MILSPEC Crimping Tool

[kiwiaviator]

I'm looking at making up a basic loom with pin and socket contacts in DB connectors. The equipment manual recommends using a DMC AFM8 crimping tool (meets MILSPECM22520/2-01) The problem is that the price for these crimpers is similar to the GDP of a small country. There are some cheaper ones on Aliexpress however before I commit to a purchase, I just want to see what others do to get high quality crimps.

DMC product pictured.

 

[Blueadventures]

1 minute ago, kiwiaviator said:

I'm looking at making up a basic loom with pin and socket contacts in DB connectors. The equipment manual recommends using a DMC AFM8 crimping tool (meets MILSPECM22520/2-01) The problem is that the price for these crimpers is similar to the GDP of a small country. There are some cheaper ones on Aliexpress however before I commit to a purchase, I just want to see what others do to get high quality crimps.

DMC product pictured.

 

There is, if no one else gives details I'll post later today.  I got one, plus two packs of pins as spares (25 to each pack) and 2 of their insertion tools.  Very reasonable price all up.

[FlyBoy1960]

the cheap ones are crap and barely do the job.  mil spec doesn't mean everything you think it does. Sure it gives you specifications for what the tool or product is meant to do but it also refers to other specifications like operations and use. A cheap one may last 1000 crimps where the one indicated may last 100,000 crimps.

 

You get what you pay for with everything in life.

 

I paid nothing for my first wife and I got nothing in return

[IBob]

https://nz.element14.com/aim-cambridge/24-8643p/crimp-tool-d-sub-26-20-awg/dp/2357846?gclid=CjwKCAjwrfCRBhAXEiwAnkmKmR9Dghvc4buz01hKBXI1fSHAO_UaJX5kOL645VXhEovkisdvGX8ExBoCtJ8QAvD_BwE&CMP=KNC-GNZ-SHOPPING-PMAX-2357846

 

Crimp tool D sub 26-20 from Element14, about $70.....or borrow mine. Does the job just fine.

 

The 26-20 is the range of wire gauges.
Part of the reason for the high price of the industry ones is that they have fittings for, and can be adjusted to work with a much wider range of wire sizes (and pins?) But you don't need that flexibilty: D-sub is one size and length of pin that accepts a small range of wire sizes.

Edited March 25, 2022 by IBob

[Blueadventures]

2 hours ago, Blueadventures said:

There is, if no one else gives details I'll post later today.  I got one, plus two packs of pins as spares (25 to each pack) and 2 of their insertion tools.  Very reasonable price all up.

Look up Stienair and look under tools.  They are a good looking aircraft maintenance company.  The 4 way crimp tool is $38 USD.

 

Good to deal with.

 

Over to you.

[onetrack]

There's a good, lightly used DMC crimper currently up for auction on eBay. It's at USD$21.50 at present, but with 5 days to go, no doubt the final sale price will go up. They seem to sell on eBay, in new or near-new condition, for about USD$300.

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/255451643628

 

Be aware that the Stienair USD$38 crimper is an "import". That means possibly from China, or it could be from Taiwan. Chinese tools still lag behind American quality, but Taiwanese tools are generally quite acceptable quality.

[skippydiesel]

I used Toledo D Sub crimpers - worked a treat for a one aircraft job. From memory $70 new. Make sure you select the correct  tool for the wire gauge  - See IBobs comments above.

 

From memory Toledo do three D-Sib type connectors. The smallest are probably what you need - Try Toledo D Sub Crimpers 31024 wire size range AWG 26-20,

[jetboy]

be sure you buy the DB pins that work with your chosen crimper, the type you pictured doesnt operate with many of the crimp pins.

 

For a one - off job, soldering might be better.

[kiwiaviator]

16 hours ago, IBob said:

https://nz.element14.com/aim-cambridge/24-8643p/crimp-tool-d-sub-26-20-awg/dp/2357846?gclid=CjwKCAjwrfCRBhAXEiwAnkmKmR9Dghvc4buz01hKBXI1fSHAO_UaJX5kOL645VXhEovkisdvGX8ExBoCtJ8QAvD_BwE&CMP=KNC-GNZ-SHOPPING-PMAX-2357846

 

Crimp tool D sub 26-20 from Element14, about $70.....or borrow mine. Does the job just fine.

 

The 26-20 is the range of wire gauges.
Part of the reason for the high price of the industry ones is that they have fittings for, and can be adjusted to work with a much wider range of wire sizes (and pins?) But you don't need that flexibilty: D-sub is one size and length of pin that accepts a small range of wire sizes.

Thanks all for the info. Thanks Bob for the offer to use yours. I might just order the tool off Element 14 as I'll use it a lot more in the future.

[IBob]

All good. You'll also need something to strip the wire neatly and precisely: for the D sub pins, you're only taking about 4mm off.

If you can find a well made version of this type, they are ideal:
https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketplace/building-renovation/tools/hand-tools/pliers/listing/3524919310?bof=UX48xEQA
I have the cheap knockoff version, and while I was able to adjust them to do the one job correctly, I wouldn't recommend them.

[onetrack]

The best wire stripper, IMO, is the Japanese-made Vessel model 3000B. Vessel produced this design in the early 1970's, and it has never changed in design or construction since that time.

I bought a Vessel 3000B wire stripper around about 1974, and it served me faithfully for 47 years - until one handle broke last year.

 

I had trouble sourcing a new genuine Vessel tool - and because the design patent expired long ago, there are now dozens of copies of the Vessel wire stripper.

I ended up sourcing a replacement in the form of a Chinese copy from Hong Kong, which does appear to be satisfactory quality. I think I paid about $15 for it, but unfortunately I can't find my sales invoice for it at present.

 

But you can still find the original Japanese-made tool, if you're prepared to search intensively. The original genuine unit will cost you around about $50.

The prices for the Vessel 3000B wire stripper and its copies, will range from about $14 to $465, depending on how much the seller decides to rip you off.

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/VESSEL-AUTOMATIC-WIRE-STRIPPER-1-0-1-6-2-0-2-6-3-2mm-3000B-MADE-IN-JAPAN/184015768038

 

https://automotivesuperstore.com.au/aeroflow-af98-2105

 

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/2052922664.html

 

 

This L.A.-based seller has a comprehensive outline of all the wire strippers available, and even provides the patent documents for the reputedly original American wire stripper from 1915! They focus on European and German tools.

 

https://hausoftools.com/blogs/news/all-about-wire-strippers

 

Edited March 25, 2022 by onetrack