[Elecraft] Elecraft Hex Key Serial # 57

[w7aqk]

Hi All,

I'm a bit late responding, but I haven't seen quite the answer I would have 
given.  So, here's my suggestion.

The "no skid" shelf liner stuff is good, but I've found a particular type 
that seems to work best.  It's actually the cheaper type.  At places like 
Walmart you will find several versions of this stuff.  The more expensive 
versions (although none of them are all that expensive) usually has a very 
simple pattern with small, rounded "bubbles" on top.  This liner won't move, 
but the top surface is too slick, and things on top may move around. 
Instead, go for the "cheap" stuff, which is thinner, and has an even tighter 
(and somewhat irregular) pattern.  I don't know how else to describe it, and 
that doesn't give you much to go on, but I almost always see it available at 
Walmart, and it is the lower priced option.  If I remember to I will check 
the stock number the next time I'm in Walmart.  It's also the same type and 
pattern I saw supplied quite often in small squares with some of the paddles 
that used to be offered as kits.  Anyway, this stuff won't typically slide 
around on whatever surface you put it on, and more importantly, things on 
top of it don't tend to slide around  much either.  I buy this stuff and cut 
it to shape for my dashboard to hold all sorts of things, including cell 
phones, etc.

That said, a paddle without much mass can be problematic no matter what you 
place it on--unless you actually fasten it down somehow.  That's one (of 
many) reasons I really like the Begali paddles, and other offerings as well 
such as the ones from Tony, N3ZN.  These paddles have a lot of mass, and 
that, to me, is critical.  To send properly with a paddle, it must be very 
stationary.  Rubber feet rarely do the job.  The surface contact just isn't 
sufficient.

Something I've thought about, but never tried, is using some of these small 
"super" magnets.  You could glue 4 of these down on your dashboard in the 
appropriate spots, and if necessary, add a small, thin steel plate to the 
bottom of your paddle.

Dave W7AQK