If 'ya think' it's really that much different then using a specific crimper.

Some things really don't need to be over complicated. That's how some get stuck in perpetual project mode. Ya know? ;)

My 'junk' seems to be starting just fine with my so rigged terminal end.

If you want to compare finished builds, I guess we can go there... But we should take that to PM's. Okay? :thumbsup:

Mark -- lighten up...

I have some finished builds -- But I don't think we need to compare. :cheers:

Well I am an (*), but I was tongue-in-cheek with my comment :) Just kidding.....

I think a guy should do whatever he can on his car to get the job done. There are so many "right and wrong" ways of doing things that its not for me to tell a guy if he is right or wrong. Just not my place. I think its good to get alot of opinions here. That way the guy doing the work can decide what is within his capabilities. And my BFH gets used often around here :thumbsup: JR

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...SM/hammer1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...SM/hammer3.jpg

YUP!! West Marine has alot of goodies to get. I doooo like the marine grade items. Oh, and they have some good prices too. I bought a huge lot of 3M wire terminals from them. The type with the heat shrink cover. I think they have glue in them too cause it kinda squishes out the end a lil after heating. I like them for GP type crimp terminals. JR

Can you send me a link to what you are talking about with the heat shrink attached to it i have been looking and cannot find them thanks. sorry to thread jack

Not from west marine but the same 3M terminals and a decent price. JR Oh, and they take ALOT of heat to start shrinking. At first I thought I got ripped, regular terminals. But kept the heat from my really hot heat gun on the terminal and sure enough it started to shrink. And you can tell when they are done because the wire shield under the heat shrink becomes more visible as the glue melts and gets liquid. Oh, and on a side note. I wanted to test the strength of the glue and its holding strength to the wire. So I did one on a scrap piece of wire. Let it cool completely (actually over night, had other things to do) and gripped the terminal in the vice, just the metal section and plastic, not the wire. Gripped the wire end in some vice grips. And started to tug. Holy cow!!! I couldnt pull the wire out of the crimped terminal with my body leaning away from the vice. I actually couldnt pull the wire out. Testament to some hot melt glue for helping to hold it all together. Dont do that with crimp only terminals. The wire will slip the terminal and you will end up on the floor. And it prolly helps a lil on the sealing part too. But not as well as a Weather Pack. If I could afford to do Weather Pack terminals everywhere then I would. But for GP type terminals the 3M are the best of those type of crimp terminals IMO.. JR
http://cgi.ebay.com/3M-Heat-Shrink-W...item3c9da423bd

Those are the only butt connectors I use... heat shrink and glued. I get them at my local electronics store in packs of 50 or 100 for about 1/3 what West Marine charges...

3M are the best - avoid the chinese versions.

Ned- yes you do...I have the large battery cable terminal crimping tool. The one that looks like a large pair of bolt cutters.

Inexpensive Battery Crimping Tool
 

The attached link has an inexpensive battery crimping tool that you can use in a bench vice. It also lists complete cable kits and a side post build-a-battery kit. I do recommend solder in addition to a good crimp.

http://www.americanautowire.com/cata...ble&Access.pdf

Tim

TIM --

I'll bet you get that soldering question a lot huh? I know I do. It's always a 'debate'. I solder my big lug battery stuff - but nothing else. The problem comes with soldering - IMHO - is the person doing the work.... if they overheat the copper it gets brittle. So far.. I've seen very few people that can solder correctly. It's like welding - yeah they can weld. Which means they can get two pieces of metal to stick together... but they really can't WELD... as in - get it to stay square - flat - have penetration - and pass a bend test.... :rofl: