I’m sorry Sir, your hold luggage is 26kg, that will be another £80 please! …argh.
If you are an independent support engineer or have simply missed shipping your kit with the event freight, you’re going to be flying your tool kit.
You need enough tools to cover many possible tasks but keeping weight and space down. After all, you still have to pack all of that new season team kit!
So if I can only travel with two crimp tools? These are my go tools.
The Indent Crimp Tool, it is a pretty obvious choice since it handles a wide range of contacts for the common motorsport Deutsch and Souriou ranges. And if you use the WireTrain positioners you can even fit a tackle #20 DTM pins and sockets. WireTrain obviously does a pre-made Indent Crimp Kit keeping all your parts in one hand case, check it out.
However there an so many other tasks and crimps you may need to perform. This is where I reach for my much abused Packard crimpers.
Why are they so great?
- It has single-width dies, so you can select a different crimp for contacts with both primary and secondary crimp points
- The die width is around 4mm, thus not too large but not supper skinny, which can potentially cause point loading in the crimp
- 5 different dies in one set and covers a good range of sizes, it also does a fair job on tube splices if your in a pinch
- It’s a really robust tool but not too large or heavy
- The dies are EDM wire-cut and this crisp die shape helps to smoothly form double curl style crimp (looks like a sideways ‘B’ once crimped)
Over the years I have really put this tool to the test and it has done a solid job on tasks way out of its design spec.
Now this tool can be found under many different names. Packard 12085271, Delphi/Aptiv 1208271, Metri-Pack 280, Sargent 3187.
And it used to be around £300 but can currently be found from Mouser UK for £84+VAT.
Electronic Components Distributor – Mouser Electronics United Kingdom part number 829-12085271
Why not get yourself this quality crimp tool and happy crimping!