[Elecraft] Soldering crimped connectors is not a good thing.

[Don Wilhelm]

David,

There is no one good crimper - and that is what makes getting a good 
crimp as a ham who is dealing with a variety of wire sizes and 
connectors an expensive deal.  There is only one good *type* of crimper, 
and that is the racheting type.  Some come with changable dies while 
others are task specific.
The crimp connector must be properly sized to the wire, and the die must 
be sized to the connector body.

If the only thing you are going to crimp are Anderson PowerPoles, get 
the one specifically for that application - but also get the proper size 
APP contacts for the wire size you will be using.  If the wire does not 
fill the wire cavity, the crimp will not be good and may pull out.  
Crimping to solid wire is also problematic.
If you don't have the right crimper, it is better to solder for most ham 
applications.  Mobile/high vibration applications will do better with 
crimping, and if you have to solder those for mobile use, support the 
wire about 2 inches away from the connector to prevent flexing where the 
solder has wicked up the wire.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 11/5/2015 12:51 PM, David Cole wrote:
> Could someone recommend a good crimper please?  This has been a most
> interesting discussion.