Chuck, NI0C wrote: It's not very pretty, but a great way to slow down your bug is to clip an old-fashioned spring-type clothespin to the thumbscrews of the weights. You can wrap solder around the ears of the clothespin to add more weight and slow those dits down to match your dahs!
------------------------------ That works. I find that it's more effective to add length to the pendulum like the "bug tamer" does. I have a large alligator clip whose jaws just fit around the pendulum, so it can be clipped on the end without interfering with the damper. Extra length does a lot more to slow the speed down, gram for gram, than extra weight along the center area of the pendulum. The downside is that it requires more depth on the operating table where the extra length won't bump into anything. Of course, you can always use a really robust weight, like a cable clamp. See my Vibroplex bug in use at an RCA shore station by its original owner at: http://www.radiomarine.org/historic-5.html Note the weight! I've used it and it works, but the alligator clip is easier to deal with. I also have a vari-speed and find it the least friendly solution. Also it doesn't have the ability to slow my bug down enough. Vibroplex keys of the same model vary a great deal in their "natural" speed, depending upon the date of manufacture. Some checking various keys has shown that Vibroplex tended to use leaf springs with widely different thicknesses that greatly affected the natural dit speed. Ron AC7AC _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
