[Boatanchors] Crystal Needed

[Richard Knoppow]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bill Cromwell" <wrcromwell at gmail.com>
To: <boatanchors at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Thursday, January 30, 2014 5:52 PM
Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] Crystal Needed


> On 01/30/2014 06:04 PM, Bry Carling wrote:
>> Hi David - I am pretty sure International Crystal does 
>> not have those 500 kHz ones. I have
>> one
>> left here. Yours for $20.00 plus shipping if you would 
>> like it.
>>
>> Also - on the Chinese keys... I have one but find the 
>> spring tension very very hard, and have
>> never used it. Does anyone who owns and uses one know how 
>> to soften it up? Would you
>> need to use a weaker spring or something? On the lightest 
>> tension it is real work to push it
>> down. Glad you posted that link.
>>
>> 73 - Brian Carling, AF4K Crystals
>>
>>
> Hi Bry,
>
> My key is a J-38 knockoff and when I got it the spring was 
> pretty hard. I cut off some of the spring and have been 
> using since the 70s. If that had not worked I would have 
> scavenged a spring from ball point pen, zippo lighter, 
> carburetor, liquid soap pump, or etc. The hardware stores 
> have a nice selection of small springs in the area where 
> the bins and drawers of screws, nuts, and bolts are 
> located. At the store where I get such things there are 
> even pictures on the drawers so that *I* can use them, too 
> <evil grin>. Now you know it's easy to find them!
>
> Don't let that nasty spring stop you from using that key.
>
> 73,
>
> Bill  KU8H
>
     FWIW, I use a J-38 I bought surplus maybe fifty years 
ago. When I got it I thought it felt "spongy" only term I 
can come up with.  I lost the spring and replaced it with 
one I made from a ball point pen spring. That was much 
livelier and I still use it.  I have since added a number of 
J-38 and J-47 keys to my small collection. All have a 
similar feel. I don't know if its the spring shape or 
material. I also have Western Electric and other keys and 
generally all feel a little crisper than the J-38 with 
original spring. I now make springs out of spring stock from 
the hardware store if I need one.
    Now, I am a little puzzled by what is meant by a hard 
spring. If the tension is too great and beyond the 
adjustment range of the spring screw I suggest making a new 
one from lighter spring material rather than trying to cut 
down the old one. If the spring wire is too thick reducing 
its length may result in its being too short to have any 
range of adjustment or might result in a strange keying 
feel.
    Good Western Electric keys are available on ebay for 
reasonable prices.  Bunnell keys are also excellent but 
usually go for higher prices. If you can find a decently 
priced one go for it. Jessie Bunnel invented the type of key 
we all recognize. Originally as the Bunnell Steel Lever key 
and a little later with minor changes as the Triumph key. 
Again its easy to make springs if the original is missing.


--
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles
WB6KBL
dickburk at ix.netcom.com