One guy wrote about DIY swage fittings (or whatever) was not rocket science. The tools he displayed are NOT swage tools nor are the fittings. They are Nicro Press fittings, which can be used on standing rigging and are seen on smaller boats and more inexpensive boats. Then there are crimping tools for the DIY lifeline fittings, but that again is not real swaging as often brought up in other areas of this thread. The swage fittings look the same (sort of) and are often called "Handy crimp". But they are NOT the same. Lifelines don't require fittings with the same the strength requirements. I have a ten thousand dollar hydraulic swaging machine and I cannot imagine anyone doing the same job with hand tools. There are cheaper mechanical swaging machines that are bench mounted and even some ones that do some smaller sizes. Often the mechanical ones are called "banana swaging machines" because if not done properly, they might swage the fitting on successfully, but the result will be a bent fitting (hence "banana"). So, before you start giving advice on a subject you know nothing about, better study up on it. Mechanical wire ends like Sta-Lok fittings are very popular for the DIY sailor because they can be installed without much more than a few wrenches. And, if out to sea, you can take them apart and deal with potential problems should they arise where with a swage fitting you cannot. But how often does that happen? It happens most with furlers and so it makes sense more so in those situations.
