You know those crimped bits on the end of cables?

[Kell]

What tools are people using to do this?

Do I need to spend £24 on some Park Tools Crimps or would a set of pliers work?

I normally just leave them off as I've never bothered to buy the crimps themselves, but I'm thinking it's got to be better to do it properly.

[markoc]

I use a pair of pliers -the "wire cutter" bit of them that is useless at cutting wires is goodto gently squeeze it together on the cable. Either that or a decent glob of superglue for those with OCD tendencies.

[Rouleur]

You can do it with needle nose pliers and lots of pressure, or decent bike cable cutters have a section to do the job properly.

[CoolC]

I have a pair of these:



Smooth faced variable pliers/adjustable spanner thingy. Does a really nice job on the end crimps.

[Disco You]

Pliers work fine.

[anonymous-user]

i just squeeze them between my thumb and forefinger, you guys must be proper mincers!...

[JEA1K]

pablo said:

i just squeeze them between my thumb and forefinger, you guys must be proper mincers!...

This is the type of job your teeth were designed to do!

[47p2]

Crimping pliers

Click

[AlmostUseful]

I use a pair of side cutters, if you've got good side cutters like I have you might want to be careful as they'll go straight through the crimp if you're not careful.

[47p2]

Of course the proper way to tidy the cable ends would be to solder them

That way you could remove and refit them many times without them fraying

[yellowjack]

Probably not going to help the OP much, here, but I use a detonator crimping tool...



...a bit like this one. They used to come free in the 'Rapid Cratering Kits' we used to use for blowing up roads and such like.

Specially designed to affix detonators onto the end of safety fuse without cutting through the safety fuse itself, and surprisingly useful to have in the garage.




I'm not helping the OP much, am I?

[Kell]

Cheers for all the advice.

As I'm currently using a set of tin snips to cut cables, I figured I'd be better off investing in some proper wire cutters. Looking around trying to save much money by buying a non-bike specific pair seems fraught with problems.

In the end I just ordered the park tools ones as they're half-price.

The Shimano ones get a good write up, but they're almost £50.

Edited by Kell on Wednesday 14th May 11:19

[CoolC]

47p2 said:

Of course the proper way to tidy the cable ends would be to solder them

That way you could remove and refit them many times without them fraying

Have you ever tried doing it though?

I have and even with a gas flame soldering iron it was a mess. The crimp ends are much neater. Leave some extra just in case you ever need to remove and refit it.

[jodypress]

Kell said:

Cheers for all the advice.

As I'm currently using a set of tin snips to cut cables, I figured I'd be better off investing in some proper wire cutters. Looking around trying to save much money by buying a non-bike specific pair seems fraught with problems.

In the end I just ordered the park tools ones as they're half-price.

The Shimano ones get a good write up, but they're almost £50.

Edited by Kell on Wednesday 14th May 11:19

If you mean this one:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/park-tool-cable...

then you've picked a winner. I've built two bikes suing it and over Xmas changed my groupset on my commuter. So much easier with the right tools

[Fluffsri]

We've had these in the club tool kits for years. More use than the average home mech and half the price of the ones above.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mobile/pedros-c...

[Kell]

It was the Park Tools ones posted above.

I did look at the Pedros ones, but they were a tenner more expensive again.

[Barchettaman]

I never seem to have cable caps on hand so just use hot glue. Works a treat - stick the cable end down the nib & it comes out sealed up.