Crimping tools ???

[psv]

I want to try to make pike/muskie leaders. Material: Sevenstrand and fluororocarbon. I did research and found 2 diferrent tools offered by Sevenstrand . First type:

http://www.berkley-fishing.com/prod.php?k=79593&sk=48509&p=PURA-TOOL%20(1104433)#zoom-/dimg/823491eb714101f4b2026ae2750ad1f4.jpg

Second type:

http://www.berkley-fishing.com/prod.php?k=79595&sk=48509&p=PURHS-250%20(1104434)

I'm confused, which one to choose. Price is no problem. Is it possible to crimp wire and fluorocarbon using one tool ? I'd like to hear your opinion and suggestions.

Thank you, in advance.

Regards, PSV

[sagacious]

I'm sure you'll get several opinions.

The first link is a point-to-cup crimping tool. It is designed to be used only with round sleeves. The crimped connection made using this tool is OK for smaller fish, but the point-to-cup tool is not designed to make leaders for large or strong fish. The point-to-cup compression just squashes the round sleeve without actually swaging the sleeve around the leader material. This tool is generally used with brass or copper sleeves.

The second one is a cup-to-cup swaging tool for crimping oval sleeves and double sleeves, but not round sleeves. It is designed to be used with copper, brass, and aluminum sleeves. The size of the correct sleeve is usually stamped or printed next to the appropriate cup, but you can safely use several different sizes of sleeves in each cup. Just match it up and crimp. This is probably the tool you want. Get a selection of both oval aluminum and double copper sleeves for it, in the sizes the tool indicates. The tool pictured in your link has jaws with 4 cups in the most commonly-used sizes, which is better than 3 cups.

The crimped connection formed by the cup-to-cup swager is very secure, since it actually swages the soft metal sleeve around the leader material. If you learn how to use this tool correctly, you shouldn't have to worry about the strength of your crimped connections.

Yes, you can certainly use a swaging tool for crimping wire and mono or fluoro leaders. However, you must use the correct sleeve for the task. Packaged sleeves usually list the diameter range of mono or wire that they're designed to work with. Aluminum sleeves are designed for mono or fluoro, but not wire or cable. Copper or brass double sleeves are OK to use on mono, fluoro, wire, or cable. Note that if you use an aluminum sleeve on stainless wire, galvanic corrosion will eat through the aluminum sleeve. In salt water, it'll burn-up that aluminum sleeve real fast.

If you look around a bit, you can probably find a kit that comes with a swager and a box of correctly-sized sleeves for the same price as the one in your link. Handle color, chrome plating, etc, doesn't matter, only the number and size of the cups in the jaws. Cabela's -- Sea Striker Rigging Kit with Crimper

This link will answer more questions, and teach you how to use the swager correctly: Tips & Techniques#>#Basic crimping techniques

Hope this helps, good luck!

[Spike-A-Pike]

I'm looking to start making pike/muskie leaders this spring and save some money in the process. My research is leading me to Rollie and Helen's Musky Shop and TYGer Leaders. It's classified as a "nylon coated micro-braided stainless steel leader than can be tied".

I think TYGer would allow my choice of options; 1) tie 18 inches between my braid and lure, 2) tie one end to a Sampo ball bearing swivel and the other directly to lure for a solid hook set, 3) tie it between a Sampo ball bearing swivel and Cross Loc snap, or 4) made with the same components as 3, but with the joins swagged.

The information by Leadertech has me rethinking fluorocarbon once again. They claim fluorocarbon has "poor resistance to teeth, expensive to buy, larger diameter compared to wire or cable of similar breaking strain."

[psv]

Sagacious,

Thank you, very much for great info. I'll go to Cabela's this Saturday and will check for their tools and sleeves.

Bruce,

This TyGer

[LedHed]

Sagacious

Excellent link. Pakula.com has some good info on rigging and swaging also.

PSV

You might want to shop around for a swagger – Jinkai makes a real good one. Had problems with a Berkley swager - dies weren't aligned.

The TyGerTM is some awesome stuff – use it for fishing inshore Costa Rica and fishing up/down Baja. Saves lures from the Sierras. You can buy it direct.

[psv]

Hey All,

I was at Cabela's last Saturday. Checked Cabela's swager (made by American Fishing Wire in China). There was no Sea Striker Kit in the store (Hamburg, PA). So, I decide to buy Jinkai swager tool online (LedHed recomendation). Found it at tackledirect.com

Jinkai SC-3 Crimping Tool

32$ seems fare price.

I need more help, now about sleeves:

1. What is the best sleeves on the market ?

2. I'm going to buy Jinkai oval sleeves Size J (link below) to crimp 80#

( dia.032"/.810mm) Seagar Fluorocarbon leader.

Jinkai J050 Sleeve

Do I choose proper size ?

I never did it before. Sorry, for stupid questions.

Thank you, in advance.

Regards, PSV

[LedHed]

That’s a coin toss between J and K – have both – can’t hurt to have too many crimps.

Like using Outfitters Choice DSC and DSCL (longer) – they are black and good for mono up to 100lb.

Momoi has a size S (0.33 – 0.70)

Sevenstrand – A5 (.7) or MSA.7 (.7)

There are plenty more Berkley, Cabela’s…….

[sagacious]

Hey All,

I was at Cabela's last Saturday. Checked Cabela's swager (made by American Fishing Wire in China). There was no Sea Striker Kit in the store (Hamburg, PA). So, I decide to buy Jinkai swager tool online (LedHed recomendation). Found it at tackledirect.com

Jinkai SC-3 Crimping Tool

32$ seems fare price.

I need more help, now about sleeves:

1. What is the best sleeves on the market ?

2. I'm going to buy Jinkai oval sleeves Size J (link below) to crimp 80#

( dia.032"/.810mm) Seagar Fluorocarbon leader.

Jinkai J050 Sleeve

Do I choose proper size ?

I never did it before. Sorry, for stupid questions.

Thank you, in advance.

Regards, PSV

1. The Jinkai aluminum sleeves are very good. However, as LedHed noted above, there are many other good suppliers. I'm tempted to believe that most of them come from the same maker, and are sold under a variety of different brands. I use several different brands, with excellent results. It isn't a stretch to say that the skill of the rigger makes more difference than the brand of sleeves. As I said before, learn proper rigging techniques from the many online info sources, and you'll do fine with whatever gear you have.

2. Yes, the Jinkai sleeve you indicated is correct size for your application. I just double-checked my rigging kit; I have both the J and K size sleeves. The J sleeve is the proper size for 80lb fluoro or mono. The K size is a tight fit for 50lb-- it won't work for anything larger, and there's little reason to crimp line smaller than 50lb mono/fluoro.

Buy an extra package of sleeves in the size you need. Crimping leaders is an endeavor where practice makes perfect-- you'll want to practice your rigging a little, before you put line to water. Besides, sleeves always seem to go fast.

Hope this helps, good luck.

[psv]

Thank you, Guys,

I really appreciate your help.

Regards, PSV

[wildevobaits]

I just bought some 3/64" stainless cable and some tin plated copper compression sleeves. McMaster specs out a specific crimper for the 3/64" sleeves, but it is $150; I only spent $18 on the cable and sleeves. I have looked at the tools ya'll have been talking about, but do not know if they would work. Is there any other cheaper tool I could buy to do the same thing? I guess I could mill out a a tool to use in a press or vice if I have to.

[sagacious]

I just bought some 3/64" stainless cable and some tin plated copper compression sleeves. McMaster specs out a specific crimper for the 3/64" sleeves, but it is $150; I only spent $18 on the cable and sleeves. I have looked at the tools ya'll have been talking about, but do not know if they would work. Is there any other cheaper tool I could buy to do the same thing? I guess I could mill out a a tool to use in a press or vice if I have to.

No worries mate, there are cheaper crimping tools that will work perfectly.

For 3/64" (250lb) cable, you need either a 1.3 or 1.6mm copper double sleeve, depending on exact style and availability. Both will work for 250lb cable. Some authorities recommend two sleeves when crimping heavy cable-- let your conscience guide you. I'll assume you got that size sleeve or it's equivalent.

Those sleeves will fit just fine in the 1.0mm-2.0mm cup on a cup-to-cup crimper-- no problem. That cup is usually the second largest on a 4-cup c-t-c tool. You can get a decent c-t-c crimper for $19.99 if you look around. Here's one: P-Line Deluxe Hand Crimper It is a good-quality tool, it'll last forever, and will swage secure connections with the 1.3 or 1.6mm sleeve for your cable.

Be sure to read the info in the links posted above by LedHed and myself on how to use a crimping tool properly.

Hope this helps, good luck.