Tnx K8AC...I will start on an old Lionel J-38 straight key. It's in really good shape right now, just need to return the arrows, LINE, TEL and J-38 to a nice white color! I guess it will be a trial and error thing to begin with since I haven't tried it before! Hope it turns out as I hope...
Tom, KF0K

Thanks Paul, sounds like a winner to me! I'll give it a shot...after checking out what you've done with the keys in your collection, I'm more than confident you know what does and doesn't work :-)

Thanks one and all, lot's of good info! Now, one other thing I would like to know!! Let's take, say an old J-38 straight key. How can you restore the arrows, the TEL and LINE, as well as the J-38 back to being nice and white, while not getting the rest of the base white as well??? I know there is a well-known procedure for this, but I sure don't know what it is :-) Can anyone help with this?

Wow..tnx Ronnie! I've got a couple of nice bugs (1959 original deluxe for one) that mostly sit for me and others to look at!! I never could get the hang of a bug, had actually rather use a straigh key...this video has my attention! I will take one and mess with it for a while, may actually end up liking it :-)  Tnx again.......Tom, KF0K

Thanks fellows, all good info..I'll check out the websites as well! Paul, I just recently aquired a 1959 original deluxe bug...it's not in terrible shape, but could use a good cleaning/polishing. So, the info on chrome is very helpful..it has a lot of it :-) The Lionel J-38 is also in pretty good shape, but in cleaning the white that indicates J-38, etc. was pretty much gone...couldn't figure how to get it back on there without it being spread all over the base! I'm sure the J-38 sites will mention something about that. As I mentioned in the original post, I was told once that soaking them overnight in ammmonia was the thing to do..looks as if that's the last thing to do :-)
Tnx again.....Have a super wonderful, happy and safe New Years!!

Have obtained a few older keys, both straight and a bug or two. I've looked through a lot of info on how to go about cleaning/polishing them...I read one post and the next one says no, don't do that, it will ruin the key!! So, whether it's bakelite, brass, chrome or a combination of all...what is the best and safest way to clean them up?? Tnx in advance, I know many of you have actual experience with this and know how to do it :-) Also, how would you clean up a J-38 base and then reapply the white to the J-38, TEL, LINE and arrows???

I feel the pain of the two things that are tearing the world apart...money and politics!! Watering down of the exams to the point you could teach your pet to pass them was not and is not the answer. But, as it usually is, the corporate structure does whatever is easiest to  maintain! With the ham population dwindling rapidly and one huge source of revenue for the ARRL being ads in their magazine, they couldn't figure any other way to increase the population other than making it easier.....trust me, never take the quanity over quality option!! As many, many of us did in those early years, we started our radio hobby in the dreaded cb craze...I credit cb's as the reason I became a ham...TOO GET AWAY FROM THAT INSANITY!!! However, what originally began to creep into 6 meters, it is now running rapant all over the place...yes, the 10-4's and what's yer 20 are heard way too often! Another reason I will always have a special place for cw, many do not want to put in the effort to learn....it's like what, I have to study and learn something...don't want to have to do that!!! So, yes...the amount of cw you hear has dropped, being pushed out by more and more digital modes...as far as I'm concerned, cw is and always will be the best of the best digital modes
:-) Hang in there, work it while you can...they will eventually push it out all together!!

Thanks for the input guys, all good info. I've run many contests over the years and now don't really mind settling down for a a nice chat...keeps my tension level in tact, not to  mention my hearing! Anyone that has sat down for 36 hours or so with headphones during a contest (Novss) knows what I mean! I understand what you mean Doc, about having a little resistance. As I mentioned, I'm using a Begali right now and even though it's got some weight to it, it will still move on the desk if I get a bit carried away :-) During contests I use to "stick" them in place with double sided tape..don't really want to have to do that just for a qso! Seems maybe it's me more than it is the paddle..that's always a possibility. I haven't had any experience with the optic key, sounds like it would be something to think about. Just wouldn't want to have to purchase one to find out...one thing they aren't is affordable...at least for the common laborer :-)

I was wondering if those with significant cw experience could give their opinions on this subject. Curious as to which (iambic) paddle gives an extremely light touch but won't go into "stuck" mode sending either dits or dahs. I am using a Bengali Magnetic Pro (nice key), but even it will have spasms if set too close. As for the straight key, one that stays put, again the feather touch, probably the bent arm so as to not suffer pain in a long qso :-) I guess another consideration is dollars (to and extent)..I know Alberto Frattenini has some magnificent straight keys..anyone have ideas on any of this?
Tnx,
Tom KF0K

Yes, received the same "pay third party" offer from Ray Dobson just a few days ago! Not going to deal with it, would suggest that nobody does.  Tom - KF0K

Amazing! Cbers have been using ham radios on 11 meters for years...the old FT-101E series was sold to more non-licensed cbers than to ham radio operators. Maybe you're not old enough to remember? I wouldn't be so quick to pass judgement, chances are what you're hearing are cbers using fake callsigns...I don't know any hams personally that would waste their time getting on 11 meters with any kind of equipment! The way the license structure is today, I don't see how anyone could not pass the test...to coin a phrase from a tv commercial..."a caveman could do it"...

Yes, please don't judge all of ham radio from what you hear on 80M! There is more 11M mentality on that band than anyplace except, well..11 meters, and since most of them are now here, well you know! Once in a great while I will pass by there just to reaffirm why I run cw most of the time, doesn't take long. When you listen to stations that are a solid 60db and you have to insert 20db of attenuation just to get their signal where you can understand them, then you know the 11 meter "I like to watch my meter swang" mentality is alive and well!  So, listen close to what you here there and you will get a good lesson on what not to do...best of luck, I'm sure all will be fine.

Hi James,
The vehicle is a Ford F-150 4 door pickup. I talked to Jim at High Sierra and he says the tri or quad mag mounts will hold those small screwdrivers with no problem. Some here say they won't...so, it's a matter of opinion I guess.

Tnx
Tom KF0K

I am going to have to mount an antenna very cheaply on my "company" vehicle. Question is:  Will a tri or quad mag mount hold something like a Little Tarheel II or High Sierra Sidekick at Interstate speeds? Also, will the magnets provide a good enough ground for these antennas to work properly?

For me, hearing "break" is a spine-chilling reminder of the mid 70's during the cb craze, not something I wish to go through again, although, with the dropping of the cw requirement, the hobby is now doomed to the same horrible insanity of the 11M band. It was bad enough before, but listening around lately, it is getting much worse..quickly!

The only way I have ever tried to get into an on-going conversation is to just drop my callsign, after all, that is who you are. I usually don't acknowledge a "breaker" or a "contact"....