Making Thermwraps need a crimper?

[Yourrealdad]

I am going to make a bunch of thermwraps and the sites (reptile) that I am buying the stuff from says to use a crimper like this: http://www.reptilebasics.com/heat-tape/crimping-pliers/

Anyone know where I can get one for cheaper (I have looked) or what else I could use instead of it to crimp the rivets?

Thanks

 

[reynolds5520]

I haven't crimped heat tape - so I could be way off here.

It looks like that crimper is just two flat and parallel jaw surfaces. You could probably make do with a couple of flat plates squeezed with a pair of locking pliers (Vice-Grips). Depending on the size of the area that needs to be crimped, maybe even just a smooth jaw locking plier - as opposed to the ones with a knurl in the jaw.

Hopefully someone that's done it will reply.

 

[Gunfighter04]

I'd imagine flat jaw welding pliers would work:

http://www.harborfreight.com/8-inch-flat-jaw-welding-pliers-93062.html

 

[helibrewer]

I just soldered mine and covered the connection with electrical tape.

 

[user 163849]

After reading the description I tend to believe that crimp could be made rather easily using nothing more than a common hammer and a good solid flat surface. At least I would give that a go before even considering paying $60 for that crimper. But that is just me.

 

[splyn]

i used vice grips to crimp mine. dont overthink it (RDWHAHB). the pliers simply flatten a hollow rivet into its mate on the other side of the heat tape. Since the electrical connection is actually between the laminate layers, the rivet simply holds the connection in place.

http://www.reptilebasics.com/thg-heattape-connections

 

[fixitoscar]

wow they have changed a lot since I ordered and made mine. Looks like you could use just about anything to crush and spread the male part of the rivit. Pliers, hammer, vise grips. Just make it nice and snug.

 

[D-Train]

reptilebasics will crimp them for you if you buy the wire/clip/insulator set and choose that option.