G0IIK's keys.

Homebrew Sideswiper #1.

I first became aware of sideswiper keys shortly after gaining my licence in 1987 when I used to listen to a G4 station whose cootie code was absolute music to my ears. I tried to emulate it with a straight key but could never get near to that wonderful style of his. I came across a sideswiper key made by LTA but it had this horrible chunk of brass for a paddle which I could never adjust properly because it had no real bearings at the fulcrum and was very roughly engineered. At that stage the idea of cootie was put on the back burner and forgotten until very recently when after a break from radio I came back into it and heard Sandy G0VQW sending this lovely style of CW and the bug bit me again, ( excuse the pun !)

G0IIK's homebrew sideswiper #1, camping-knife version, click to enlarge picture. G0IIK's homebrew sideswiper #1, steel rule version, click to enlarge picture.

I am not very skilled at making things but I used the base of an old LTA key and came up with a passable effort using a camping-knife as a paddle. This got me started but I have now changed the camping-knife for a more traditional steel rule which is much more flexible and gives a more responsive feel to the key.

I suppose I have been using the cootie key now for about a month or so and I love it so much I have already ordered a TWanger from Tom, G3HGE, you know we are so fortunate that there are still people making this type of key for people like myself who have no engineering skills so that we can keep cootie alive, having said that I am constantly surprised at the number of stations worldwide who are using this sending style. [G0IIK].

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TWanger Sideswiper by TW Radio.

G0IIK's TWanger, click to enlarge picture. I am sure anyone would enjoy using one, they are so light and responsive, adjustable to whatever feel you would like. Some people like their finger-pieces lower down but as you can see from the foto I prefer mine a little higher, just a matter of personal preference I think, but the key is infinitely adjustable. The key is very quiet in operation with none of the clatter I got from my home brew effort so the way the contacts are mounted on the arm is really effective. Also the service I got from Tom, G3HGE was superb, absolutely second to none, just what we would like from a fellow ham ! [G0IIK].

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