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Tools you waited too long to acquire

There’s a YouTube video of a guy NSNDT (not so non destructive testing) of a cyber truck.

I guess the frames are made of cast aluminum….. which when it is fatigued it cracks and falls apart, vs steel that bends and flexes typically.
 
djberta said:
OMG buy this. Its on sale as well. Just cut stainless with it like butter.
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Wow! Not just on sale, but also $100 coupon. Some models have a lower coupon but still - under 300 for a half inch plasma cutter is pretty damn good.

NOTE - I MOVED ALL FURTHER DISCUSSION OF THE PLASMA CUTTER TO THE WELDING FORUM HERE:

djberta

Thread 'Plasma cutter for under $300!!'

OMG buy this. Its on sale as well. Just cut stainless with it like butter. Cut steel all the time and have had no issues.. Thickest I have cut is 1/4". Mine is 2 years old and still works great. I have only run mine on 220v. I have plans to make a small cnc table but that has been for on my project list for two years so not going to happen any time soon.
 
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With the spectre of wiring up the electronics cabinet for the mill conversion I splurged on these Klein wire strippers.
Don’t know why I waited so long.
IMG_1938.jpeg
 
DavidR8 said:
With the spectre of wiring up the electronics cabinet for the mill conversion I splurged on these Klein wire strippers.
Click to expand...

Those look a little different than the ones I like. My Klein looks like this:

Screenshot_20241211_081202_Chrome.jpg

It strips with a staged ratchet action. You insert the wire to whatever length you need into a set of jaws that range from 20 gauge to about 10. As you squeeze the handles, the Jaws close around the wire and cut through the insulation. Then they pull off the insulation as you further squeeze the handle. At the end of the stroke, the grips release so you can remove the wire and the insulation pops off. Then the Jaws snap back ready for the next wire. There are also a number of wire shears for cutting wires to length.

I got a different brand 50 years ago and have loved it till it disappeared. Prolly "borrowed" and never returned. So I recently bought a Klein like the photo above.

I agree with @djberta , these plus a ratcheting crimper like this are both essential wiring tools. The Jaws of the crimper should look like this:

Screenshot_20241211_083828_Amazon Shopping.jpg

This is a set of removable jaws from a crimper. Mine are not removable. The important feature is the folding facility at the bottom of the crimp that bends the ears of the ferrule inward so the crimp ears size to the wire with an ideal connection. Simple pinch crimpers do not have enough contact or tension to hold the wire tightly enough to keep the wire from sliding out when pulled. Normally you squeeze them until the release activates. But sometimes that doesn't work for a thick wire. There is a manual release lever you use when that happens. My middle son broke the manual release on mine. So every time I use it, I have to pray it releases automatically.

Yet another good tool to have is an RJ45 crimper for terminating ethernet cable.

Lastly, a pin release for electrical connectors.
 
Susquatch said:
The important feature is the folding facility at the bottom of the crimp that bends the ears of the ferrule inward so the crimp ears size to the wire with an ideal connection.
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Unless you're doing the Dupont crimp headers which are so popular in Arduino-land. Those need a different two stage geometry. I have the unit below to do those. It was a PITA figuring out what hat was wrong with my crimps....
Screenshot_20241211-085025.png

This is the one I wound up buying: https://www.amazon.ca/Crimping-Preciva-Ratcheting-Connectors-0-1-1mm²/dp/B07R1H3Z8X/ref=mp_s_a_1_3
 
DavidR8 said:
Klein wire strippers
Click to expand...
Darn you guys - that's another tool that went from "Oh, I've seen one of those before" to "Oh goodie, a new tool on my MUST HAVE list".
I sorta ordered one today. It's not the brand name Klein, but a no-name knock-off that Amazon markets as its own. I've bought a few other Amazon-branded items and been very happy. In this case, the strippers look like a close imitation of the Klein version except for less than 1/2 price ($14.44 vs $38.84, I'm not a golfer but I like all those 4s).
PS1: I didn't "sorta order one today", I ordered 3 so my son & son-in-law will get to try'em too.
PS2: The only little negative is that they don't arrive till Tuesday.
PS3: Amazon indicated they are a 'limited time offer' - so this deal might disappear.
PS4: I'm hoping the plastic adjuster for the stripping length is not an issue (bonus point for the Klein here).


Just for the heck of it and because I saw these when looking for wire stripper alternatives - I also ordered these wire crimpers (@ $21.99 with a coupon, they come tomorrow).
In my mind, I can blame the Forum for this NEEDED purchase too!
 
CWret said:
Darn you guys - that's another tool that went from "Oh, I've seen one of those before" to "Oh goodie, a new tool on my MUST HAVE list".
I sorta ordered one today. It's not the brand name Klein, but a no-name knock-off that Amazon markets as its own. I've bought a few other Amazon-branded items and been very happy. In this case, the strippers look like a close imitation of the Klein version except for less than 1/2 price ($14.44 vs $38.84, I'm not a golfer but I like all those 4s).
PS1: I didn't "sorta order one today", I ordered 3 so my son & son-in-law will get to try'em too.
PS2: The only little negative is that they don't arrive till Tuesday.
PS3: Amazon indicated they are a 'limited time offer' - so this deal might disappear.
PS4: I'm hoping the plastic adjuster for the stripping length is not an issue (bonus point for the Klein here).


Just for the heck of it and because I saw these when looking for wire stripper alternatives - I also ordered these wire crimpers (@ $21.99 with a coupon, they come tomorrow).
In my mind, I can blame the Forum for this NEEDED purchase too!
Click to expand...
Using the YouTube website (not the app), go to Clogh42’s channel and search for “wire stripper” and “crimper:” you’ll find some detailed reviews of those tools that work well & consistently and those that don’t.

Bottom line: if you’re OK with not having all of the conductors in a wire usable or potentially having a crimped connection failing, you don’t need the best. Electrical/power/control wiring is something I’ve learned not to skimp on.
 
CWret said:

Just for the heck of it and because I saw these when looking for wire stripper alternatives - I also ordered these wire crimpers (@ $21.99 with a coupon, they come tomorrow).
In my mind, I can blame the Forum for this NEEDED purchase too!
Click to expand...
Please post your review of these. I like the look of the crimper and want one.
 
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