TESTIMONIALS

Posted on November 6, 2024 by Steve Roberts

Much much nicer than the VibroKeyer I had been working with.

This makes me want to practice now.

Just received my new Key, it’s absolutely BEAUTIFUL! I’ve been practicing on it for about an hour this afternoon, it’s so smooth & precise… truly love it.

Steve, The slater slate key came in the mail today. Beautiful work, and its sends perfectly like the others I have of yours (Green Machine, TItan and the old TBFB). Thank you again for picking such a fine piece of VT slate to work with.

Hi Steve. I’ve been using the key for a few months now and really enjoying it. Has helped with On the Air clarity and ,in CW training, trying to increase my speed and comprehension. It has been a real joy to use. Very easy to adjust and has been a great addition to the shack. I Just wanted to express my appreciation, especially on the Quality Workmanship that it represents.

Hi Steve just wanted you to know I love this key I’m giving it great reviews in my orbit thanks again !!

Hello Steve san,

I have received the key today.

It is so beautiful, and I am looking forward to use it.

I appreciate your thoughtfulness.

Package arrived Saturday. Unwrapped this morning. Everything I expected and then some. Thank you for the quick service.

I received my beautiful burgundy cootie today! I have never seen one of your keys or used one, but your design makes sense to me! Most cooties I have used have a hard stop on each side so you get a click-clack sound, but your design has a soft stop and sounds great! I plugged it in and worked a couple stations right away! So, thanks and 73

Hi Stephen – thank you for this beautiful key. I just made my first QSO with it and it’s a pleasure to operate and truly one of a kind. 73

Hi Steve – wanted to send you a quick note letting you know I received your key today. It is beautiful! Thanks a bunch, your craftsmanship is spectacular!

Took the key down stairs and practiced with it for about half an hour. My first time ever trying to use a cootie key. What an experience. The key feels so smooth and precise just as you set it up. It’s going to take some practice to get sending down reliably but I can see this cootie keying is very effective. Just need to put in the practice time.

Thanks so much for such a fantastic key!!!

Already I have noticed I make less mistakes with your key than with the others especially on S’s and H’s. Wish me pleasant Morsing on the bands.

Steve I just received my new FAT BOY key and I LOVE it it is exactly what I have been searching for, a little added weight would be good but not a major issue.

I would be glad to give a superior review on this key if you would like it.

Great workmanship, classie look and works GREEEAAT. 😜😋😜

Best day was 5 marathons!

I think a great deal off you! When we first talked you told me about the horizontal and it’s history. You were so right about it would help with wrist pain! After 5 weeks straight of 1 to 5 marathons a day without pain, I’m thrilled with your design!

Best wishes for your continued success!

WOW ! ! ! WOW ! ! ! WOW ! ! !

I just received my W1SFR Sideswiper Paddle and it is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. It is really something to be proud of and I am. I especially like what you engraved on the brass plate for me.

Wow Steve! Your key just arrived, it’s a work of art!

I can only say “WOW”. It is beautiful, but is even more beautiful when pounding out code. It is smooth and stable with no tendency to bounce. It is easy on the eye and on the hand. I love it! Thanks for building such a high quality key.

These one day will be collector pieces, I really believe that.

Hi Steve,

Having had the key a while now I can give you my opinion and observations as a user.

The build quality is excellent, you have done a great job.

Aesthetically the key looks very pretty and totally different from the heard.

It is a pleasure to use but most importantly it has the correct FEEL, light touch and very easy to use fast or slow.

Set up for operator preference is a breeze and it maintains the settings too.

An unexpected bonus is that it does not appear to make any mistakes when sending, so good job Steve and a big thank you from an avid morse junky, 62 years of practice under my belt, military, commercial and now the hobby.

I am not an experienced ham, and actually learning CW through CWOps CWA and the LICW Club offerings. However, I have been struggling with my second-hand Begali HST. It just seems to require a lot of effort for my 75 year old hands. The FATBOY is so effortless and just feels right. I know it will take a few minutes or so to adjust but I am impressed already. Can’t wait to show my CW buddies over Zoom tonight. Expect more orders!

Do You Polish Your Nuts?

Posted on January 25, 2024 by Steve Roberts

I do.

A true craftsman and creator pays attention to the minutiae…to things most people will never notice or care about. Things that form the backbone, the heart and soul of that thing that has never existed on this planet. That is until he dashed out a silly “stick man” drawing on a post it note, then flipped it over and scribbled his name and date on it knowing it was SOMETHING real and not just another idea that will never see the light of day.

Yes, I polish my nuts. I don’t have to. I don’t think anybody would notice unless I told them. But it’s important to me as a creator. It says something about how I see the world and what I have to say about the process. How things “should be” in my highly subjective view. Same reason I take great care in making sure the shipping labels are centered on the box and that there are no bubbles under the shipping tape. I know, it’s obsessive, but it’s also the simple things that talk to us. And that’s my point. It takes very little extra effort to do a job that’s remarkable . Something people will remember. Something that shows thought, integrity, rightness, care, respect…all the good things we look for, that we pine for.

So next time you hear yourself saying “That’s good enough”, ask yourself what you could do to make it better. To make it great. To make it as good as it gets.

Excellence is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, and intelligent execution

—Aristotle

73,Steve

Now off to the Post Office to send out some keys.

What the hell, The “Fragile” sticker is a little crooked! 😉

The Green Machine is BAAAACK!

Image

Ok, it’s been a while since I’ve sold these keys. I kinda got burned out making them for SKCC members and was finding it hard to get to the marble mill to make the bases. I’ve been able to streamline my production time so I can get to the mill and knock out a few when needed. Although the price of everything has skyrocketed in the last couple of years, I have decided to keep the price the same at $265, and I’m even including USPS Priority mail for FREE.

Wait time is now very short and deliveries go out the door on a weekly basis. There has never been a better time to order this or any of my other keys!

Laser etching of the Green Machine is available for club or callsigns. Etching is done by Walt Hoppe in San Diego. You will have to pay for shipping to and from along with the etching fee which is VERY reasonable so still a bargain. Of course that will add a couple of weeks to the production of your key, but the end product is very special indeed.

Walt also make covers for all of my keys. Go to the cover page here on my site for ordering info.

73, Steve, W1SFR

SNEAK PEEK…The New Titan Keys are here!!

Posted on August 4, 2022 by Steve Roberts

In the making for over a year, I finally had time to finish the designs for my new Titan Sideswiper, Straight key and Paddle. They feature a massive 3+ pound stainless steel base with a decorative border milled into the surface, and a very high quality 3.5mm jack built into the base. All keys are available with or without callsigns. All keys come with a very cool 30″ retractable cable and the Paddle includes a stereo to mono adapter to change the key into a cootie on the fly.

Email for info until I get the ordering page up with the pricing

The Finger Piece Holy Grail

Posted on January 29, 2021 by Steve Roberts

Well, after 6 years of making keys, I think I’ve finally found what (for me) is the ideal finger piece shape and finish. I’ve been known for my exotic wood finger pieces with the mother of pearl dot inlay and they continue to be preferred by most of my customers, but I think more will also want to go with the Black Lexan finger pieces, especially when they experience the hand finish which makes a huge difference in the touch/feel of the key.

Let me know what you think… —Steve

The best way to learn Morse?

Posted on January 19, 2021 by Steve Roberts

Well…it’s the Long Island CW Club of course! LICW has become the go-to place to study, learn and experience CW. With just over 1000 members as of this writing, they manage scores of online courses touching on all things Morse.

Here’s a “blurb” from their site:

The Long Island CW Club had been started in 2018 to promote and expand the use of Morse Code- CW amongst amateur radio operators, initially in our geographic area. Today there is no longer a FCC requirement to learn CW to obtain an amateur radio license. Yet we find there is still a pent up demand to learn the code, become more proficient at it and to take part in activities centered around this interesting skill. To help fill this void, we have put together a group of dedicated teachers of Morse Code – CW. We conduct CW training classes via internet video conference classes at various skill levels. We have grown quickly, branching out with members nationwide and overseas. Please see our Calendar for CW class times. Besides Morse Code classes, we are very active locally with regular ‘brick and mortar’ activities such as QRP outings, portable operations on a local museum ship and with BBQs, museum visits and quarterly luncheons at a historic inn etc. We also hold regular presentations on a variety of ham radio and Morse Code – CW related topics, also by internet video conference.

Be there or be square…..Oh, and be sure to sign up for their google group. Lots of good stuff from students and old experienced ops.

www.longislandcwclub.org

73,

Steve—W1SFR—

W1SFR Handmade Torsion Bar Morse Code Keys

Beautiful, Elegant, Quiet

Tag Archives: W1SFR