Crimpy

mountaincookie
mountaincookie Posts: 292
edited May 2011 in Workshop
I'm putting an old bike back together and at some point will want to crimp the brake and gear cables - is there a way to do it without a crimper so it'll last, and if not, will a cheap one off ebay do the trick? I don't really want to spend £40 on a crimper.....

Comments

  • fludey
    fludey Posts: 384
    How do you mean crimp the cables? Do you mean together?? Or just the ferrels on the ends of the cables? :?
    Felt AR4
    Planet X Pro Carbon 105
    MTB Kona Kikapu Deluxe with a few upgrades!!
  • mountaincookie
    mountaincookie Posts: 292
    I mean put those little metal things you put on the end of gear and brake cables where you've cut them to stop them fraying (I wasn't aware they where called ferrules sorry!) Basically I want to put these on my cables:

    http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/50-Silver-Bicycle ... 2366wt_905
    :)
  • P_Tucker
    P_Tucker Posts: 1,878
    mountaincookie wrote:
    I mean put those little metal things you put on the end of gear and brake cables where you've cut them to stop them fraying (I wasn't aware they where called ferrules sorry!) Basically I want to put these on my cables:

    http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/50-Silver-Bicycle ... 2366wt_905
    :)

    You can do it with a normal pair of snips, or scissors at a push. Just don't squeeze too hard or you cut the ferrule in half.
  • rothers_bikeo
    rothers_bikeo Posts: 225
    Soldering the end works well to stop fraying, no need for a ferrule.
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    Best crimping tool = Mole grips
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • mountaincookie
    mountaincookie Posts: 292
    how do molegrips work? I thought the idea was to crimp the thing on equally all round rather than just flatten it (in which case it will slide......?)

    Cheers
  • Cleat Eastwood
    Cleat Eastwood Posts: 7,508
    i use pliers, squash and go.
    The dissenter is every human being at those moments of his life when he resigns
    momentarily from the herd and thinks for himself.
  • fludey
    fludey Posts: 384
    Phew was worried you were going to try and crimp a cable together :shock:

    A blunt plair or cheap pliers will do fine or you can use one of those cheap crimp tools you get from maplins and alike, I do have the expensive crimp tool but only as I used to work with electrics but have never bothered using it for crimping of ferrels.

    So blunt pliers or needle nose pliers will do you just fine :wink:
    Felt AR4
    Planet X Pro Carbon 105
    MTB Kona Kikapu Deluxe with a few upgrades!!
  • mountaincookie
    mountaincookie Posts: 292
    Brill, thanks for the responses! :D

    Lol, no, that could have potentially disastrous results.....

    I will go for the pointy nose pliers I think, I didn't really want to buy a crimping tool, i've spent enough already...a bit here a bit there WHAT? I'VE SPENT £100? :p

    Thanks!
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    Mole Grips give you a nice flat crimp - you simply can't get enough leverage on a regular pair of pliers IME to compress the crimp sufficiently.
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • mountaincookie
    mountaincookie Posts: 292
    Ahh right, that makes sense, cheers

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