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Reviews For: Bencher RJ-2 Chrome Hand Key

Category: Keys & Paddles

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Review Summary For : Bencher RJ-2 Chrome Hand Key
Reviews: 21MSRP: 189.95
Description:
Traditional straight key
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.vibroplex.com/contents/en-us/p203.html
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00214.5
AA2AU Rating: 2021-05-20
fantastic , solid , smooth , stable key Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
been using old j37 many years. I'm very heavy handed and wallop a key rather than feather it. I was skeptical to buy the bencher RJ-2 due to some reviews claiming to much spring tension. below is a link.
http://ai4fr.com/main/page_ham_radio_cw_bencher_rj2.html . here you will find proper adjusting and a full review of what and how this key should operate. I can now wallop the snot out of this key and guess what? it doesn't move! 100 percent rock solid. no need to bolt down, cut springs or modify this key in any way shape or form its a heavy fisted pounders delight with proper adjustment. crisp, sexy looking hi hi , silky smooth and a joy to use . got the matching EZ-1 hook-up cord with it . no solder . no fuss , no muss . plug and play in seconds with a neat , clean out of sight finish stashed under the key. simply makes a beautiful addition to any shack!
SP9HZX Rating: 2018-07-20
Very good key Time Owned: more than 12 months.
For me it is a very good key.Looks smart and works good.Good price.
KC7JNJ Rating: 2018-01-18
Not as great as it looks Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought the chrome one in 95 when I got General class. I got into CW while getting ready to take my Gen test. Found I liked it. Got this key as I wanted something nice. It is far to heavy springed, very tippy, the knob hangs out past the base to far. I ended up gitting a Nye Speed-X with the navy knob. Much much nicer. Much better balanced.
WF8O Rating: 2014-02-27
Great Key!! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had this key for a couple years. Only issue was that the set screw for the tension was messed up due to prior owner use of wrong size allen wrench. I called Bencher to order a new screw and they sent the part within two days. Beyond that they charged me neither for the screw nor for the postage!! Great company Great service!!!
AD9Z Rating: 2013-08-04
Nice Straight Key! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I like mine! I also have a vibroplex brass racer and I find myself using this key more often. This key is a pleasure to use!
N1MB Rating: 2012-12-17
Great Key Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I debated on whether to get this key or the Begali Camelback. I have never tried either key. I took a chance and bought the Bencher RJ-2 from Morse Express (Really Nice folks)and have made several contacts with it. After setting it up initially the key is very crisp and precise. There is no slop either vertical or horizontal with this key. I can work slow when on QRP or relatively fast on QRO without feeling stressed worrying about problems with the key. There are no problems that I have found with this key. I suppose everyone has their own opinion. I highly recommend this American Made Key!! I can't imagine the Begali being any better and the Bencher sells for a lot less.
AC4FS Rating: 2010-01-10
Still Like It, still use it Time Owned: more than 12 months.
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.
AA8KY Rating: 2010-01-05
Very Nice Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
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.
KE4MOB Rating: 2005-01-27
Better than the RJ-1 Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
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.
KG9HV Rating: 2004-12-26
solid hand key Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
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.