[CW] Vibrokeyer question for David N1EA...

[Steve Kallal]

Thanks David & David!

The GHD 601 MP cootie key is probably the best cootie in my collection. It
has its limitations. It does use a hacksaw blade and it does have separate
tension on each side. The tension is set by limiting the travel in either
direction by stop of movement of the blade in about the middle of its
length. The tension is all leaf spring, which means it interacts with the
contact spacing. A compression spring has relatively linear change in
tension versus distance travel. A leaf spring changes exponentially.

The gotcha for the GHD, for me, is that my thumb is stressed too much,
because the finger pieces are too small. I find I need minimal tension on
the thumb side, and slightly more on the finger side. Putting larger finger
pieces didn't help, because the extra weight changed the feel of the blade
movement. I do try to keep my thumb rigid, using the rolling wrist to move
the lever to the right. That helps the thumb fatigue some.

OK on not setting the contacts too tight (or close). Yes that is a given.
Last year, when I first tried the Vibrokeyer as a cootie, I had very wide
contact spacing and very high tension. Since then, I've moved the contacts
closer and set the tension lower, after finally learning the rolling wrist
motion.

Also the Vibrokeyer works better with two fingers pieces, rather than the
knob. I don't understand the knob, even on bugs.

I will take the 2nd David's advice and give the Vibrokeyer more time, hoping
to find the sweet spot.  I'll agree with a slight amount of vertical slop.
But the close contact spacings don't apply to cootie key use.

Thanks guys for the input!

73,

Steve N6VL