[Boatanchors] Chinese keys...

[Bry Carling]

Thanks Bill - a great tip. 

I do have a huge selection of conical springs that have come out of thousands of FT243 
crystals. It is amazing how much variety went into those things back in the 1940s. I am sure I 
can find something suitable. Do a little bending etc. and should be able to get it up and 
running.

I love the Nye Viking key and had all but given up on the Chinese one. Still the Blue Racer 
should be here by Monday and that will certainly distaract me from the straight keys for a few 
days!

On 30 Jan 2014 at 20:52, Bill Cromwell wrote:

> 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
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