Anybody reuse spade lugs?

[bingster]

I got to thinking about it after pulling two petrified cords off a D1/E1 that came in the mail today.  It seemed a shame to just trash fourteen perfectly good lugs and four restraints.  Anybody ever try to reuse them?  If so, how did you un-crimp them?

The only thing I can think of is putting the flat portion of the spades in a vise and driving a small nail down through the upended crimped portion to force it open.  That's not much of a plan since I don't have a vise.

[Dan/Panther]

I will cut the wire as close to the crimped end as I can get it.
I then stand the connector on the crimped end, and carefully tap a pointed awl into the other open end. Just enough to get the wire out, then I use long nose pliers to straighten out the lug, also check to make sure the wire puncturing pins are back up.
I don't throw anything away.

D/p

[Dan/Panther]

Make darn sure you check continuity, after each spade connector is attached. About 1/3 of the time, they don't make contact internally, I'm beginning to rethink using spade connectors over again. Just may not be worth it.
D/P