Ron D'Eau Claire wrote: > My J-38 is about a portable as one can get, since it survived combat > conditions in WWII! > > The important thing is to protect the bearings that allow the lever to move > up and down, especially on any key that uses "pins" like the J-38. By pins I > mean the sharpened ends of the metal shafts that sit in a concave cut in the > ends of the adjustment screws. They can be damaged by hitting the finger pad > end of the key too hard with a side force. > > Still, the J-38's used to be all thrown in large barrels of maybe 100 or so > keys just tossed in with no protection in the War Surplus stores and darn > few were injured by the rough handling. > > I'd not be afraid to grab my J-38 and throw it in a box of stuff to go to > the field. If I wanted to be *real* fussy, I might wrap it in a small towel > first. But, hey, my J-38 is at least 70 years old! It deserves a little > "senior care"... > > BTW, for portability I have my J-38 mounted on a thin piece of hardwood, > long enough to extend under the finger grip. That way, it sits still and > firm on most surfaces with no further anchors. It won't tip no matter how > "heavy" the fist. > > Some "modern" straight keys have roller or ball bearings instead of the > "pins". They're quite robust but pricy (I consider $20 about top dollar for > a straight key ;-) > > 73, > > Ron AC7AC > > > On Jul 27, 2009, at 9:44 PM, Frank MacDonell wrote: > > >> Thanks to all in advance. This reflector is fabulous. Can someone >> recommend a portable straight key for use in the field. Thanks. >> >> -- >> Frank KD8FIP >> > > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[email protected] > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > > If you can find a J-38 mounted on a leg clamp you'll have the premier portable key. I've used them in a moving jeeps and duce and a half's with good success.
Tom, N5GE ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
