A tool I wish someone would make

[Bill Douglas]

Originally Posted by id10t

I think John Muir mentions the twin roach clips with magnifying glass for solar powered lighting in his VW Guide book

Good idea!

I don't know if I've actually used this thing. I buy things and put them away somewhere. I get a lot of satisfaction knowing I could use it for something interesting if I wanted to

[Pazuzu]

Originally Posted by MBAtarga

If these are good enough for the defense department contractors....where I used these 35 years ago.....

I use these ALL THE TIME at work. You can slide the connector down one wire, then mechanically connect the exposed wires, then slide the connector to the junction and go to town. Solder connection, with an inch of heat shrink and melted gel waterproofing on each end!

I buy them by the 100 in various sizes:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09BJ7FY8X

I also use this heat gun, it's plenty for them and all of my heat shrink needs. I like it because it's pretty small, and easy to shove up inside a dashboard or something and get the heat where you want it. I now have three of these, one in the garage, one at the telescope workbench and one at work:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07G4VMSHW

I also use lots of expandable braid wire covering, and just came across this, which makes it work even better. A hot knife gun, which cuts through it like butter and seals the ends so they don't fray:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004XAD2IU

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

Good idea!

I don't know if I've actually used this thing. I buy things and put them away somewhere. I get a lot of satisfaction knowing I could use it for something interesting if I wanted to

The term is 'Creative Intention'!

[wdfifteen]

Interesting stuff here. I like those soldering pliers and the low temp butt connectors. Most of my work has been putting ends on the wires. I wonder if they make low temp loop and spade connectors.



I use standard crimp connectors from my FLAPS. They are cheap and work well. I cut the plastic "insulator" off and crimp them to the wire, then solder them in. I put two layers of dual wall, adhesive lined heat shrink tubing over it.




I needed an eight foot section of heat shrink tubing to finish off the VW wiring harness I was making, plus about a foot for the Porsche job. Had to buy a 50 foot roll for $30+. Anybody need any 1/2" heat shrink tubing?

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

I bought two tubs of those and found the same as you, hard to melt the low melting point solder.

However, I now use a mini butane torch and the heat shrink can withstand a good deal of direct flame without disintegrating. I still don't like the connectors very much, tho.

Frankly, I think wdfifteen could benefit from using this torch in the under the dash scenario for conventional soldering. It does not work when pointed downward but upward it's awesome. Tiny but mighty flame.

https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/turbo-blue-torch-blue-torch-stick-butane-lighter-w-bottle-opener-22226/12055407-p?product_channel=local&store=8740&adtype=pla&product_channel=local&store_code=8740&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_a3Gl4Pc-gIVDQCtBh3F4QYpEAQYBCABEgJS1fD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I was at a local convenience store buying beer and on the counter was a little butane lighter that was refillable. I suspect it was really for the crack pipe users, as they also had bongs and other drug stuff for sale. The lighter as a small blue point of flame that I saw was perfect for heat shrink tubing. It works great for the connectors with the solder in the middle. It has a very fine point and very accurate heat aiming.

[911 Rod]

I use bare butt connectors and adhesive shrink tubing on any thing that moves. Boat car etc.

[Superman]

A good crimp connection is best. Believe it or not. Even with a solder connection, there is supposed to be a crimp or physical attachment. The solder is to add stability to an already-physical attachment. When we make amplifiers, we use terminal strips to make connections. The wire is wrapped around a terminal first, making a physical connection, and solder is added to hold that existing physical connection in place. A 'military grade' version of this is where you wrap the wire around the terminal not once, but twice. In connecting two wires without anchoring them to a stationary terminal, I would make a physical connection. Preferably a crimp connection.

This is how we build things like cars and houses and electrical distribution systems. Physical connection is best.

[Bill Douglas]

I used to work making car wiring harnesses in a factory. We used to put a dot of solder on various terminals.