Crimping a tab wire

HONESTLY, I BELIEVE that I have delayed far too long over this project of constructing my first solar panel, although I can make the excuse that I'm taking my time to study well so as to produce a good product. Well here I am, and I am convinced that after going through the entire process in pdf and video on my laptop, I can see only two major stumbling blocks for now. The first is that of testing each of my cells to verify that they are all in good condition and of high quality. The second issue has to do with crimping the tab wire that came with the solar cells pack. I HAVE SOUGHT to buy a copper sheet or plate with which I can construct a testing block, been to the scrap market and to the electrical shops around Ibadan. And I came up with an interesting result which is that (can you believe it?) there is no copper sheet to be found in Ibadan. Sure, I was offered some thick copper bars and heavy slabs, but all I need is a 5" by 7" 1/8" thick copper sheet which I hope to mount on a wooden slab for the testing of my solar cells. Anyway some guy who supplies electrical materials for the Department of Technology of University of Ibadan promises to get me something like that but I don't know how soon this will be. I might have to improvise if this proves difficult. THE ISSUE OF crimping my solar tabs becomes relevant when I was told that this is one of the ways by which I can build a durable and weather-proof solar panel. What I am supposed to do is to crimp each of the 200 plus tab wires which I have cut into size before I can begin to tin these tab wires with solder. This will eliminate the tension on my solar cells in case temperature differentials cause the assembled cells to expand and contract over the days and nights, weeks, months and years of use. I just managed to do one with my pin-nose pliers today and I think the result was good. But, hey, that was only ONE tab wire done out of over 200! God help me.... I must get all the remaining wires done tomorrow, come what may. Or does anyone have an idea how I can get this job done with less sweat?