Pietenpol-List: Nicopress (tm)
Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2003 12:45 pm
Original Posted By: "John Dilatush"
Whew. I'm glad somebody else asked the question about the inexpensive nicopress squeezer because I've been afraid of getting flamed about using it. Of course, both the "real" tool and the "cheap" tool are offered in the builder supply catalogs, but nobody seems to use the cheap one. The one I have is borrowed from a KR builder who used it successfully in the rebuild of his KR. I have a bunch of 3/32 cable and copper sleeves to crimp on my M-19 "Flying Squirrel" and was planning to use the cheap tool. I used it with some hardware-store cable and aluminum crimps (to brace a sagging door) and they looked fine, but not at all like the 3-press variety. With the cheap tool, you get one fat crimp and that's it.I agree with Walt that it's far easier to control your crimp using the cheap squeezer. You have complete control over the tension, the placement, and everything else before you squeeze it. I was just worried that some Tech Counselor or wise-a** would tell me I was going to crash and die for using single-crimp nicos instead of "real" 3-crimp ones.However... consider a strength comparison between 1/8" aircraft cable with single-crimp nicos vs. building it to plans, with 12 ga. hard wire braces with wire-wound ferrules... no contest.Oh, and for you last few patient folks still wondering where your brass data plates are, I'm sending out Bruce Johnston's, John Myers', and Cecil Stokesberry's. And although I can't seem to find a record of getting payment, I'm going ahead and sending plates out to Kip Gardner, John Ficklen, and Doyle Combs because I know my record keeping ain't great anyway. And wishing I were going to Brodhead so I could maybe sell a few more of these data plates or (better yet) trade 'em for free rides. Next year for sure!Oscar ZunigaSan Antonio, TXmailto: taildrags(at)hotmail.comwebsite at http://www.flysquirrel.net________________________________________________________________________________
Whew. I'm glad somebody else asked the question about the inexpensive nicopress squeezer because I've been afraid of getting flamed about using it. Of course, both the "real" tool and the "cheap" tool are offered in the builder supply catalogs, but nobody seems to use the cheap one. The one I have is borrowed from a KR builder who used it successfully in the rebuild of his KR. I have a bunch of 3/32 cable and copper sleeves to crimp on my M-19 "Flying Squirrel" and was planning to use the cheap tool. I used it with some hardware-store cable and aluminum crimps (to brace a sagging door) and they looked fine, but not at all like the 3-press variety. With the cheap tool, you get one fat crimp and that's it.I agree with Walt that it's far easier to control your crimp using the cheap squeezer. You have complete control over the tension, the placement, and everything else before you squeeze it. I was just worried that some Tech Counselor or wise-a** would tell me I was going to crash and die for using single-crimp nicos instead of "real" 3-crimp ones.However... consider a strength comparison between 1/8" aircraft cable with single-crimp nicos vs. building it to plans, with 12 ga. hard wire braces with wire-wound ferrules... no contest.Oh, and for you last few patient folks still wondering where your brass data plates are, I'm sending out Bruce Johnston's, John Myers', and Cecil Stokesberry's. And although I can't seem to find a record of getting payment, I'm going ahead and sending plates out to Kip Gardner, John Ficklen, and Doyle Combs because I know my record keeping ain't great anyway. And wishing I were going to Brodhead so I could maybe sell a few more of these data plates or (better yet) trade 'em for free rides. Next year for sure!Oscar ZunigaSan Antonio, TXmailto: taildrags(at)hotmail.comwebsite at http://www.flysquirrel.net________________________________________________________________________________