i am going to rewire my whole rig in the coming months. i have a pair of plain jane cutters that you get in the wiring kit you can buy at the auto store. i know alot about tools but as to what good versus great crimpers this aludes me.

The best wire strippers I have used are the kind that automaticly pull the plastic off the wire. The ones I use are made by ideal, they are called the stripmaster. The best crimpers I have used are made by channel lock, no 909.

Hands down, the KleinKurve wire strippers are the best. Part # 11055. Available at your local electrical supplier, or Home Depot. Expect to pay ~$12.

http://www.service.kleintools.com/Marketing/Catalog_Imagery/11055_ICON.JPG

I've been through every new wire stripper to come out in the last 10 years or so, and wind up giving them away or tossing them in a bucket. These, I've kept. I like them that well. They crimp typical terminals well enough, but get the right tool to crimp any specialty connector (i.e. - Weatherpak)

These also have a cutter for 6/32 and 8/32 screws.

Big ole photo of them (http://www.service.kleintools.com/Marketing/Catalog_Imagery//zipped/11055_PHOTO_JPG.ZIP)

I've been using the same set of Kleins daily for the past six years. They're just as good as they were the day they came out of the box. Klein is top shelf for sure.

Get a rachet crimper. There the best. Do not use ends like this:
http://beer.thisdysfunctional.org/forum//attachment.php?attachmentid=1360&stc=1

Use only:
http://beer.thisdysfunctional.org/forum//attachment.php?attachmentid=1361&stc=1

and use adheasive linned heat shrink.

Only stripper I would ever use. The top one, 211-100. Simple and bulletproof. All the others are a waste of money.

http://www.jensentools.com/product/product_images/211-100.jpg

Get a rachet crimper. There the best. Do not use ends like this:
http://beer.thisdysfunctional.org/forum//attachment.php?attachmentid=1360&stc=1

Use only:
http://beer.thisdysfunctional.org/forum//attachment.php?attachmentid=1361&stc=1

and use adheasive linned heat shrink.

yes dad :D same thing my dad has preached for years

Stick with Klein, they make the best electricians tools. You can pick them up at home depot and the prices arent bad.

Only stripper I would ever use. The top one, 211-100. Simple and bulletproof. All the others are a waste of money.

http://www.jensentools.com/product/product_images/211-100.jpg

Same here. used to use ones in the bottom pic until the lead installer in the shop i worked at convinced me to give them a try. Took about a week to get used to them but turned out to be way faster.

Ben

Only stripper I would ever use. The top one, 211-100. Simple and bulletproof. All the others are a waste of money.

http://www.jensentools.com/product/product_images/211-100.jpg

The top one (211-100) is fine, but I find I end up taking part of the wire strands when I use them. That's why I prefer the automatic wire strippers, like these:

http://www.jameco.com/wcsstore/jameco/Products/ProdImag/202841.jpg

They are fool proof, pretty much. Works for me!

JP

The best crimper is made by T&B (Thomas and Betts), orange and black handles. Ditto on the Klien G-Curve Strippers.

7294K22
Plier-Nose Wire Stripper W/Ergonomic Grip For 32-22 Strand/30-20 Solid Wire
In stock at $15.80 Each


7294K21
Plier-Nose Wire Stripper W/Ergonomic Grip For 12-20 Strand/18-10 Solid Wire
In stock at $15.57 Each


I use these at work and like them. Got em at McMaster-Carr.

sorry bout the stu stu studder

The best crimper is made by T&B (Thomas and Betts), orange and black handles. Ditto on the Klien G-Curve Strippers.

My dad has a pair of those, I've been trying to nab them for years... Can't hardly find them in anywhere...

go to a quality electrical supply house thety have the t& b crimpers

Yep, that is the way I do it, but I gently crimp and then solder the connector before I heat shrink it. 100% the best way to do it. IMHO

http://www.jameco.com/wcsstore/jameco/Products/ProdImag/202841.jpg

They are fool proof, pretty much. Works for me!

JP

$4 at HF and they work great for anything in the smaller diamater range, probably 12 gauge and smaller, but dont try and do more than 1 wire at a time even though it says you can do 4 it will bind badly.

Callen

Another vote for Thomas and Betts although a bit tough to find... The Kliein crimpers are nice and you can get them everywhere (Home Depot and Sears etc.)

Jason :)

I have a pair of Craftsman that i have used for the past 8 years (no joke) I have done a hella lot of electrical with them they are very similar to the Kliein shown just with straight handles instead of the curved. I have also used the yellow ones that are shown here and i seem to take wire off the covering more times than not.

I have also used both types of terminals and have found either to be perfect for automotive applications. I like the type with the plastic covering because i don't have to heat shrink the ends and it provides some protection against shorting.

I think the craftsman are about 15 and the Klein are about 18 or close to it. Either should do just fine for years.