CW sidesweeper, new project

I hear a lot more CW on the other bands then earlier on the CB. I was and am again learning CW on LCWO.net. My next project will be a sidesweeper CW key. Allready have a 3D printed straight key, but don't have access to a 3D printer anymore. So i think of this design, a hardwood plate with brass and copper parts.


The blade of the key will be a hacksaw blade, but i didn't like the steel /copper/brass combination.
This led me to electrolytical copper plating the blade. Strange where this hobby can lead you.

73
Karel PD0GOL/19CT024

Looking forward to seeing your progress through this project.
I always wanted to learn cw but never got around to it, except for enough to
pass the amateur exam/test years ago.

keep the updates coming please
Alan

It seems the copper plating doesn't work. I get a copper layer with can easily be wiped of and is very flakey. Think i did everything okay, degreasing, acidic bath, copper sulfate, 3V DC...... Suppose it's time for plan B. I have`some experience in restoring older airguns, so blackening is an option and i have some copper rivets. So drilling a hole in the sawblade is the next challenge and getting a nice round finish on both ends of the rivet the next.

73
edit: so it would look like this

This CW lark is driving me nuts at the moment...seems to be 2 steps forward and 3 back some days!  That's with an iambic paddle - no need to torture myself with a straight key or sideswiper, but good luck with the project.  Look forward to seeing it finished!

Updates will be a little postponed. I've become a grandfather for the second time, but my new granddaughter has some medical trouble. She's now at the university hospital at Groningen, where my son and DIL also sleep. Me and my wife are currently taking care of our grandson.

i learned cw when i was a scout and got a badge, three years ago tried again i have a very bad shake and could not do it so thats the end of that idea it lets you know how your bodies change but i like a listen now

Grandaughter is fine and grandson returned to his father and mother and newborn sister. As i wasn't at work, i didn't have the tools to make the sidesweeper as i designed. This is the result:

Now for the bad news, it doesn't work on the Yaesu Ft897d. The dit side just works as an ordinary straight key, the dah side does nothing. I tested the connections from ground to dit and ground to dah at the 3.5mm end, but when connected to the Yaesu it's just a one side straight key. Am i missing something in the menu settings?
Edit: It works! the manual read to press the KYR key. Apparently you just have to tip the KYR key and then parenthesis appear around the KYR. I am used to press the TUNR button until the parenthesis appear. In case of the KYR key long pressing leads to adjusting the wpm speed setting. Anyway i learned something again (and YAESU might learn something about consistent user interface  )

73
Karel