[sdiy] Quick ribbon cable question

[Peter Pearson]

Sorry, not trying to be mean here, but I don't understand this attitude of
like "Can't you just use a heavy can of tomatoes to crimp your cables?! I
don't want to spend money on my nice synthesizer!"  The good tool that does
the job well is cheap!  Here's what looks to be an unused hand crimper for
$1 with no bids and cheap shipping on ebay:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/306054243851

And I only spent like 20 seconds of time to find it.  I'm sure there are
loads more similar auctions up currently.

It's the same with Molex crimp terminals.  Just buy the tool that does the
job well.  It's so worth it.  They aren't expensive and they make life
better.

I guess if you'd rather spend 20 hours of bench time to figure out that
your crap attempt at making a cable is the reason that your thing doesn't
work, that's you doing you.  Have fun.

On Sat, Jan 25, 2025 at 7:55 PM Shawn Rakestraw via Synth-diy <
synth-diy at synth-diy.org> wrote:

> I second the Channel Lock pliers method. I have a very small pair that I
> used masking tape over the "teeth" so that it won't mar the plastic. I'm
> usually making eurorack power cables, so the size of the connectors is
> relatively small.
>
> - Shawn
>
> On Sat, Jan 25, 2025 at 4:38 PM Terry Bowman via Synth-diy <
> synth-diy at synth-diy.org> wrote:
>
>>
>> On Jan 25, 2025, at 4:25 PM, Oren Leavitt via Synth-diy <
>> synth-diy at synth-diy.org> wrote:
>>
>> In the past, I've used an arbor press with the IDC between two pieces of
>> 0.125/3mm thick aluminum or blocks of wood.
>>
>>
>> Yeah, you can use a drill press as well. It has more "feel" than a bench
>> vise which will make it more difficult to screw up.
>>
>>
>> Never hammer IDCs! I've
>> learnt that the hard way years ago. The key is evenly distributed,
>> controlled pressure.
>>
>>
>> Ditto. When everything is lined up right it only takes a second.
>>
>>
>> Nowadays, since I do so many of those ribbon IDCs, I have one of these:
>>
>> https://www.rapidonline.com/anvil-av-idcct-idc-connector-crimping-tool-86-0527
>>
>>
>> That's the one I have.
>>
>> And don't put the connector on the ribbon cable backwards/upside-down.
>> I've done that multiple times but caught it before I fried anything.
>>
>>
>> Terry Bowman, KA4HJH
>> "The Mac Doctor"
>>
>> https://www.astarcloseup.com
>>
>> Q: Should car stereo speakers be pointed to the rear for more thrust or
>> up for more traction?
>>
>> A. On long trips, the 20- to 30% improvement in gas mileage you might get
>> with speakers pointing to the rear is certainly worthwhile. On the other
>> hand, if you drive on snow or ice, the extra traction of speakers pointing
>> upward gives you added control.
>>
>> Don Lancaster
>>
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> ________________________________________________________
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