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Reviews For: KN4YB SW-75 Sideswiper

Category: Keys & Paddles

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Review Summary For : KN4YB SW-75 Sideswiper
Reviews: 3MSRP: $75.00
Description:
The SW-75 is primarily a traditional flexible arm sideswiper that includes a below base shorting bar to convert it to a single lever paddle. Its blade flexibility is fully adjustable via a secondary support post which can be moved fore and aft and secured to any one of five predrilled holes. The blade can also be adjusted to place the contact point where desired. The blade thickness is .025 inches and doublers located near the finger pieces provide a more substantial contact point and contribute to a soft landing. Lockdowns placed at 90 degrees to each contact post insure no movement once set. The blade is secured by a total of 4 Allen screws. The base is 3/4" cold rolled 1018 steel finished in a black crinkle finish and there is an extra, threaded 1/4-20 hole provided for those who may wish to secure the key to their operating surface. Four black, rubber feet are screwed (not glued) to the bottom of the base. The key comes prewired with a 1/8 inch stereo plug (ring not used) and the acrylic finger pieces can be ordered in blue, green, clear or black. Also supplied with each purchase is a set of adjusting wrenches.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.kn4yb.com/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
1334
KB3CEB Rating: 2025-01-10
A solid budget key but not quite plug and play Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
My KN4YB SW-75 Sideswiper was shipped quickly. The spring steel strip arrived slightly twisted, this was not hard to fix using two pairs of non-marring pliers. The Lucite finger pads were soiled with a sticky substance but were easily cleaned with a baby wipe. The crinkle paint was applied thickly and had a heavy duty, industrial appearance, but there was an unsightly drippy glob of it on the side of the key; it also smelled like creosote, but I'm sure the smell will fade over time. The slots for insertion of the spring strip were very tight, and I could not quite seat it all the way down, even using a hammer it still protruded about 1mm. The screws that position the contact posts and their terminal screws are one and the same, so loosening the terminal screws changes the contact positions, a minor irritation (it did come with a ~30" cable with a 1/8" TRS plug already installed). The base is certainly heavy, but the feet are a hard rubber, so it still slides on my desk. Softer feet might give better grip. Overall, the fit and finish was consistent with the price point. When I first tried the key, I could not get clean keying. No matter how I adjusted the key, and regardless of my speed, firmness, etc, I got lots of electrical bounce and chatter. I initially suspected the terminals, but after further investigation, I found that the adjustable spring support post had not been drilled as deeply as the other, and as a result the screw that held it in place was unable to completely tighten. In addition, this post was the one used to attach the ground wire, so during keying, it moved microscopically, causing what sounded like key bounce. After I added some washers to this screw, and also moved the terminal to the fixed spring support post for good measure, I found that the keying worked properly. I appreciate that the maker is offering his version of this classic design in a solid, economical format. It did take a little fiddling to get it "up to snuff".
K9NUD Rating: 2022-03-06
Excellent value Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I own the SW-75 and also the KN4YB dual-lever bug. Both are nice keys, though there are limitations. In both cases, the contact resistance was higher than I'd like. I use an Elecraft KX3 as my main rig and the key needs to be very crisp to support clean keying. I solved the problem with both keys by replacing the nickel-plated contact screws with 8-32 brass screws from the hardware store. The SW-75 is a very sturdy key. I like the clicky feedback and the wide range of adjustments.

Ordering is a bit quirky. Thomas could really use a decent website. My bug came pretty fast, whereas the cootie took longer than expected, with no response to a couple of follow-up emails. It finally showed up one day, just as I started searching for Thomas in the obituaries.
WB2LQF Rating: 2020-10-13
Poor Man's Dyna-Maniflex! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
The SW-75 is a fabulous deal at $75. I've owned it for nearly six months now, so let me tell you why I value this key so much. To begin with, it sits on a heavy 3/4 inch thick steel base, on top of four large, rubber screwed in feet. It's solid, stays put and looks great with that black crinkle finish. The SW-75 features a flexible (i.e., "traditional") stainless steel blade that includes doublers near the finger pieces where contact is made. This helps to provide a soft yet authoritative landing. The contacts are brazed silver. What is unique about this key, when compared to many other sideswipers marketed today, is that the blade can be adjusted to the user's personal preference for light touch or heavy touch; more pressure or less pressure. This is accomplished by loosening 4 Allen screws on the mounting post closest to the finger pieces and repositioning it in any one of five holes. This is a takeoff on the French 50s era Dyna-Maniflex using 5 holes instead of a long channel! Closer to the finger pieces means a stiffer blade while farther from the finger pieces means a more flexible and lighter blade feel. In fact the entire blade can be removed and repositioned fore and aft to change where the contact is made on the blade which also affects how the key feels. This is innovative and significant because it results in a $75 product which can satisfy two very different needs. On the bottom on the key there is a shorting bar that normally sits on an insulator. With the shorting bar, the owner can choose cootie mode or paddle mode. In fact, repositioning the blade so contact is made very near the finger pieces and tightening up the contact spacing results in a very capable and impressive single lever paddle. I also own the KN4YB SL-85 which also features a shorting bar to turn the paddle into a sideswiper. Here's my take on these two excellent products: If you are primarily a paddle operator but would like to occasionally do some 'swiping, then the SL-85 is probably your best bet because it features the expected "hard stop" of a paddle. If you are primarily a sideswiper and you occasionally would like to do some paddling, then this SW-75 is your best choice because it features the flexible blade you want and need for 'swiping, but provides more than acceptable satisfaction as a paddle. This is especially true if you reposition the blade for a stiffer feel and close up the contacts to minimum. In any case, a great buy at $75.