Inexpensive Morse Code Straight Key Mount

The Problem

I purchase an inexpensive AMECO Morse Code Straight Key and needed a way to keep its Bakelite base from flopping around while keying. 

The Solution

I pride myself on repurposing items I have around the house. My wife's old laptop with a shattered LCD screen is now being repurposed and controls my model train layout with the addition of a monitor. I had recently purchased a treadmill, the packing included two sturdy steel mounts to hold the base of the treadmill in one place during shipment. I held on to these mounts thinking at some point they would come in handy. Well one these mounts in going to be repurposed as a base for my AMECO Morse Code Straight Key! Below is a picture of the soon to be repurposed steel mount.

Machining the Steel Mount

The steel mount is shaped like an capital "L" the short side will be pressed up against the side of the table in my Radio Shack. I decided to secure the morse code straight key as far up the long part of the steel mount as possible so as to give my hand a place to rest on.  I drilled two holes in the mount so that I can securely mount the key with screws.

Paint

The bottom side of the steel mount was a little rusty as it had not been painted. Afterall, it was only intended to be part of the treadmill's packaging to be discarded after assembly. I used some fine grit sandpaper to remove the rust, degreased the surface then teated it of a little black paint.

Add some feet

I added four self-adhesive feet to the bottom so as to prevent the base from skidding around on the table and to prevent the table from marring the freshly painted surface.

Final Assembly

The last step was to permanently mount my straight key to the new base.

Two nuts along with lock washers hold the straight key to its new base.

Putting the straight key into production

Here is a picture of my Morse Code Straight Key, with newly constructed base, connected to my homemade 80M CW Transmitter. Time to make some QRP contacts!