[Elecraft] heavier version of K3 (was: "Something new...")

[Lew Phelps K6LMP]

On May 19, 2011, at 8:38 AM, Grant Youngman wrote:
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> 
> Have you considered replacing the bottom panel with an inch thick piece of lead :-)
> 

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Lead is for sissies.  

If you really want to add weight, get the real stuff: tungsten. Its density is 0.697 pounds per cubic inch, which is about 1.75 times the density of lead, about 2.25 times the density of brass, and about 2.5 times the density of stainless steel. 

The bottom plate of the K3 is about 100 square inches, so a tungsten bottom plate of would weigh as follows for various thicknesses: 
0.040 thickness  2.8 lbs
0.050 thickness   3.5 lbs
0.070 thickness:  5 lbs.
0.100 thickness:  10 lbs.

One source of tungsten plate is a seller on eBay, who offers 6 x 6 x .040 pure tungsten plate for $145 each.  Those plates weigh almost exactly one pound each; they could easily be epoxied or attached with machine screws to the bottom of the existing bottom plate, and you could add as much weight to your K3 as you wish, with a minimum of hassle and a minimum additional bulk. 

For those who seek a heavier tuning knob, tungsten bar stock also offers magnificent opportunities. The OEM knob is 1-7/8" diameter and 1" thick, or about 2.75 cubic inches (about 2.5 cubic inches with the drill-out for the shaft). A knob machined from tungsten bar stock would weigh a bit under 5 pounds, which makes the solid brass alternative (just over 2 lbs.) look puny by comparison.  Of course, there is a cost - a 1" long section of 2" diameter tungsten bar stock would cost about $150, if you can find someone to sell you a cutoff.  And who knows what would be the effect of the stress on the encoder shaft. 

73, with tongue somewhat in cheek,

Lew K6LMP