Can we talk about Crimping Heavy Duty Lugs ?

[preserved_killick]

Hey everyone,

I need to crimp lugs onto 1/0 cable. I bought the Ancor Heavy Duty Lug Crimper http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/us ... o?pid=2734 , thinking that I can use this plus a bench vice to make my crimps.

Now that I'm looking at the Ancor tool, it just dimples in the middle. I thought it would be more of a hex setup.

Am I correct in thinking that a hex crimp would be better than this "dimple crimp" I have yet to try one, but it looks like it will be impossible to get a crimp without gaps & air pockets in there.

What's the standard?

-Jeff

[preserved_killick]

To answer my own question, common opinion is that the dimple crimp is inferior to a proper hex crimp.

Too bad there wasn't a hex style crimper that uses a bench vice for pressure. I searched with no luck. It might make it affordable for people who only need the tool infrequently.

[Hirilondë]

If you read the Jamestown Dist. reviews of the tool you will find the first one to be by our very own "bcooke". The large hex crimpers you mentioned cost a lot of money. Well worth it for a boatyard, but hard to justify for the boat-owner.

[preserved_killick]

Dave I agree on the hex crimpers. Is the final product that much better? I'm considering figuring out all my runs, and driving somewhere to get the crimps done. Anyone see what WestMarine has for a setup? Trouble is, it's 1.5 hours away, and I didn't buy any of my supplies there.

Or not..

I just tested a crimp using the Ancor crimper and a vice. I can hang on the crimp (180lbs), but can't really see what's going on inside. My gut feeling is that the crimp with some good heat shrink tubing would be sufficient. Perhaps it would not be as good as a hex crimp under high pressure that would likely compress all open voids, but for the situation I may have to accept the limitations I'm faced with.

-jeff

[fusto]

...but can't really see what's going on inside.

Heres something to try...
Make a sample crimp out of a short length of wire and whatever lugs you intend to use for your finished product. Then cut the lug open at the crimp, perpendicular to the wire with a hacksaw.

Gives you a really good idea if you're making adequate crimps or not.

Also, I think the cross section looks kind of neat.

[Tim]

I have to say I've had fine luck with battery crimps made with that Ancor tool.

[preserved_killick]

Ok, I did cut one open


This is from a 1/0 lug & type 3 0/1 wire. It looks completely solid. The hacksaw might have had a part in melding the face of the cut, but there's no voids. I guess I'm satisfied.




http://picasaweb.google.com/fongemie/Lugs#

-Jeff

[Maine Sail]

I own both and only bought my hex crimper after cutting open an Anchor Crimp just as you did. Sometimes the Ancor crimps are good other times not so good. I wanted consistent repeatability so I ponied up the $160.00. BTW the Ancor crimper is now almost $80.00!! For the price of a 1/3 of a gallon of Micron Extra paint more you can have a hex crimper..

[preserved_killick]

Thanks Main Sail.

Yeah $80 is ridiculous for what it is, should be $25. Hamilton Marine had crazy good sale (internet only) a couple of weeks ago and I got mine for much less..$47 I seem to remember. That sale was the best I've seen yet. Good stuff too, not just dockline!

I ended up cutting open a couple more since I accidentally used the wrong lugs twice and was happy with the way it looked inside. I was careful to strip the casing back so the copper wire is really jammed right up to the end. I'm satisfied enough. It's slow going with a vice and that tool. I spent the better part of an afternoon making up all the runs of wire with big lugs.