Monday, Oct. 12, 2015, 12:50 a.m. — Just finished cleaning up a Chinese K4 straight key I ran across languishing beneath my operating position desk. It has a couple of specks of rust on one corner, which is disappointing because I bought it in like-new condition … on the upside, it cleaned up to shine like new money. I played with the key a while, and the “mushroom” style knob just has never been a good fit with me. I’ve always wanted to replace the knob with a traditional Navy knob, if for no other reason than its what I’m s used to using.
I had some chores to do outside (pulling t-posts up with my tractor jack), and once I was done, I mowed the area where the posts were and then got to go to my workshop in the barn and tend to the base I’m working on for my J-37 padde/straight key combo.
A couple of days ago I wet sanded the base and shot another coat of primer/surfacer on it. Today I broke out the 600 grit and wet sanded the base one final time. It looks pretty good, but it could still be better. Of course, the base isn’t going to sit bare on my desk, I still have to mount the J-37 paddle and straight key; the minor flaws I see will not be noticeable once the key is complete (if something major flubs up in the final paint, all bets are off and its back to square one!).
Tonight I found that K4 straight key while looking for something else — my Beugler pinstriping tool. I had the kit with the appropriate head for the striping for a Vibroplex, and (not too surprisingly) its been lost — er, mislaid — and is hiding someplace in plain sight in my shack. I’m slowing decluttering my shack — too slowly to suit my tastes, but I just don’t have the time I would like right now. Besides, I have to have a place to move some of the clutter.
I have that space now in the basement, its just a matter of doing it. I’m hip deep in some outside painting projects, and the truth is I have to make hay (or in this case, paint) while the sun shines.
I’m left with one decision concerning the key base: Do I continue to hunt for the Beugler I own, or go ahead and buy one so I can get the damn thing done? Frankly, I’m ready to pull the trigger and get one, but that’s just my mother’s impatience bubbling to the surface. I still have work to do on the base, so as long as I continue to search for the Beugler, I’m pretty confident it will turn up. I’m going to go ahead and paint the base (after I look it over in the daylight tomorrow) and let that cure. I’m going to clear coat it in some clear polyurethane of some type — after the carriage striping is complete. Of course, I could go ahead and drill the mounting holes for keys and delay the striping and clear coat until I decide to give up the hunt and break down and buy another (sheesh!).
I’m still not sure how I’m going to add terminals to the key. Given the choice, I would prefer Vibroplex-like terminals (the newer domed style). The binding post nut and collar are $4 each, the nylon insulator (for the dot and dash contacts) are $1.50 each.
I haven’t tried this out, but I’m thinking all I’ll need are three terminals; my Yaesu FT2K selects if the keyer is on or if it is looking for a straight key, so its possible all I’ll need are three terminals. I probably should try it first, eh? What I don’t really want is five terminals at the rear of the key. Shouldn’t be necessary.
Well, that’s all this trip. More to come!
73 es CUL de KY4Z SK CL … dit dit …