TEMCo Industrial Hammer Lug Crimper Tool - Crimps 8 AWG to 4/0 Battery & Welding Cables (Workbench-Mountable)

Works well, but handle crimper or hydraulic crimper would be better

I bought all different types of crimpers, pneumatic and plier style, and this hammer on tool is the only one that makes a solid crimp, every time. The other styles aren't reliable based on wire size and lugs of same size and most times it makes a loose crimp and you need to size down and it damages the lug so bad it needs to be thrown away and restart. Not with this hammer on tool, it makes a clean solid crimp every time and it doesn't get bothered with wire or crimp manufacturing tolerances. The only issue is when you need to make a crimp on-vehicle, you just can't hammer it in there, which is where the other tools offer a practical solution. If you can make a new wire or remove wire from vehicle, then this is your go to tool. This tool is sturdy and high quality. It doesn't say on the box if it's made in the USA, but I suspect it could be.

Solid, excellent tool. Purchased almost 9 years ago, I have crimped over 60 Lugs, mostly 1/0AWG and a few 4AWG. I have never had a faulty crimp, and it has worked exceptionally well over the years. I have recently come across a hammer-crimp detractor on the diysolarforum, but for me, this tool and its crimps have always worked and had zero issues. Still works like brand new almost 3 years after the 5 year warranty. It’s now selling for $6.50 less than I paid.

I've had this for several months and the best thing I can share is that it's been solid enough to withstand all the many repeated hammer blows I've dealt it. Now don't get me wrong, I have better things to do than take out my frustrations on a meagre little crimping tool. If I were to list the benefits of the tool in descending order I'd have to say, crimping first, and taking out my frustrations a distant second. (OK, maybe a close second.)

Bought this to make my own cables for an RV wiring upgrade. Worth every penny. It's smaller than you'd expect, but quite tough. I've made multiple cables using 4/0 welding wire, 2 awg welding wire, 1awg thhn and 6 awg stranded wire. This crimper handled them all perfectly. Pro tips: Use good copper lugs appropriate for the gauge wire you're crimping. Find a firm surface, concrete or steel will do. Use a small sledge, 2-4 lbs, but one that you can still operate comfortably with one hand. Hold the lug snug to the wire with one hand and hammer with the other hand, at least for the first tap or two. Start with a decent tap, just to seat the crimper in the lug so when you whack it with the next strikes it won't slip. 4-5 good whacks (for 4/0, less for small wire), you'll hear the sound change as you compact that wire and turn it into essentially solid metal at the crimp. When that sound changes, you're crimped! No adjustments needed between different wire sizes, it's self adjusting. I also added solder to my connections. I found this worked best: flux the copper wire and the inside of the lug beforehand, then crimp as described, then heat it up and add solder (some of my larger lugs had no holes in the lug, other than the big one the wire goes in, so I drilled a 1/8" or so hole in the lug to add the solder thru. Worked great, but honestly, you don't even need to solder these connections. The crimper makes them that strong! Recommend heat shrink wrap, the good thick kind with glue inside. Strengthens the connections, makes it waterproof and looks professional