Home Cable Asylum

Interconnects, speaker wire, power cords. Ask the Cable Guys.

Here you go.

For most speaker cable spades, an uninsulated ratcheting crimp tool can be used to do the job.

For an example, see:
http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/pshowdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=360-680
All of $18

This is a "Crimp Frame", which is a set of crimping levers/handles with a jaw 'base' for an assortment of crimping dies to fit the jaws (the actual shape of the crimping surface jaws), which an appropriate one for speaker cable spades would be:
http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=360-684
All of $9

Total cost with shipping, somewhere around $35 (unless you live in Timbuktu)

Another example is:
http://www.amazon.com/PRO-CRIMP-TOOL-NON-INSUL-TERMINALS/dp/B0002KR9H0/ref=sr_1_23/002-1761253-9608826?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1178158145&sr=1-23

These will get the job done, but you can spend more and get an Amp or a Molex brand crimp tool ($100 and up), or get instant gratification by finding what is available from local electronics distributors, or Home Depot/Lowes, etc. Beware the $5 non-ratcheting crimp tool billed as "universal" or "general purpose", the crimp cradle needs to be the right shape, and hex, round or oval is NOT it for crimp-able spade lugs.

See the pictures in the URL's I provided, the crimp cradle needs to be of a final "U" shape, in order to keep the wire in a good spread out position, and to curl and tighten the spade lug crimp fingers together all the way. The Parts Express tool has three different sizes which cover a range of wire gauges.

If you have good hand strength, the ratcheting types are not absolutely necessary, but I do mean good hand strength. I can do it, but then, I used to be able to sometimes break the handles off of pliers if I got carried away. Not as much of a problem since the car wreck, but I still don't need a ratcheting tool.

I personally have a Molex brand general purpose crimp tool I got second hand for cheap, where the ratcheting mechanism was broken, so I can make some pretty good crimps whenever.

I hope this was what you needed.

Jon Risch


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