[CW] Source for bases for straight keys?

[John]

Old clipboards are a source of small sections of masonite that are nice and
thin for the purpose.

John K5MO

On Sun, Jan 15, 2023 at 11:01 PM 1oldlens1 <1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com> wrote:

> I suggested hobby wood a few days ago.  Here are a couple of samples.
>  These are made from hardwood plywood from an art supply store.   The
> finish is French polish, about six layers.   They are a bit crude but
> work.
> Key on left is from AT&T,  Western Electric key,  on left also W.E. but
> belonged to Western Union.   The frosted look is cadmium plating.  WU had a
> very large facility called The New York Repair Shop.  The shop plated the
> brass parts of everything that went through.  All stamped NYRS somewhere on
> the bottom.  WU evidently never threw anything away but keys and other
> apparatus may be cobbled together from parts, impossible to determine
> original dates.  For instance straps with bug lips may have been put on
> older keys that didn't have them.
> Anyway these wooden bases work fine but the key and base really should be
> screwed to the operating desk.
>
>
>
> Sent from my Galaxy
>
>
> -------- Original message --------
> From: Steve WD8DAS via CW <cw at mailman.qth.net>
> Date: 1/15/23 1:42 PM (GMT-08:00)
> To: cw at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [CW] Source for bases for straight keys?
>
>
> 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
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
> Radio is your best entertainment value.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
>
> -------- 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
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
> Radio is your best entertainment value.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
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> =30=
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