[CW] Sideswiper or Cootie key

Fri Aug 27 11:59:18 EDT 2004

Let me weigh in on this.  Learning to use the sideswiper was the hardest
thing I've done, so I have mixed feelings about folks spending a lot of
money on a key they may get discouraged with.

Having said that, using the sideswiper is easier for me if the key has a
flexible armature instead of any sort of pivot system.  This means that for
me a single-lever keyer paddle is not acceptable.  We won't even talk about
a dual-lever paddle ( the very work of the devil ! ).

Jerry Bartachek wrote what I consider to be the definitive work on use of
the sideswiper.  Although I learned to use the key before I heard of Mr.
Bartachek, I agree with his work completely and use the key just as he
describes.

If one wants to build a sideswiper, here are my suggestions:

1.  Buy three contact posts and two contact screws from Bencher.  Also get
three of the small screws that clamp these contact posts together.

2.  Buy a piece of brass strip from a hobby shop or hardware store.  At my
Ace Hardware store this comes in various widths and thicknesses.  Get a
piece that is 1/2 inches (0.5") wide with a thickness of 0.032".

3.  Use one of the Bencher contact posts to hold the fixed end of the
armature (at the opposite end from the fingerpiece).

4.  Mount the two other contact posts with contact screws in such a way that
they will sit opposite each other with the armature between them.  On my key
made similar to these instructions, the free end of the armature (from where
it exits the post to where it passes between the contacts) measures 2.25
inches.  It extends on out about 3/8 inches to the fingerpiece (and into the
fingerpiece, too).

5.  Note that the armature post must be insulated from the contact posts.
If these parts are mounted on a metal base, one can either insulate the
armature post OR insulate both of the contact posts.  I chose to insulate
the armature post.

I used a one-inch thick piece of brass plate to build the key I made similar
to what the above instructions will produce.  You can see more details and
possibly get a better understanding of what I'm saying at the following URL:

http://www.qsl.net/n0uf/n4nt-swiper.jpg

73, Mike N4NT

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Sherrill Watkins" <SEWATKINS at dgs.state.va.us>
To: "Pedro J. Santa" <pjs123 at attglobal.net>; <cw at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Friday, August 27, 2004 10:34 AM
Subject: [CW] Sideswiper or Cootie key

Dear Pedro: If you are unable to find the article in the 1960 QST magazine
about the Sideswiper (Cootie)key, and are still interested, please get back
in contact with me. However, first check with your local library and if they
do not have it ask if they can obtain it through "Interlibrary Loan". If you
still have no luck on that approach, My local Richmond, Virginia Public
Library has QST Magazine going as far back as 1939, I think? I will
check-out
the July, 1960 issue and photocopy the article on the homebuilt Sideswiper
(Cootie key) and mail it to your address. Then you can decide if you would
like to persue building the key. Also, there is a very slight chance that I
may know of someone who may have one in his collection and may be willing to
sell it to you? I will ask him about that. HOWEVER; before we do all this,
are you aware the "Sideswiper/Cootie key" is a totally NON-electronic key
and
everything is performed by hand manual labor?? -73- Sherrill W. k4own.

-----Original Message-----
From: Pedro J. Santa [mailto:pjs123 at attglobal.net]
Sent: Thursday, August 26, 2004 8:27 PM
To: Sherrill Watkins; cw at mailman.qth.net
Cc: pjs123 at attglobal.net
Subject: Re: [CW] What is the best telegraph key??

Thanks Sherrill.

I understant that the QST collection is available in CD ROM format but I
don't know if it allows for term/word/phrase searches.

I recently trashed pounds upon pounds of QST issues spanning about ten years
due to storage difficulties in my "QTH".  Your comment kind of tempts me to
recover all those QSTs (and more) through the simple step of buying them all
in that convenient digital format.  However, I would only consider that
option if the ARRL disks do allow for full and effective "boolean" searches.

Can someone enlighten the group on the subject?  I just don't have the time
(nor the mood, to be frank with you all) to check this out directly with the
fellows at Newington (given the things those guys did and/or failed to do
regarding the Morse Code issue).

73 Pedro KP3X..

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Sherrill Watkins" <SEWATKINS at dgs.state.va.us>
To: <cw at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Thursday, August 26, 2004 11:02 AM
Subject: RE: [CW] What is the best telegraph key??

Gentlemen: Be advised that many years ago, QST Magazine published an article
on how to home-build a "cootie key" from common items, such as a hacksaw
blade, very inexpensively. I think the article appeared sometime in the
1960's but cannot remember. Unfortunately, I do not know of an easy way to
search QST going back before the computer age. Each December issue used to
have an index of all articles for that year; I am not sure if the index
still
appears? If one knew the year, the article could be found easily from the
yearly index. I also believe that the ARRL may have reprinted the article in
a book called "Hints and Kinks for the Radio Amateur". That book has been
out
of print for a long time but they can be found at hamfests. I also remember
an article QST published using two J-38 keys mounted base to base(back to
back) and mounted on their side with the knobs horizontal. It was used to
key
the early versions of the Hallicrafters and Hammarlund electronic keyers;
the
pre-iambic type. -73- Sherrill W. k4own.

-----Original Message-----
From: Gene Buckle [mailto:geneb at deltasoft.com]
Sent: Thursday, August 26, 2004 10:36 AM
To: Buck
Cc: cw at mailman.qth.net
Subject: RE: [CW] What is the best telegraph key??

> Is this like the single electronic keyer with contacts on both sides?
> Obviously there are no electronics so the dits and dahs are hand
> controlled.
>
> I think I get the picture but I would love to see a picture. Buck
> N4PGW
>
Buck, the link I posted in a previous message has a nice picture of a Cootie
key.  Here it is again: http://www.mtechnologies.com/lta/index.htm

This key is hinged in the middle with the contacts in the back.  A "hacksaw"
Cootie is fixed in place in the back and the contacts are in the middle.

g.

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