[CW] Best cw paddle

Mon, 23 Dec 2002 01:08:10 +0000

> The $110.00 Bencher is fine for the casual operator, and you can always find a
> spare at a hamfest for parts, but if someone is looking to upgrade to a
> "serious" set of paddles, for just $40.00 more you can have a pro-grade unit in
> the Kent.  (I won't even comment on the $300.00 gold plated Bencher!)

  I paid $45 for my used Bencher at a hamfest, some black paint came off 

when I peeled off the Dymo labels [DOT] & [DASH] but I haven't had any 

adjustment drift in 5+ years, that I can remember.  I did have a loss of one 

paddle when a bit of grit got lodged between one contact set during a NET,
I tipped it on edge, turned off the keyer and finished my thoughts and turn
straight keying it, the first word was screwed up, but after that it was
readable, although a bit slow. A fingernail popped the morsel clear.
   I have never seen any nylon pivot wear, nor do I see why they would.
I twist the spring around the post in a figure 8 to increase the tension
and I operate with 11 mills of contact gap, my business card.
   I would have to spent about $100 more to get a Kent, I had a hard
time getting up the $45. My call is ka4inm, I've No Money, I am married.
   Sounds like some kind of pre-judging to me. I tried a deluxe Vibroplex
of a chums, w/o a rig, es I liked it's tactile feedback, the Bencher
doesn't have any, but my call sign es fortune have not changed.
My problems have nothing to do with my paddle.  I am happy to be able
to afford a nice Bencher, else I'd be stuck putting two J-38's back to back.
(Benchers all come with an Allen wrench {underneath on a Fanstock clip}
to adjust it with.)
-- 
        73 (= Best Regards) de: Ron [email protected]
     100% Slack. since July, 1997 (still free!) SENT D&T are UTC
        Visit my HAM Web SITE at: http://www.qsl.net/ka4inm