=  NOW 40 WPM  = SPACING AND TENSION.  THE CRIC KEY IS POWERED BY A
9 V BATTERY AND DRAWS LESS THAN A MICROAMP WHEN THE KEYER IS NOT IN
USE.  RATHER THAN AN AUDIBLE SIDETONE, THE CRIC KEY USES A RED LED
TO INDICATE KEYING MOST TRANSCEIVERS INCLUDE A SIDETONE.  THIS KEY
WAS DESIGNED BY DAVE CRIPE, NM0S, FOR USE WITH THE FOUR STATE
CRICKET SERIES OF MINIMALIST QRP RADIOS, BUT YOU CAN USE IT WITH ANY
TRANSCEIVER YOU LIKE.  THE CRIC KEY IS A USEFUL KEYER, BUT IT IS
ALSO EDUCATIONAL AND FUN TO BUILD.  IN MY WORKSHOP, THE VISE IS A
MULTI PURPOSE TOOL.  YOU MIGHT THINK THAT ITS ONLY USED TO HOLD A
BOX OR PIECE OF METAL FOR DRILLING, BUT OVER THE YEARS, I HAVE USED
IT FOR A NUMBER OF OTHER PURPOSES.  IF YOU NEED A LENGTH OF SIX
CONDUCTOR CABLE, ITS EASY AND QUICK TO ACCOMPLISH.  LAY OUT SIX
PIECES OF WIRE, PUT ONE END IN THE VISE AND THE OTHER IN A MANUAL
DRILL.  TURN THE HANDLE ON THE DRILL AND YOU NOW HAVE A LENGTH OF
TWISTED SIX CONDUCTOR OR WHATEVER NUMBER YOU WANT CABLE.  IF ONE OF
THE PIECES OF WIRE IS SOLID, THE TWISTED GROUP WILL PROBABLY STAY
TOGETHER.  IF ITS STRANDED WIRE, A FEW CABLE TIES WILL HOLD IT.
WORKING WITH THOSE PESKY CONNECTORS WHERE YOU HAVE TO SOLDER SEVERAL
CONNECTING WIRES IS ALSO JUST AS EASY.  PUT THE CONNECTOR IN A SMALL
VISE, FEED THE WIRE, AND SOLDER FROM ABOVE.  I ALSO USE MY VISE FOR
BENDING SHEET METAL AND FOR MAKING A ROLLED EDGE.  IF I AM USING
VERY THIN METAL IMAGINE A SALVAGED PIECE OF TIN CAN IT IS DIFFICULT
TO GET AN EDGE THAT WILL NOT CUT YOUR HAND.  I MAKE A CRUDE 180
DEGREE BEND WITH A SET OF GAS PLIERS AND THEN PUT THE EDGE INTO THE
VISE JAWS TO FLATTEN THE FOLD AND MAKE A SAFE EDGE.  FOR THIS
REVIEW, I TRIED THREE OF THE MANY INEXPENSIVE VISES AVAILABLE FROM
AMAZON.  COM AND OTHER ONLINE SOURCES.  ALTHOUGH THESE SPECIFIC
MODELS WERE AVAILABLE WHEN THIS REVIEW WAS PREPARED, THE SELECTION
OR PRICES MAY HAVE CHANGED BY THE TIME YOU READ THIS.  YOST TOOLS V
275 PORTABLE VACUUM BASE VISE WITH A LEVER CONTROL TO SEAL THE
VACUUM BASE TO A SMOOTH SURFACE, THIS SOLID 3 1/4 POUND UNIT, SHOWN
IN FIGURE 8, CAN HANDLE GOOD SIZED PROJECTS.  THE JAWS RIDE ON TWO
SMOOTH CYLINDERS WITH A CENTER SCREW THAT ALLOWS THE JAWS TO OPEN TO
A MAXIMUM OF 2 1/2 INCHES.  THE CAST METAL PARTS ARE FINISHED IN A
GREY/SILVER COAT.  THE JAWS HAVE A V SHAPED GROOVE RUNNING THEIR
LENGTH AND THREE VERTICAL GROOVES TO HOLD CYLINDRICAL PARTS.  SOFT
COVERS PREVENT SCRATCHING OBJECTS HELD IN THE JAWS.  WITHOUT THE
COVERS, THE JAWS ARE 2 1/2 INCHES WIDE AND 1/2 INCH HIGH.  A
FRICTION BALL COUPLES THE JAW ASSEMBLY TO THE BASE.  WHEN LOOSENED,
THE JAWS CAN ROTATE 360 DEGREES, TILT APPROXIMATELY 45 DEGREES TO
EACH SIDE, AND 90 DEGREES TO THE FRONT AWAY FROM THE FRICTION LEVER.
WHEN THE JAWS ARE OPEN FULLY, AN INTERNAL MECHANISM KEEPS THE JAWS
FROM RIDING OFF THEIR MOUNT.  EXPERIENCE WITH OTHER DEVICES SHOWS
THAT, OVER TIME, YOU MAY EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS WITH THE VACUUM SEAL
THAT HOLDS THE VISE IN PLACE.  THIS 3 1/4 POUND UNIT IS MOUNTED ON A
LARGE ENOUGH BASE THAT VACUUM HOLD MAY NOT BE NEEDED FOR MANY TASKS.
=  END OF 40 WPM TEXT  =  QST DE W1AW  <