IK0IXI - KF1B's keys.

 

Homebrew Cheese Cutter Sideswiper.

IK0IXI's Homebrew Cheese Cutter sideswiper, left view, click to enlarge picture. The white marble base comes from an ordinary "cheese cutter" available for a few Euros from any supermarket. The brass hardware consists of spare parts for windows, which can be found in hardware shops and do-it-yourself stores. Each contact post contains two steel balls. All these parts are easily obtainable from the "Bricofer" hardware shop chain - just select the most appropriate parts. The lever assembly consists of two saw blades clipped together with a sliding aluminum clip, which is used to adjust the amount of flex.


IK0IXI's Homebrew Cheese Cutter sideswiper, finger piece, click to enlarge picture. IK0IXI's Homebrew Cheese Cutter sideswiper, lever assembly, click to enlarge picture.

After sketching the design, I drilled all the holes in the marble base using a high speed drill and a good quality drill bit. I then carefully inserted the brass parts into place and fixed them to the base. Finally, I mounted the saw blade and the twin blade assembly. The finger piece is from an old Katsumi paddle I had.


IK0IXI's Homebrew Cheese Cutter sideswiper, right view, click to enlarge picture. IK0IXI's Homebrew Cheese Cutter sideswiper, key and rig, click to enlarge picture.

The last picture shows the sideswiper next to my homebrew HF transceiver. Home made rigs are not so common in Ham shacks these days. I take great pride in continuing the great tradition of homebrewing the equipment I use. In my shack, everything, from the key to the antenna and the equipment in between is home made - except the cables of course, HI. You can see some of my homebrew HF transceivers on my website. [IK0IXI = KF1B].

USSR EKM-3B Marine Key.

IK0IXI's USSR EKM-3B Marine Key, top view, click to enlarge picture. IK0IXI's USSR EKM-3B Marine Key, front view, click to enlarge picture.

Really it was a key used in an electronic keyer used by Russian merchant navy in 70es. I found the ship callsign UOLW written on cover. I purchased that keyer years ago on Ebay but electronic circuit was damaged. Today I use it as Side Swiper and it seems to work very fine. [IK0IXI = KF1B].

Video.

IK0IXI's Web Pages.