Crimping Furutech FP203R spades

Hi,
i you don't solder then a hydraulic press is needed for 203 & 209

Yes, a lot of them and I used this (below) for $60 at Harbor Freight.  It worked great.
https://shop.harborfreight.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/6/6/66150_I.jpg

Thanks for the quick replies.
I am going to check out the hydraulic crimper at Harbor Freight.

Use TC. For less than the cost of a crimper it will sound better even if you use ordinary pliers. Heck you could whack it with a hammer and do better as long as you get some TC in there.

Thanks MC,
What do you refer to as "TC"?
Is that a bonding enhancer or sealer?
Thanks

Total Contact.. enhancer. good stuff..

I use small amounts of Nuclear Never Seize. Nickel/silver/Gl paste,
works good also.. Don't over do it..

Regards

I haven't done the hydraulic press thing (I didn't look for a tool).  I do know these FP-203 spades are impossible to crimp with normal tools.  I have always used the FP-201 spades instead.  They have screw-down clamps to hold the speaker wire, and you can still apply solder through a hole at the top.  Just make sure you use a larger 2mm tip and crank the heat up to max (like 450 degree C).  Be patient because it takes a little bit for the spade to heat up (it's a giant heat sink).

Thanks for all the input,
I'm going to look into Total Contact, also.

I have all Furutech outlets and S032. I soldered all the spade connectors.

Anyone has still more tips on this? Specifically from shops in EU?

Same answer as in June of 2020. It looks like the link from then expired but this is the same tool I linked previously and still use, and it is not too expensive. Amazon has quite a few different models here. Still using with those crimped FP203 spades, for probably around 10 years now, and and they still holding up just fine.  However, I wouldn't argue with soldering them.

Belt and suspenders; a simple battery cable lugging tool - Anchor sells one - u use a hammer. Advise a bit of silver contact enhancer and solder.

Also… i believe as many ( but not all ) that lower mass spades sound better and w reasonable binding post pressure will result in a gas tight connection…

ymmv

 

https://tinyurl.com/yey4am9c

Amazon link for what I used on them.  You need leverage.

I bought the hydraulic crimper for the Furutech spades. When crimped the barrel moves between the left and right opening. The crimped barrel looks like my drawing with flat pressed sides. 

Does this happen with yours also @mitch2 ?

Edit: I tried to upload a pic but I can’t figure out how. 

Hard without a picture but the result is hexagonal, the same shape as the dies.  There may occasionally be a bit of the spade material that squeezes into the edges where the two die pieces come together but I have never had a crimped spade come apart or fail in any other way.  The end result should look sorta close to the Cardas forged connection.

This is my drawing:

https://d2ikyu8xyuibjx.cloudfront.net/original/4X/5/b/4/5b4b6ff2eee623f0311f24b5a33febc1b6227d71.jpeg

 

You may be using too small of a die for the wire/connector that you are crimping.

Check out this video that provides some guidance on selecting the die size as well as showing what a finished crimp should look like.  You may consider practicing on a few throw-away pieces to get the hang of things.  Good luck.