[rfeenstra]

This one doesn't have the normal seam to get a knife through to cut the windings. My concern with using the good sections are the very connections you mentioned.  As you say, the taps are pressed onto the resistance wire, leaving the great possibility of future failure at the remaining crimped connections.  The more I consider it, the more inclined I am to disable all sections and use the  taps as terminals for the Dale resistors that I have ordered.  Disabling the sections will require taking the candohm apart and then bending it back together, as you can see in the photos.  Not a big problem, just need to be sure the terminals are well insulated.