Small blocks of Aluminuim

[excossack]

Anyone know of a place that will sell/giveaway (maybe cover postage) a small block of ali? Im after a piece about 1.5" square so I can make a crimping tool?
The plan is to drill a hole in the middle smaller than the end i need to crimp and then chop it half, insert cable into the connector and squash with a vice to crimp it all up.

 

[rtbcomp]

Why Aluminium? This sort of thing is usually made out of steel.

If you want to end up with a round hole, cut it in half before drilling the hole.

 

[excossack]

I thought of Ali as it maybe easier to cut ? Mild steel may also work. Im with you on the cutting in half before drilling. Just twigged why !

 

[madkayaker]

why not get a crimping tool? what size is the cable your are crimping?

 

[excossack]

I was going to try and make a tool, just to see if i can.

Cable it is for a 175amp anderson connector

 

[madkayaker]

for that kind of size a bench vice works quite well or a round punch and hammer push a line up one size and that will grip it well

 

[Pete.]

Take a piece of flat steel, drill a hole in it, chamfer both sides of the hole then hacksaw it in half. If ou use a thick enough steel you can cross-drill it for a couple of locating pins to make assembly easier.

 

[rtbcomp]

I was going to try and make a tool, just to see if i can.

.........

Which is as good a reason as any.

 

[madkayaker]

the borght in tools for that sort of sizes are normal hex instead of round

 

[excossack]

That's not a bad Idea and worth pondering. The reason for using a block was to get an even squish on the connector.

 

[madkayaker]

if u can weight till tue i will measue up the ones from work

 

[excossack]

I can wait. Measure the crimps or the blocks ?

 

[madkayaker]

block the crimps are 70mm2 if its a 175A

 

[excossack]

Cheers. 70mm2 rings a bell.

 

[gaz_moose]

i used to just solder the wires in using a blow torch.

 

[brightspark]

i used to just solder the wires in using a blow torch.

thats fine on fixed wiring but if u solder lugs on cable like welding leads theres no give or flexibility on the ends once soldered and the wire snaps a lot quicker than in a crimped lug

 

[excossack]

if u can weight till tue i will measue up the ones from work

Any joy ?

 

[madkayaker]

sorry it had slipped my mind. will measure up tomorrow

 

[excossack]

Thanks.

 

[madkayaker]

have sent myself a reminder for the morning so i don't forget (again)