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Reviews For: Kent Single Paddle Key

Category: Keys & Paddles

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Review Summary For : Kent Single Paddle Key
Reviews: 35MSRP: 139.95
Description:
Single paddle
Product is in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00354.5
G4JQT Rating: 2021-07-19
Underwhelming! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Maybe I have a bad one, but I had intermittent contact on one side caused by bad contact with stud on central arm. But the whole assembly seems over complicated with far too may parts required to make good contact.

Took ages to set up and I'm still not happy. Getting rid to buy a Bencher ST1
WA4FOM Rating: 2021-04-04
I think I finally found the perfect single lever for me Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Now that I'm getting a bit long in the tooth, I'm discovering that my tastes vis-a-vis paddles are changing. It seems that I'm just not comfortable any more with iambic paddles of any make or model, and I've tried and/or bought many of them. I've been making a gradual shift towards single lever paddles. I have the Vibroplex VibroKeyer, the Begali HST single lever, the Schurr Einhebel, and others I can't even remember. The aforementioned paddles are good to be sure, but for some inexplicable reason I like the Kent the most. I suspect it's the rigid arm and finger pieces that my aging paws prefer. For me anyway, performance is not always directly proportional to price. Your results may vary, of course.
KM4AMJ Rating: 2020-02-14
Wonderful craftsmanship Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This is really well made. The main pivot arm rotates on roller bearings. Both the tension and gap can be adjusted on each side. A very heavy base with sturdy screwed on rubber feet keep it solidly in place. I did a lot of research on keys and this may be one of the best quality to price ratios. I ordered directly from Germany and had no problems--delivered on time and in perfect condition.
G4LNA Rating: 2019-02-02
Good key Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have owned this key for about 10 years, I have used other more expensive single paddle keys but always seem to come back to this one. As with others who have used it, the feet are rubbish, they have been replaced with some good sticky feet and the finger piece has been replaced with a wooden one which I made which makes it feel much better. It would have given it a 5 if it wasn't for the feet.

Just as an aside, I had problems just recently with it missing dits and I couldn't puzzle out why, even though I cleaned the contacts, I found the touch contact between the armature and the outer arms had some oxidization in between them. I just buffed them on some paper which cured that, hopefully for the next ten years.
W1EUJ Rating: 2016-09-23
Almost great Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This key is affordably priced for what you get - a precision single paddle design with a heavy base. The contacts have never given me any issues - consistent contact without skipped or extra dit/dahs. Once you figure out how it works, dialing in the settings is easy and you can get this within an atom's width if you wish, and have it stay there forever.

However...

The screw-in rubber feet, while nice looking, are too soft with thin walls due to the mounting screw. If you are a vigorous sender, the key sways on the feet. Unfortunately, the feet are needed to allow clearance for the wiring underneath. My fix was to replace them with stiffer stick-on rubber feet.

Otherwise - a reliable key that does the job well
KD9CDF Rating: 2016-06-12
Good Key--Feet Not So Much Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
The Kent single paddle key is ok and would be better for me if it were not for the "tall" rubber feet which allows the key to sway left and right with key operation. The rubber feet don't grip the surface well, so I added one of those really sticky "dashboard pads" under the key. So, now the feet stay put, but the key still sways during operation.

To Kent's credit, they didn't just slap some adhesive pads on the bottom for feet. The rubber feet are attached with screws. Because of connections on the bottom, they had to use feet which provided some height to get the key base off the desk (and provide space for surface connections).

I was surprised to find the brass Kent brand nameplate on the key to have painted or inked letters which rubbed off really easily. If taking the time to show off your brand, it would probably make more sense to have durable finish over the ink/paint.

Those shortcomings notwithstanding, the key has some solid design to be proud of in my opinion. For example, adjustment screws are knurled and large, with knurled locking nuts on the contact adjustments to ensure adjustments stay put.

I don't have an especially "heavy" hand while keying, but sway from the rubber feet is a deal breaker for me. I could conceivably, engineer replacement feet or build an additional base to receive the key unit and keep it from swaying when in operation.
N5LB Rating: 2016-01-24
Very Nice Key Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I set aside the Vibroplex bug to try something new and decided on the Kent single paddle. Squeeze keys, iambic A or B never worked for me. The key does not slip on SST desktop and keys my Flex 5000 reliably. Quality is good, this previously owned key was well cared for. The height of the key is better for me than the Vibrokeyer. Now once my fingers' muscle memory converts from the bug.....
G0UOO Rating: 2015-07-17
Good - Not Great Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I had this key for 15 years plus. Once adjusted it's fine, but it doesn't seem to stay there. I echo K3GC's comments, but not to the point of throwing it out the window! A good key, but you need to stay on top of the adjustments. I'd rate it as 3.5 if I could, but otherwise it's a 4. I've moved on to a Scheunemann Einhebel 2 and it's in a different class.
G4JJP Rating: 2015-07-07
Excllent key Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
After switching from a life time of using a straight key I decided to try a single paddle. My first try was the Palm mini. That was OK, and ideal for using with my small qrp rig, but the lightweight design meant I had to hold it on the desk and this got a bit tiring.
After reading reviews, I ordered the Kent Single Paddle key. It took a little while to arrive, but I was reassured after a 'phone call which was picked up by Robert Kent himself.
The key arrived as promised, and once connected, it worked very well. I Love it.
I don't understand those who say it's too light. The base is solid, weighty, and stays where it's put on the desk. The four rubber feet give very very slightly, but not enough to be a problem. Once the key is adjusted properly (less than a cigarette paper between the contacts and light springs), the key just sings.
It looks good too. Nice solid brass on a black base. Functional, attractive, and I'm at last able to send good morse from a single paddle key.
Highly recommended.
N6BIZ Rating: 2014-03-16
EXCELLENT Time Owned: more than 12 months.
HAD MINE FOR YEARS...GREAT KEY ....