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You can
write your own review of the Bencher RJ-2 Chrome Hand Key.
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AC4FS
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 10, 2010 05:04
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Still Like It, still use it
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I wrote my first review back in November of 2006. I'm going to be up-front here and say I haven't exactly been burning up the bands that whole time, but when I have, I've used this key.
I still think it has a fairly smooth action, and the "clacking" noise it makes is fairly subdued, compared to other keys I've used. It also holds my settings, and does it's best to make my rusty fist intelligible to others HI.
I do think it is over priced for what you get. This key should be $30 or $40 (American) cheaper than what it generally costs, but I do not regret the expense.
Overall, it is a good solid key that has really great eye-appeal. If you've got $150 to spend on a key, consider this one.
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AA8KY
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 5, 2010 20:06
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Very Nice
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I just got my straight key at Christmas. When I went to buy it, I tried the vibroplex first, but when I tried the bencher in chrome, it was smoother. Very ergonomic too. This will last for many years.
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KE4MOB
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Rating: 4/5
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Jan 27, 2005 13:06
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Better than the RJ-1
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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This key is very pretty and has a lot of "eye appeal". The chrome will almost knock your socks off!! My key was purchased used, but is in excellent condition as far as I can tell.
Unfortunately, I wish Bencher had paid a little more the the mechanical details. The key displays a little vertical slop in the mechanism. It is to the point where when the key is properly adjusted for a close gap, you can place your thumb on the back end of the lever and hold it down and still send code while tapping on the knob. Apparently, the pivot journals are bored out a tiny bit oversize. This contributes to the "clacky" sound this key makes as the pivots slightly move up and down in the sockets. This behavior also occurs in my RJ-1. Luckily, it doesn't have the lateral slop problem that the RJ-1 has.
I think Bencher was forced to use the stiff springs to give the feeling of some sort of control over the wobbles. I don't like the allen head adjustments, and wish the base was a little longer.
This key would have been good as a prototype, but on a production key I would have liked to see the pivot ends coned and the stanchions bored and tapped, and the pivots held in place with set screws like on the J-38 and Vibroplexes...or maybe even ball bearings like on the Ameco K-4.
Like I said, this key is beautiful to look at...it's entirely usable, but unfortunately, it's 300% better looking than my Speed-X, but performs 10% worse. It will sit in my collection right next to the RJ-1...I just can't get comfortable with it or its sibling.
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KG9HV
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 26, 2004 06:29
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solid hand key
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I had a RJ-1 about 9 years ago and didn't like it
because it was too stiff. When I heard that they
fixed that with a new spring, I thought I'd get
another Bencher straight key. I like this key and
it is very solid. I like the adjustments and the
craftsmanship. I would put this key up against a
GHD costing twice as much.
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K2JN
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 17, 2004 15:41
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RJ-1 is nice too...
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I own the RJ-1 solid black base (S/N 004679). Action is a bit on the stiff side but I grew to like it. It’s got a solid feel and really nice construction. I especially like the fact that there is a clamp holder on the bottom of the base to store the adjustment wrench.
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N1YE
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Rating: 3/5
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Jul 11, 2003 08:34
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Looks Great! Operates less great.
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I purchased this key after many years of collecting ham gear and had reached the point of not "needing" anything, so I was looking for a premium key. I selected this one because it "matched" the beloved paddles on my desk. I found the action to be way too stiff, heavy, and clumsy. I have come back to it many times trying different adjustments as descibed by other hams, but never seemed to "love" it as my old, ugly, well-used J-38.
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K5RIX
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 28, 2002 15:01
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RJ-1; A Serious Key
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Mine is the standard black-finish version, S/N 003969. At first I thought the action too stiff. But after experimenting with the various adjustments I have come to really like this key.
I can only speak for myself. The weight of the base is ample, and the key doesn't slide around in use. Rubber feet of varying height and tack by others can be substituted to accommodate different wrist/hand geometry, technique, and operating surface. I use the stock parts.
The mechanism is superbly balanced, with enough mass around the fulcrum to effectively eliminate bouncing. The solid feel allows me to use fairly close contact spacing. Also, I can easily sense contact closure, which allows me to use this key without a side tone when required. For me, the nicest thing about the key's "stiffness" is that the key pushes back just about as hard as I push on it; after having got used to the stiffness I found I was able to operate this key for much longer time periods without fatigue. By comparison, my wrist gets tired rather quickly when it's doing most of the work, as is the case with keys which use very light springs or magnets.
The adjustments are all there, and they interact very well. The hex-drive set screws are great! Also great is the hex wrench keeper under the base which insures the wrench will always be there.
Everybody is different. I really like the RJ-1 because it "fits" me. Mine is not for sale.
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W3ULS
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Rating: 4/5
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Oct 31, 2002 16:08
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Solid & Smooth
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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As has been noted, the key comes from Bencher with an overly robust stainless spring. When I sent code, the front end of the base tended to rise up slightly each time I pressed down on the key. A solution I tried initially was to use a pre-drilled machine screw hole in the key's base to lock it down to my table with a suitable machine screw. However, this resulted in multiple holes in the table as I moved rigs around. Now I have cannibalized a spring from an Ameco K-4 key and this makes the feel of the key much more to my taste. With this adjustment, it is a solid and smooth piece of work. One of these days, a Bencher paddle I own probably will push the RJ-2 out of the way, but for now the RJ-2 is my choice.
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KB0VCC
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 31, 2002 14:39
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Solid Feel!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Keys are a matter of preference, and I find the RJ-2 exactly what I prefer. I bought mine BEFORE I was licensed, as incentive. Since then, I've purchased others for various purposes (including the super-cheap Ameco AM-K4 for backpacking and a Nye-Viking KY320 "Ranger Key" for /M when the road is too rough for my Schurr paddles), but the RJ-2 is my main-station straight-key (paired with my Bencher BY-2 paddles). I appreciate the strong push-back of the spring and the positive feel of the beam on the contacts and stop. There is nothing "mushy" about it. I clip along at a solid 30wpm+ on this key and the stiff resistance lets the key keep up. Listen for me on SKN and hear for yourself!
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VE7FXY
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 8, 2002 22:25
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I love it now
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I bought a RJ-2 on e-bay last month. I found it very stiff, even with the tension backed off. I followed KD6LME's suggestion about changing the angle of the arm. This made an amazing difference in the behaviour of the key. This is one of the few keys that has a seperate contact adjustment, and lever height adjustment. It has become one of my favorites. I wish there was a quick fix for my Vibroplex hand key.
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