TRADING SPACES:
Field Packing the SW40

By Dr. Bob Armstrong, N7XJ
Contributing Editor, The ARS Sojourner


May, 2005

I often build QRP gear using a piece of circuit board as the "front panel" ... with the panel placed on top to make the gear more trail friendly. My creations tend to look more like the work Dr. Frankenstein than of Michelangelo, but the method has proven useful. The puzzle was finding a lightweight box to house my masterpiece.




Some years ago a nifty method of making beautiful light weight cabinets for QRP gear using 1/16" acrylic was described by Bill Jones. I have adapted his method to making boxes for my "trail friendly" QRP gear. Perhaps the idea will stir your imagination.

My first stop was the yellow pages where I found listing for a shop that fabricates of plastic. They were gracious enough to sell me sack of acrylic scraps and a can of special glue. This material has a dull texture, is almost as light as cardboard and is very easy to cut. I have made 4 or 5 enclosures using $10 worth of scraps, and still have plenty of material left. I use a utility knife and a carpenter's square to measure and cut the acrylic, gob on plenty of glue and simply hold the plastic pieces in place with my hand until the glue dries ... it just take a few seconds. Once dry, the cabinet is strong, waterproof, and could be sanded and painted.


I recently decided to repackage my SW 40 into a bigger box that would also house batteries and keyer. My daughter was astonished: "I never imagined you would say 'bigger' and 'radio' in the same sentence!". It took me less than an hour to slop together a box that holds the transceiver, an 8 pack of AA cells, my White Rook keyer, ear buds and connecting wires. It's ugly, but functional. A craftsman could improve the appearance considerably.


My "field box" for the SW 40 box was built to fit in an old zippered nylon carrier. The box and carrier protect my rig in the backpack, and store the gear in a way that it is ready to use immediately with a minimum of dangling wires. (Photo 5 Finished Project). Also pictured is a "field box" for my KX1 and a field packaged "BLT Tuner". I store the KX1 upside down with paddles and ear buds attached. The nylon carrier serves several field set-ups.


* * * * * * * * * *
Dr. Bob Armstrong, N7XJ, an avid QRPer, expert outdoorsman, builder and field operator, is a contributing editor to The ARS Sojourner. He is a family doctor living in Manti, UT.