[TowerTalk] Reuse PL-259

[KD7JYK DM09]

> It's not possible to re-use a properly soldered UHF male connector!

20+ years ago, I used a selection of tools to refurbish connectors.  A 
special holder, soldering irons with custom made tips that matched the 
radius and holes, desoldering braid, a bottle of liquid rosin, 
needle-nose pliers, tweezers, solvents, stainless brushes, and a 
selection of bore brushes.  I could get very, very close to new, but, 
honestly, having refurbished dozens of connectors, it's better (and MUCH 
faster) to chuck them unless refurbishing something unique, something 
other than a UHF connector, or one that was custom designed/built, like 
some military, and aerospace versions integrated into a piece of equipment.

In the trenches is one thing, but, at the cost of a can of soda for a 
very good connector, or a couple fancy coffees for top of the line, 
delivered, it's not worth the effort, or risk of some metallic 
scum/vapor deposition, or a single strand of braiding left behind, to 
re-use.

On a side-note, I once lost an amp due to a few strands of braid caught 
up in a connector.  This was factory made, new in the package, assumed 
good.  BANG!  That was the end of that.  Ringing out the cable indicated 
a short, cutting open the connectors revealed part of the outer braid 
connected to the center pin on one end.  The manufacturer bought me a 
new amp in the end.

Kurt