I was dead wrong about those cheap automotive crimpers

For years I swore by my $200 ratcheting crimpers for D-sub pins. Then last month I had to do a quick repair on a Cessna 172 in a hangar in Bumfuck, Nebraska and my good tool was back at the shop. The A&P on site handed me his $30 Amazon special crimpers and I almost laughed. But after 3 crimps I had to admit they worked fine. The pins held strong, no pulled strands, and the release was clean. I tested them on my bench connector when I got home and they passed the pull test every time. Now I keep a cheap pair in my go-bag for travel jobs. Has anyone else had a cheap tool surprise them or am I the only one who was snobby about this stuff?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_jason9d ago

Yeah but is crimping really that deep though?

abbyr969d ago

Tighten your crimp tool tension and it fixes most of your issues.