...which surely shows that used properly, crimps are as strong as the wire itself.
If you use them in conjunction with the larks head knot (see Budgie's trace making feature...), all you're asking the crimp to do is keep the loose ends neat and provide a bit of extra security.
I used to spin traces up with forceps, but I'm sure it weakened the wire, because in those days I did occasionally have them bust on fish, which clearly isn't acceptable.
I even had one go once when I was unhooking a fish. I asked my mate to pull the trace tight so I could go in through the gills and turn the hooks out, the fish shook its head and the wire went.
When this did happen, it was usually on the twisted portion of the wire.
I also read this really funny thing once about a certain person making traces in front of the telly. He spun the forceps round the trace, they slipped off the wire and went straight through the TV screen.
Try these knotless knots - ie the way most people attach the top hook - to fix both hooks. Then you only have to worry about the swivel or ring at the top of the trace which you tie your line to.
I've never used special crimpers, just an ordinary pair of pliers.
There are different sizes of crimps and it's worth looking out one which will just take both strands of wire, rather than have a wider one flopping about.
Drennan do them in three sizes - try small for Fox East Twist 30lb and other seven-strands, medium for Soft Steel, Caliber Wonderwire 25 and 40lb, ET 49-strand etc.
On subject of ET 49-strand it's a bit thicker than normal wire but incredibly supple and strong as barge rope. Anyone else tried it..? You can get it for ?2.50 a spool if you shop around as well.