Experimenter is a magazine created by EAA for people who build airplanes. We will report on amateur-built aircraft as well as ultralights and other light aircraft.
Issue link: http://experimenter.epubxp.com/i/90184
Hints For Homebui lders Nicropress Tools Tips for easier splicing By Cy Galley If you have ever made a cable using a Nicopress tool, you know how unwieldy and cumbersome this large tool can be. It takes two hands and something or another person to hold the cable and sleeve. One way to get a free hand is to clamp one handle of the tool in a vise, but that's not very handy when making a cable in an airplane or in its original use, making a wire splice on a telephone pole. Yes, on a telephone pole. The Nicopress system was originally invented for the electrical trade for splicing wires. Those crimped sleeves worked so well that their use spilled over into the aircraft industry and even to garage door cables. Nicopress sleeves are quick, strong, and reliable. Because one needs both hands on the tool to compress the sleeves, the electrical industry came up with "split bolts" for use where the Nicopress tool is impractical, such as on a power pole. Even though split bolts work very well, the FAA has not approved their permanent use on aircraft cables. However, split bolts work very well as a temporary clamp in getting a cable the right length, with the thimble slid tight against the cutoff ears. Yes, cutoff ears. An old-timer showed me that trick many years ago. Clip off the ears of the thimble with your dikes so you can get the sleeve and cable tight against the thimble. The thimble then is less likely to slip out or become distorted. It's very easy to use the split bolt, as you can slide the sleeve up against the thimble, adjust the cable length, then hold it there with the split bolt as you tighten it with a small wrench or ratchet. After everything is in the prop- er place, when you have the desired cable length, the split bolt acts as a third hand to hold everything in place while you use two hands to swage the sleeve with the cumbersome Nicopress tool. You can even swing the end Hints for Homebuilders Videos EAA has produced hundreds of hints for homebuilders videos. You can view them all here, www.eaavideo.org/channel.aspx?ch=ch_hints. 36 NO. 3/NOVEMBER 2012 out to obtain room for the tool with the length maintained. When you are fi nished swaging the sleeve, remove the split bolt and return it to your toolbox for when you need help on the next cable. So where can one obtain one of these wonderful devic- es? They can be purchased at almost any place that sells electrical supplies such as a "big box store" or your local hardware store. You need to get one that has the slot just big enough for your cable, as they come in sizes for even heavy network supply wire. Sleeve being held against the thimble by the split bolt before crimping. Diffi cult to see but the ears have been cut off .