Interesting. How is it different? Looks like you crimp a bare connector on, then heatshrink it. Is the difference in the materials for the heatshrink? That bulge in the ends is not something I've seen before, I'm guessing that's it.
BTW, if your heat gun doens't have one of those shields around the tip, make one. Mine's just a piece of bent metal held on with a hose clamp. Prevents toasty wires in the vicinity along with a much faster shrink.
How much is a good ratcheting crimper? Any recommendations? I've only ever had cheap ones.
I posted a number of links this morning. You can get a good one for under $20.
Keith Tanner said:Interesting. How is it different? Looks like you crimp a bare connector on, then heatshrink it. Is the difference in the materials for the heatshrink? That bulge in the ends is not something I've seen before, I'm guessing that's it.
BTW, if your heat gun doens't have one of those shields around the tip, make one. Mine's just a piece of bent metal held on with a hose clamp. Prevents toasty wires in the vicinity along with a much faster shrink.
The crimp is a little different, it's a sharper point, and you can see the double dimple. The crimpers themselves are the racheting type that wont release until you go all the way through with the cycle. The little bands on the end liquify and resolidify keeping the moisture out, but that's about it. I think the only thing that really makes and environmental crimp "better" than what we tend to do around the house is more with the crimpers which give you a consistant crimp depth at a consistant point on the barrel. I wish I still had some I could shoot your way for some destructive testing, unfortunatly my Alfa sucked my supply dry and the darn things are over a buck a piece 
http://www.newark.com/raychem-te-connectivity/m81824-1-1/terminal-butt-splice-crimp-red/dp/24M0186
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