[TowerTalk] Recycling old PL-259 connectors.

[Leslie Hooe]

I've never gotten paid minimum wage for my hobbies, so the $7.25 point is
mute.

 I recycle connectors because I can.

Les
K7LES

On Tue, Jul 16, 2024 at 4:28 PM Paul N1BUG FN55mf <paul at n1bug.com> wrote:

> Well said, Jim.
>
> I guess the times when all were encouraged to enjoy ham radio to the
> fullest regardless of their income are now mostly gone. What a shame.
>
> I have recycled at least 100 PL-259s over the last 45 years, most of
> them properly installed by me. After some practice it takes about five
> minutes and three cents worth of electricity and/or a few cents worth of
> propane.
>
> I'm glad so many people can afford to buy new stuff all the time, but I
> will continue to encourage everyone to enjoy radio.
>
> My method is similar to what others have described. I cut off the coax
> an inch or so behind the connector, strip away a bit of the outer layers
> to expose a short bit of the center conductor, heat the center pin and
> pull out the center conductor. I then heat the connector body with a
> torch or a 475 watt soldering iron and pull out the rest of the coax.
> Reheating the connector and giving is sharp tap on a piece of plate
> metal removes remaining solder from the body. Any remaining bits of
> outer jacket and solder in the threads can usually be removed with an
> angled pick. Most of the time it goes pretty smoothly.
>
> Paul N1BUG
>
>
>
>
> On 7/16/2024 5:09 PM, Jim W7RY wrote:
> > Because we had to.
> >
> > Apparently you never grew up poor, or had a paper route or mowed lawns
> > to buy your ham equipment.
> >
> > I'm sorry you never had to experience this. It makes one more wise about
> > money.
> >
> > 73, Jim W7RY
> >
> >
> >
> > On 7/16/2024 4:05 PM, charlie at thegallos.com wrote:
> >> As someone else said about all this,*WHY? *  Even at the worst, most
> >> expensive, they are $11.50.  The minimum wage is $7.25, so what, 90
> >> minutes
> >> of work.  I net you spend more in time and electricity to recycle the
> >> connector.
> >>
> >> This reminds me about the joke about how copper wire was invented, two
> >> hams
> >> fighting over a penny
> >>
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: TowerTalk<towertalk-bounces at contesting.com>  On Behalf Of Arthur
> >> Bernstein via TowerTalk
> >> Sent: Tuesday, July 16, 2024 4:53 PM
> >> To:towertalk at contesting.com
> >> Subject: [TowerTalk] Recycling old PL-259 connectors.
> >>
> >> This may sound caveman style, but I used to just cut of the connector
> >> with a
> >> little bit of coax remaining. I'd unsolder the center pin and shake it
> >> out
> >> then suspend the connector over a gas stove burner then with a pair of
> >> pliers pull out the coax stub. If necessary clean out any melted
> >> dielectric., heat again and shake out any remaining solder. Been doing
> >> this
> >> for 60 years.ArtN2KA
> >>
> >> Arthur Bernstein
> >> n2ka at verizon.net
> >> _______________________________________________
> >>
> >>
> >>
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