coaxstrip.html



http://aeroelectric.com/articles/bnccrimp.pdf

    I've had some problems with crimp tools of all

    sources except AMP and other $high$ brands.

    Many tools in the 40-100 dollar range have

    a slightly undersized, ".213 hex die that does

    an adequate but ugly crimp on the sleeve

    intended to secure the shield. The undersized

    die causes the sleeve to extrude into the gap

    between the two dies on the tool. Looks crappy.



    Here's some data on coax connectors.



http://www.aeroelectric.com/Pictures/Connectors/Coax



http://www.aeroelectric.com/Pictures/Connectors/clampcm.jpg



http://www.aeroelectric.com/Pictures/Connectors/crimpbf.jpg



http://www.aeroelectric.com/Pictures/Connectors/crimpcf.jpg



http://www.aeroelectric.com/Pictures/Connectors/s605cm.jpg





 	  Quote: 	
		  For crimping D-sub connectors, I got the B&C which is nice and works 

perfectly.  Not cheap.  D-sub connectors are delicate and a precision tool 

is well worth the cost..


	


    The best D-sub tools are priced in the hundreds of

    dollars but you can often get good deals on e-bay like

    this . . .



http://tinyurl.com/27588z



    Be aware that you not only need the handle shown but

    a pin-positioner unique to the style  of pin being

    installed. Again, I own a variety of tools including

    the $high$ and the $40 tool from B&C. All produce

    satisfactory installations and unless you're "in the

    business" like I am, the $40 tool will do what you

    need done.

 	  Quote: 	
		  You will be happy with B & C or Stein products.  If not, you will be dealt 

with in a manner that makes you happy.  That has been my experience with 

dealing with both of them.


	


    And either one will work with you to make sure that

    the tools and connectors/terminals you've purchased

    are compatible with the wire/cable you're trying

    to install. Not ALL tools will properly install ALL

    terminations on ALL wires. AMP didn't get to be the

    big kid in the sandbox by ignoring the science of

    good crimped installations. There are some adequate

    up-n-commers out there but a modicum of caution

    is useful. Rely on those suppliers dedicated to

    the business of helping YOU with YOUR tasks.



    See also:



http://aeroelectric.com/articles/matenlok/matenlok.html



    Bob . . .

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