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Reviews For: SW-75 Sideswiper

Category: Keys & Paddles

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Review Summary For : SW-75 Sideswiper
Reviews: 2MSRP: $75.00
Description:
The SW-75 is primarily a sideswiper ("Cootie") built in the traditional manner with a flexible blade to provide a "soft landing." The blade tension is fully adjustable by moving a subordinate post into any of five holes. The blade itself can also be re-positioned to provide a choice as to where contact is made. The inclusion of a movable shorting bar beneath the base allows this key to be used as a single lever paddle. The base is 3/4 inch 1018 cold rolled steel and the balance of the key is brass. The finger pieces are available in green, blue, clear or black.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.kn4yb.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0025
N7WI Rating: 2020-09-14
Simple and easy to use Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
After I read what someone said about it in SKCC, never used one before and with shoulder replacement surgery to my right side coming up I bought it. Being right handed I had no problem using this key with my left hand. Easy to adjust to your feel and a joy to use even with your opposite hand. I found out that I send just as good with either hand. Thank you Tom for making a great "cootie" key that won't break the bank! I enjoy using it everyday and may stay sending left handed... :)
WB2LQF Rating: 2020-06-15
A traditional Cootie with "benefits" Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
KN4YB presently offers his SL-85 which is primarily a single lever paddle that doubles as a sideswiper. I own one which I previously reviewed. Now, Tom is offering the SW-75 which is primarily a traditional sideswiper that doubles as a single lever paddle. The SW-75 is traditional in the sense that the .025 steel blade arm is flexible and provides the overtravel that is absent when using a paddle for sideswiping. Two contacts and a flexible blade is where most cootie keys stop. But Tom's SW-75 comes with some extra benefits. Similar to the French Dyna Maniflex design of the 1930s-1950s, Tom has provided the ability to adjust the tension on the blade arm. There are five holes into which the secondary post can be moved. The post hole closest to the finger piece will make the blade movement stiffest and the post farthest from the finger piece will provide maximum blade flexing. Furthermore, the blade itself can be repositioned so the user can move the point of contact forward or backward. There are no actual contacts with this key so the positioning choices are infinite. In summary, whatever your style is and however you like your cootie to "feel", you are surely going to be able to find that personal "sweet spot" where your transitions between dits and dahs are most comfortable and accurate for you, and where you can minimize any chatter. Finally - and without any tools - you can just unshort the shorting bar beneath the key, switch your keyer to "paddle" and now you have a more than adequate single lever paddle. You get all this for $75 which is exceptionally good value in my opinion. I've been using the SW-75 as a paddle at 25 wpm with no problems at all which suggests that the lack of actual contacts is not an issue. I've found that by moving the secondary contact post closest to the finger piece and adjusting the blade point-of-contact to nearest to the finger piece, I can adjust the contact spacing to very close which results in very little finger movement when paddling. All adjustments are made with two wrenches which Tom supplies with the key. The 3/4" steel base provides excellent stability on my polished wood desk without an anti-skid pad underneath and I'm sure the extra large soft rubber feat have something to do with this. I think this is a nice complementary product to the SL-85. For those hams who primarily "paddle" but occasionally want to "swipe", the SL-85 might be the best choice; for those who primarily want to "swipe" but occasionally want to "paddle" then the SW-75 will fill that need for sure.