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Reviews For: Begali Sculpture Arrow

Category: Keys & Paddles

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Review Summary For : Begali Sculpture Arrow
Reviews: 5MSRP: 520
Description:
The Sculpture Arrow is a stainless steel straight key
designed to match the Sculpture paddle. Both models are
shown in the picture
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.i2rtf.com/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0054.8
WB6ZXM Rating: 2022-04-24
Beautiful Confluence of Beauty and Technology Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This is by far the nicest straight key I have ever used. It’s craftsmanship is evident when removed from the packaging and its performance is hard to describe —-Maybe rate it as “10 Stars out of 5 possible.” The magnetic adjustments are eloquently implemented and gap is precise and repeatable. Lastly, I thought long and hard about competitive models with beautiful chrome implementations. But I have other chrome models that have degraded over the years with imperfections that are difficult to repair. This is made worse by my fairly close proximity to the ocean in Southern California. The stainless steel finish is impervious to this daily assault of environment, is beautiful, and highly recommended. Buy one. You won’t regret it.
KD6GNF Rating: 2021-10-08
I am very happy with the Sculpture Arrow! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
As a person the uses a straight key almost exclusively, I wanted to find a key that would make my cw easier on the ears of those receiving it and easier for me as the sender. My last key was a J-38. I thought it was good but wanted an upgrade. The Arrow is a beautiful key and as far as function is concerned is very nice. The adjustable attraction and repulsion magnets are a great feature. Once they are adjusted to my preference, they don't drift after use. Because of its weight, the Arrow stays put while sending. The customer service was excellent. They are a class act!
WB5AGF Rating: 2016-07-17
a 'push/pull' magnetically operated Morse straight key Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
(I finally gave in and got a Begali Sculpture Arrow Morse straight key after seeing one a few weeks ago at the Dayton Hamvention.)

Ever since I'd seen the key at Dayton I'd been wanting to open-the-hood and see how it's put together. Now that I've got one that has been accomplished.

When the Arrow's 'cover' (the massive piece of metal that covers the key's mechanism) is removed (four screws are accessed from the bottom-side of the key and then the cover lifts off) the exposed mechanism is surprisingly simple.

The base of the 'Arrow' is another massive piece of metal (that the 'cover' fits on top of) and its insides have been machined away leaving a cavity.

The lever arm has integral ball bearing assemblies inside that have a small steel rod going through their middles. The rod projects out on the left and right sides of the lever arm and those projections then slip into two small notches that are machined into the base. The lever arm is then able to rock up-and-down riding on the ball bearings over the cavity in the base.

The contact points are on the far end of the lever arm from the knob and the lever arm contact is mounted directly on the lever arm (not on a projecting 'tongue' as is done with the Amplidan and NT9K designs). A screw from the underside of the base allows adjusting the height of the resting pier and the base contact is on a thin piece of metal that projects out over the contact on the lever arm.

The most interesting element of the design is that two magnet pairs are used to provide the return force (which pressing the knob overcomes). There is a magnetic pair (two magnets working together) on the far side of the lever (away from the knob) working in-repulsion that push 'down' on that side of the lever arm and a magnetic pair on the same side of the lever as the knob working in attraction which pull 'up'. The effect is that both magnetic pairs work to hold the contacts open but it must be remembered that magnetic force (either repulsive or attractive) is greatest when the two magnets are closest. The result is that there is a subtle but detectable difference in the way that the key feels when the two magnet pairs are used in differing combinations (the closeness of each magnet pair is adjustable via screws on the top of the key).

There is a third adjusting screw (on the top of the key farthest from the knob) that pushes down on the top of the base contact (hidden inside the top cover when it is on the base). Begali's documentation refers to this screw as adjusting the contact spacing but I believe that incorrect. The steel strap, that the base contact is on, is too thick to bend easily and so adjusting the height of the resting post (the screw to do this is on the bottom-side of the base) is the most practical way to set contact spacing (since the underside of the lever arm's contact 'sits' on the resting post when the operator is not pressing on the knob). What I have found is that adjusting that third adjusting screw has the effect of providing a damping affect to how the key feels when the contacts close (the tip of the screw does not press directly on the top of the base contact but rather there is a short length of plastic tubing on the screw tip and as it is gently brought into contact with the top of the base contact the plastic tubing acts as a shock absorber ).
N5XRD Rating: 2014-08-06
The Best Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have just received the Sculpture Arrow Key. I have the Blade key and thought that it was the best, however, I no longer think so. The Arrow seems perfect to me. I also have a limited edition Stealth key and they look like twins by the radio.

Try the Arrow, you won't be disappointed .

Dick, N5XRD
NN4ZZ Rating: 2014-06-07
Great Straight Key Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Beautiful Masterpiece -- another work of precision from Piero Begali. Fine thread adjustments for the gap and tension magnets. It is very heavy and won't move on the desk. Very smooth feel.

I'm glad I waited for this key, it's a pleasure to use and probably the last straight key I'll buy.

Al / NN4ZZ