[CW] Source for bases for straight keys?

sbjohnston at aol.com sbjohnston at aol.com
Sun Jan 15 16:42:07 EST 2023


 Follow-up on my quest for simple bases for straight keys...
I ended up making several bases from 1/4" thick poplar wood (see photos).  Example shown is Nye key.  This wood was precut to the right dimensions except for length - so only one cut, a little sanding on the edges, stain and seal.  Not too much trouble.  One piece of wood would make 6 bases for a cost of about $1 each.

Normally I would put rubber feet on the bottom but this wood is nicely flat/true.  After staining/sealing it almost has a "suction" to the tabletop so I may forego the feet.  Depends on the flatness of the operating table of course.

I continued to be on the lookout for ready-made bases and found some plastic outlet blank covers for "non-metallic" conduit boxes that work quite well (see photos).  Example shown is a J-38 clone on a gray base.  These have a foam seal underneath that fills the role of rubber feet.  The foam might not last too long, at which time rubber feet could be added.  Cost was $2.85 each if I recall correctly.

Both items were found during an extended walkabout in Home Depot.
 
Steve WD8DAS

sbjohnston at aol.com
http://www.wd8das.net/http://af4k-crystals.com
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-------- Original message --------From: Steve WD8DAS via CW <cw at mailman.qth.net> Date: 1/4/23 3:14 PM (GMT-08:00) To: cw at mailman.qth.net Subject: [CW] Source for bases for straight keys? 

I have a number of J-37/J-38, Nye, etc keys here that need a base to be useful.  I periodically search Amazon, eBay, etc for a source of reasonably priced rectangular plates of some kind that could be used for this purpose without too much fabrication.  I've not found anything yet.

The dimensions would be about  3" x 4.5" minimum,   1/4"-1/2" thick
Plastic, wood, metal?
I'm hoping to find something roughly like the base in this photo.  

http://www.wd8das.net/MyFirstKey.jpg

Any ideas?

Thank you.
 
 
Steve WD8DAS

sbjohnston at aol.com
http://www.wd8das.net/http://af4k-crystals.com
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