Showerthought: my crimp tool died mid-job in Fresno and a zip tie saved the whole afternoon
Was running 30 drops in a two story in Fresno a couple weeks ago and my crimper's ratchet gave out around drop 19, just locked up and wouldn't release. No backup in the truck, and the shop was 45 minutes out, so I stripped the cable back by hand and used a small zip tie pulled tight around the connector barrel to seat it in the tool jaws so I could finish the squeeze. Got the rest of the day done that way and tested clean on all 11, then bought two spares the next morning. Anyone else got a field fix for a dead crimper, or am I the only one who has tried the zip tie trick?
How did you even get the zip tie to hold tension while you squeezed? That sounds like a two hand job minimum. I've used a small hose clamp around the jaws when my old crimper lost its grip, but that was on a bench, not up a ladder. The zip tie trick is a new one on me and honestly kinda clever for a pinch. Did the connector seat all the way or did you have to baby it?