According to Ignoramus25589 :
I will soon need to crimp many terminals on many short, but thick, 1
gauge or 0 gauge cables.


0 (1-0) gauge uses the larger of the two AMP hydraulic crimp
heads, and the smallest set of dies to fit it. (Total range -- 1-0
though 4-0)

Hmm 1 gauge? The smaller of the two AMP hydraulic crimp heads
covers #8, #6, #4, and #2. I don't know of one for #1 at all. Are you
sure that it exists?

The larger head is either powered by a hand pumped (or foot
pumped hydraulic system capable of 10,000 PSI, like the porta-power
units, or by an electrically powered pump which cycles to maximum
pressure and then releases automatically.

The smaller head can be powered by the same, or is available with
a hand-operated pump built in.

Crimpers are just too expensive.

It depends on how long you watch eBay, waiting for what you
want. I have (hydraulic) crimpers and dies for #8 through 3-0, and am
still waiting for the 4-0 dies to show up. I also have the purely
mechanical crimpers for similar terminals down through #26 or #28 IIRC.

Is there some way to get acceptable crimps without a crimper.

Acceptable to whom? They would certainly not qualify for
mil-spec work. (I'm assuming that you're talking about the PIDG style
crimp terminals, which have a collar which grips the insulation.)

If you have a hydraulic press, and can develop around 31,000
pounds (I think) with it, you could make holders and guides for the dies
for the AMP for up to the 4-0 terminals. Then, all you would need to
find on eBay is the dies themselves.

I guess, also, that I could buy one on ebay and later sell it, but I
would prefer to avoid that.

With the sizes which you are talking about, I think that you
will need two crimp heads, to cover your stated requirements -- assuming
that you can find dies for #1 wire terminals. AMP does not list them
for the crimpers which I have, at least.

If you already have a porta-power, you can use that to drive the
heads.

Here is an example of the hand-held one for the smaller dies
(#8-#2), though it it in an eBay "store" and is *way* over what I paid.
Auction number: 7548679099. The second photo will show you what a pair
of the dies looks like. The red tape around one of the handles is
intended to show that it is loaded with dies for #8 (or #2, which have
the same color). #6 is blue, and #4 is yellow.

I've gotten similar crimpers for as little as $15.00 at a
hamfest -- with one set of dies in it.

AHA -- here is a much more reasonable one which was missed by my
first quick search:

7553590509

And that one is even the later model of the hand-pumped crimper. Still
the wrong dies for your application. It has the #6, and you need the #2
(the closest to #1 that I know of). This one is at only $25.00 with
about 11+ hours to go as I post.

Good Luck,
DoN.

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