Crappy knock-off crimpers - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: Renate
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2020, 11:41:13 pm
content: I need to do some 12V power wiring on my RV and thought that I'd do it right with making my own cables instead of relying on expensive pre-made cables that aren't the right size either.I'm talking about crimp lugs on 8 AWG to 2 AWG (10 - 35 mm²).A quick search finds the ubiquitous YQK-70.There's a ton of them on ebay for ~$35.But they are all clearly really crappy knock-offs.I dislike tools of seriously inferior quality.A bit of sleuthing leads me to IWISS (also a Chinese company) which seems to have made the original.https://iwiss.com/product/yqk-70-hexagon-hydraulic-crimping-tool-4-70mm2/Unfortunately, I can't find anyone who sells that in the states.(Yes, I did follow the "Where to buy" links, even the Chinese links.)Also searches are polluted with a million offers of knock-offs.I will contact the company to see.Any thoughts on crimpers or fakes or life in general?

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2020, 11:42:09 pm
content: get sg tool aid mechanical ones, 100$ or so, no bullshit, no leaky oil, decent as far as I can tellmade in taiwan.hard to believe taiwan comes in at 30% of the price of a official greenlee (imo considered a mid-high end tool), at 100$, then the advanced hydraulic one comes in at 10% of the price of the original and 30% the price of the Taiwanese one. Meanwhile the normal hydraulic crimp tools from normal manufacturers at the 12 ton range, go for 1000-2000$. So how do you do it for 30$?Are the hydraulic ones super easy to make or something? I mean it looks complicated, the normal ones are just like made of sheets of metal.I don't think you are gonna get a good tool sub 200$ if the original costs 1000-2000....https://www.zoro.com/greenlee-12-ton-hyd-crimp-tool-hkl1232/i/G3190050/

author: Renate
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 07, 2020, 01:25:29 am
content: The long arm, plain mechanical ones are twice as big as the little hydraulic jobs.It does present a storage problem here.I don't need a super serious crimper because it's only a maximum of 2 AWG (35 mm²).OTOH, the 8 AWG factory supplied cables on my inverter burned the connectors due to bad crimping on 15 Amperes!(I soldered the replacement ones.)I got an answer back from IWISS in Wenzhou, China.They don't make the YQK-70 anymore!Greenlee makes nice stuff but the prices will give you sticker shock.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 07, 2020, 01:26:51 am
content: how do they get the price down THAT much? Honestly I was paranoid about those tools leaking and make a oil slick. Don't want my tool box to take me out one day, of all things.

author: Renate
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 07, 2020, 02:04:23 am
content: Well, I'm thinking of the TEMCo TH0006 crimper:https://www.ebay.com/itm/TEMCo-Hydraulic-Cable-Lug-Crimper-TH0006-5-US-TON-12-AWG-to-00-2-0/281746224039The above crimper quotes 5 ton.The head is at least forged and not cast (poorly).One of the things that I've learned is that everybody quotes 6-8-10 ton for the same size crimper.All the reports quote scepticism about these numbers.Also, I don't get the attraction for chrome plating.Any decent crimp die that I've seen was black oxide.Quote from: coppercone2 on September 07, 2020, 01:26:51 amWell, peopledocomplain about them leaking oil.