Nicopress Swaging Tool - Availability

I don't have a go no go guage in the box. My airplane only has 8
swages, none critical or significantly stressed, so it's not
surprising. Where do they come from and how much do they cost?

Then why do you have them?
Are they on control cables?
Are they "flying wires"

If any 1 popped.. would it overstress another? and would a combination of
more than 2 or more of the 8 letting go cause flight problems?

I do not know where to get the go-nogo tool.. but I would guess any aviation
tool / parts supply house would know.

BT

We had a control cable here that came apart in-flight, swage failed.. a
tool
was used that had previously been determined to produce substandard
swages..
it was kept around for some reason.. another mechanic used it a couple
years
later on an aircraft and did not check the go/nogo,

That's a good story BTIZ, but does not address the point. The point
is the cheapo tool works just as well as the expensive tool. Yes, you
should always check with a go-no-go guage.

Corky Scott

Corky... the point is.. we had a bad tool... and someone knew it.. but never
marked it or told anyone else.. it was perfectly good for using to set
cables for picnic awnings.. but not for aircraft use.

but the poor hapless mechanic used it on an airplane, did not have his
go-nogo handy.. and compared the compression with a micrometer to a factory
swedge... the swedge he put in let go..

BT

On Fri, 07 Jan 2005 08:30:05 -0800, Richard Riley
wrote:

I don't have a go no go guage in the box. My airplane only has 8
swages, none critical or significantly stressed, so it's not
surprising. Where do they come from and how much do they cost?

They are REALLY simple and cheap. They are just precision slots cut
out of some thin sheet metal. You attempt to slide the proper cuttout
over your swaged nicopress fitting. If it slides on, it's properly
compressed. If it does not, the fitting is suspect.

Corky Scott

On Fri, 7 Jan 2005 12:19:15 -0800, "BTIZ"
wrote:

Corky... the point is.. we had a bad tool... and someone knew it.. but never
marked it or told anyone else.. it was perfectly good for using to set
cables for picnic awnings.. but not for aircraft use.

I understand. My thinking was that the original poster was asking if
the cheap tool was safe to use. My experience and that of those
who've used it and mentioned it here over the years, is that it does
produce aircraft quality swages.

Corky Scott

I understand. My thinking was that the original poster was asking if
the cheap tool was safe to use. My experience and that of those
who've used it and mentioned it here over the years, is that it does
produce aircraft quality swages.

Corky Scott

good deal Corky... we are still recovering from the mechanic being in a rush
to get an airplane back in service, that he chose not to drive 80 miles to
get his go-nogo tool.

The airplane survived the out landing, the pilot also, but we lost two tow
pilots who chose not to get back into the airplane after a outside party
mechanic said it was good to go.

BT

Hmmm, I don't see a follow up as to precisely was wrong with the Lows tool.
Three years ago I bought a similar inexpensive ($23.00) at Home Depot. Before
using it I measured the die ring to see how it compared to the bolt together
tool I bought from Aircraft Spruce several years before. The jaws required some
minor adjustment of the jaw fit and stops to bring it to exactly the same as
the other tool (also found a page on the web that gave me the proper
dimensions). I check every crimp with the go/no go gauge. Some 200 swages so
far with no change required. And this unit doesn't have any brand name on it.

"Gary T. Ciampa" wrote:

BTW: As it turns out, the tools from Lowes was NOT, I repeat, NOT
sufficient for the nicopress compression sleeves.

Sorry about the false advertising! I ended up ordering an aviation
approved tool.

Regards,

Gary

--
Bruce A. Frank, Editor "Ford 3.8/4.2L Engine and V-6 STOL
Homebuilt Aircraft Newsletter"
| Publishing interesting material|
| on all aspects of alternative |
| engines and homebuilt aircraft.|

In article , Bruce A. Frank says...

Hmmm, I don't see a follow up as to precisely was wrong with the Lows tool.
Three years ago I bought a similar inexpensive ($23.00) at Home Depot. Before
using it I measured the die ring to see how it compared to the bolt together
tool I bought from Aircraft Spruce several years before. The jaws required some
minor adjustment of the jaw fit and stops to bring it to exactly the same as
the other tool (also found a page on the web that gave me the proper
dimensions). I check every crimp with the go/no go gauge. Some 200 swages so
far with no change required. And this unit doesn't have any brand name on it.

I compared my Cheapo Lowes tool against a bolt together type and 2 of my high
price Telephone Supply crimpers and after a minor adjustment I got the same
result on all of them. My results were the same as Bruces. A quality crimp. Only
time will tell how long the cheap set will last I haven't done a hardness test
on the jaws and that's where the difference if any will probably be.But for a
occasional use tool I thinks it's fine just check the crimp periodically
that's all.

See ya

Chuck S

PS I was crimping 3/32" 7X7 and 7X19 SS cable

ChuckSlusarczyk wrote:

In article , Bruce A. Frank says...

Hmmm, I don't see a follow up as to precisely was wrong with the Lows tool.
Three years ago I bought a similar inexpensive ($23.00) at Home Depot. Before
using it I measured the die ring to see how it compared to the bolt together
tool I bought from Aircraft Spruce several years before. The jaws required some
minor adjustment of the jaw fit and stops to bring it to exactly the same as
the other tool (also found a page on the web that gave me the proper
dimensions). I check every crimp with the go/no go gauge. Some 200 swages so
far with no change required. And this unit doesn't have any brand name on it.

I compared my Cheapo Lowes tool against a bolt together type and 2 of my high
price Telephone Supply crimpers and after a minor adjustment I got the same
result on all of them. My results were the same as Bruces. A quality crimp. Only
time will tell how long the cheap set will last I haven't done a hardness test
on the jaws and that's where the difference if any will probably be.But for a
occasional use tool I thinks it's fine just check the crimp periodically
that's all.

See ya

Chuck S

PS I was crimping 3/32" 7X7 and 7X19 SS cable

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and building strut braced planes,

I make 5/32 wires for the LE OB LWR wires and this takes a serious bench
tool.

I bought and tested the cheappo tool, and now loan it to customers
without worry of losing a 200 dollar production tool.

a simple check with a GO gage suffices for most nico sleevs and
stops,,,,,,,,,,

easy and effective,

and with enough use, even the exspensive models need adjustment,,,,,,,,,

--


Mark Smith
Tri-State Kite Sales
1121 N Locust St
Mt Vernon, IN 47620
1-812-838-6351

http://www.trikite.com

I made one out of a pair of chain cutters with a little bit of welding
and grinding
to get the correct opening size.

In article , Mark Smith says...
I make 5/32 wires for the LE OB LWR wires and this takes a serious bench
tool.

I have one bench tool and 2 hand types,one the cheapo and the other a expensive
one.


I bought and tested the cheappo tool, and now loan it to customers
without worry of losing a 200 dollar production tool.

I will be taking my cheapo one to shows since I lost a good one at a show
once.



a simple check with a GO gage suffices for most nico sleevs and
stops,,,,,,,,,,

easy and effective,

and with enough use, even the exspensive models need adjustment,,,,,,,,,

That's a fact ,just check them with a go, no go gage. The nico doesn't care what
squeezed it all it wants is a good squeeze. :-)

See ya

Chuck S