crimpers, which work best Options

[mightyohm]

I want to invest in a nice set of crimpers for uninsulated crimp terminals. I want something better than the $9.99 radio shack style. Ratcheting would be nice if it makes a better crimp. Does anyone here have any suggestions? I don't want to spend over $100.

This is the kind I don't want:
(IMG:http://www.sunshinesolar.co.uk/ccp51/media/images/product_detail/crimper200.jpg)
Sorry I couldn't find a better pic.

[lapuwali]

The tool I got at Radio Shack for something like $35. Summit Racing also sells a tool like this, for about the same price.

The crimp-on connectors are from Waytek Wire, part no 31703. Problem is, Waytek has a big minimum order (250, I think), which is way more than you need for even a whole end-to-end harness on several cars. McMark, I'm sure you'd use that many eventually.

The same tool can also be used on the pins for the Weatherpak waterproof multipin connectors, which have a similar crimp type. You can get these from Waytek, too. Again, however, the minimum order is fairly sizeable. If you order everything you need from Waytek for a complete harness (wire, connectors, heat-shrink, and wire covering), you'll end up spending about $300, and you'll use about 1/4 of what you buy on one car.

After crimping, heat-shrink should be used over the connector and the crimp, to insulate it. If you really want to do a perfect job, use two sizes of heat shrink, one that just barely fits over the crimped part up to where the spade flares out, and the other that just barely fits over the spade itself, and extends down onto the crimped area a bit. Once done, this should last for decades even in the 914 engine bay with the rain tray removed, which is about the worst case scenario for any wiring job.

On longer wiring runs, heat-proof wire covering should be used to contain bundles of wires, esp. those wires that are in the engine bay, or run through bulkhead holes.