In comp.dcom.cabling Mark Evans <mpe@st-peters-high.devon.sch.uk> wrote in part:
> Robert Redelmeier <redelm@ev1.net.invalid> wrote:
>> Agreed. Even when you have the knowledge and the tools, crimping
>> plugs is hard. Crimping on solid is fairly easy [dressing
>> conductors] but prone to failure from flexing [work hardening].
>
> Crimp plugs generally arn't intended for solid core. Even when it
> works the contact area is likely to be rather less than it should be.

There are plugs specifically designed for solid core. They usually
have a cut in the tooth so it straddles the core as it does IDC. I
do not doubt this IDC is reliable. However, flexing will deteriorate
any connection. This is where the AMP mid-crimp is clever.

>> Crimping on stranded (proper) is very difficult because the
>> conductors won't stay dressed and shift when inserted into the plug.
>
> It helps to untwist and straighten the wires before
> putting them in the right order and trimming to length.

This [dressing] is sufficient with solid core but
stranded still flops around more than you might like.


>> I believe production machinery uses a duck-bill clamp to hold
>> hold the conductors aligned. I've never seen pliers for this.
>
> How would you use pliers? In order for the outer jacket to
> be held the optimal wire length tends to be around 15mm.

Obviously not common pliers. Specially made angled, grooved,
duck-bills would clamp all 8 wires and hold them aligned ~8mm
inside the plug, only requiring ~7mm free [cantilevered].

-- Robert