trying to figure out a way to pull the pins out

**Mechanic688** · 06-13-2015, 07:44 PM

Originally Posted by Scrappah

It's an old thread.

It's hard to describe but i usually slice the plastic with a utility knife in two places .... then split it in two. The metal bracket is often of two pieces that you can split apart.

Take what's left and yank the pins out from behind.

I generally don't bother with it anymore because it seems like so much work for so little return. The pins aren't gold ....they're only gold plated. (If you do a scratch test you can see the base metal underneath.)

There's probably more recovery value in the base metal if it's nickel.

Everything you see in electronics that is "gold" is only "flashplated". (almost like spraypainting) The companies have learned to clean up their process to the point where the "gold" can be scraped off with a fingernail. I think it is measured in microns or atoms.

**bigburtchino** · 06-13-2015, 08:08 PM

It really comes down to material specifications, just about every manufacturing process (in most countries) have established "acceptable standards". There are many and governmental/private trade groups, these standards are what one needs to learn, to know "is it worth it?", (maybe or maybe not). Devices that have "Mil-Spec's" in general are worth it, as there are many mil-spec's that just deal with Gold Plating.

Even the scrap industry has standard specifications!