SM7FBJ's keys.
Homebrew "Kitchen Knife" sideswiper.
I started learning the code when I was 14 years old and took my license at 17. I like to work it simple and very often outside with my K2 QRP-radio. I did my military service when I was 19-20 years old and was sparky aboard a torpedo boat. I also like to build radios and my 2-tube crystal controlled TX (see picture below) works very well on 80, 40 and 20m.
Key description: One kitchen knife, a small vice made from an aluminum heatsink, two standoff-screws saved from a scrapped Danish Squeeze key , a piece of plywood and 4 rubber feet picked from a scrapped VCR which I found in the garbage.
This is my vintage radio set up. The selectivity is not the best in the old BC-348-R but the feeling together with my 2 tube transmitter and the sideswiper is superb!
[SM7FBJ].
Video: operating posture demo.
This is how I'm working my home made sideswiper key. It's held in place on the table by a screw clamp. [SM7FBJ].
