Improved touch keyer:

power from a 9v battery added.  the earth terminal is on the case of the pill bottle so it's easy to always touch it when sending

so, prototype works, next step is to make it for real.....

what I'm THINKING is to have the earth spud on a panel in front of the touch plates.

I have guitar fret wire, which I could press into a slot across the front so that where ever my hand sits, a good contact will be made.

unless I'm wearing marigolds of course!!