from Bruce, N1LN
Another piece of the old novice station finished today. The bug is one that my long ago SK uncle, W2NAD, gave me after I first got my ticket. Since then I modified it into a paddle to use with a keyer I built from the ARRL book, Understanding Amateur Radio.
Now about 56 years later, it is a bug again!
© 2024 photo by N1LN, OCRA Inc
I lost the original weights so I made one out of a large galvanized bolt. I cut the head off with a hack saw, drilled it / tapped it and DONE!
© 2024 photo by N1LN, OCRA Inc
He also let me borrow his HQ-129X, which is why I purchased one to go with my DX60 / HG10 combo.
I love this! Looks great–and it’s great to see vintage equipment back in use. I’ve got a single-paddle non-bug Vibroplex I refinished, and I’ve got a bug I keep thinking about refurbing. I just finished cleaning and polishing my Bencher paddles, with black wrinkle finish paint for the base–looks like the same thing you used for the bug? I hope I hear your bug on the air soon!