Short version: copper connectors, surgical stripping, controled/duplicatable crimp.

You may consider buying tinned coated copper connectors.  Copper is stronger and a better conductor.  Most US connectors are made this way.  On the butt connectors I pay a penny more for the seamless type so I can crimp them at any angle.  With the brazed seam type you want to be careful and not crimp on the seam, as that may split the seam.

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When you strip the wire, do not strip too much as it will not sit right in the connector and it will not allow enough insulation to be crimped to.  Also, if you strip too little there will not be enough of the ferule (metal part) to chomp down on. I like to strip exactly 5/16" of inch on 14-16 AWG.  Another thing to watch out for when using stranded wire, do not knick even one strand on the braid, as that will weaken the wire and cause a higher resistance. Of the 32 strands on the average 14 AWG wire, all 32 strands should remain intact.  Do not use automatic wire stripers (that adjust automaticly to gauge) as they sometimes nick the wire.  Sears sells a great wire automatic striper that strips it from the side.  It has a removable blade made for solid and stranded wire.  It sells for about $ 14.95 with a lifetime warranty.  The big deal is that it has slots for different size wires and doesn't nick the braid.  Klien tools has one similar for $ 27.00 which has a stop on it so you can strip exactly what you want.

This crimper is a ratcheting crimper.  In other words, it is like a torque wrench for wires.  It does the same crimp over and over again.  With a hand crimper there is a lot of touchy feely to it.  Sometimes you over crimp, sometimes you under crimp, and they pull apart.  Our crimper has a hinge handle.  This is called "compound leverage" and gives you more leverage.  If two handles are hinged, it is called "double compound leverage." You can crimp many crimps without tiring.  With the insulated die you crimp the ferule(metal part) and the insulation at the same time.  The crimp on the insulation keeps out all the debris, some water and contaminates.  Our crimper makes both crimps at the same time.

This ratcheting crimper is ideal for crimping many crimps all the same, such as putting together a wire harness with a 100 or so crimps. They will all be done the same. CAUTION!  This can only be done effeciently on a bench or in a open space because our crimping system is polarized (double crimps at same time) and has a large nose. There is still a place in this world for a hand crimper that can reach underneath a dashboard or in a fender well. When you purchase a hand (non-ratceting) crimper, look for cutting, stripping and crimping all on the nose of the crimper so you can reach those hard to get places. Klien and Bluepoint are some good names. Professional installers sometimes make those cutting and crimping hand crimpers into a stripper by chomping down on a steel nail to make an indent, thus a stripper.

Ratcheting Crimper Insulated