[Elecraft] K2 knob - what are the options?

[K. Rice]

Hi Keith,

The first thing I tried was the finger dimple - didn't like it because I
usually tune by rotating my finger around the outside of the knob.  

I ordered another stock knob -- it has a rasp-like front edge that didn't
make for comfortable tuning.

I ground off the raspy edge using the "scary sharp" technique (*).  You don't
have to remove much -- it looks no different that the stock knob unless
you use a magnifier.  If you can see a difference you've probably taken 
off too much material.

I took out the brass insert and polished the back of it beginning with
the scary sharp technique and very fine, maybe 1500 or 2000 grit 
automotive paper.  It had a number of high spots. I finished up 
with two grades of jeweler's rouge, first on glass and then with
a buffer.  When you're done, the rear surface should be perfectly 
flat and mirror smooth.  

I put one drop -- that's ONE DROP -- of Jojoba oil on the felt washer.

A single, gentle spin will advance the tuning 1.5 to 2.0 kHz at the 
10-Hz rate, yet the knob never wanders around by itself (as it will 
do if you don't have it bearing on the washer).

Cheap, easy, no machine shop required - takes about an hour and makes
a nice-handling knob, at least to me.

(*) Scary sharp ref: http://home.earthlink.net/~kvaughn65/scary.html
 
73,
Ken
K3VV