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 ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
