[Elecraft] CW Key suggestions ?

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

I'm not a "key connoisseur". Pounding brass here and there as part of my
work and at home as a Ham, I learned to send with whatever came to hand
(literally:-). The appeal of a J-38 is strictly nostalgic and, for me, it
works as well as any other straight key that I've touched. I use it for any
QSO's under 15 wpm. 

J-38 type keys were designed to be screwed to the table. Like Phil, I did a
lot of novice brass pounding two-handed before I discovered a simple trick:
mount the key on a thin base that extends out under the knob. My original
J-38 was on a base of about 1/4" steel threaded for mounting screws that I
made up in High School machine shop. My current J-38 uses a piece of 1/8"
oak. Flat head screws run up from the bottom with cap nuts on the top to
secure the key to the base. A pad made up of the plastic webbing sold to
keep things from sliding is stuck to the bottom to keep the key from sliding
on the desk. 

I did the same for my Speed-X bug, that is fairly light (compared to
Vibroplex bugs) and which wanted to skate when I rolled my fist too hard
against the paddles. It now sits securely wherever I set it down.  

73, Ron AC7AC


-----Original Message-----
I think the most overrated key is the J-38.  I see people praising it here
and I don't get it.  Sure, it is an old classic and I had one in my novice
days back in the 1960s but it is a rather ordinary key that needs extra
weight to keep it in one place.  Back when I used it, I did not have extra
weight so keying was a two handed job for me.  My right hand for Morse and
my left hand to hold the J-38 on the table.

73, phil, K7PEH