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Reviews For: American Morse Equip KK1

Category: Keys & Paddles

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Review Summary For : American Morse Equip KK1
Reviews: 19MSRP: $30.00
Description:
Miniature straight key kit
Product is in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00194.6
KX4QP Rating: 2019-05-05
Cheap and Easy Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Okay, disclaimer here: I repair power tools for a living. Because of that experience, and the general mechanical bent that started me in this line, I could without doubt have correctly assembled this kit without the instructions. A reasonable number of parts, perfectly obvious where they had to go -- but this from a person who can reassemble a complex power tool someone else disassembled.

Fortunately for those who can't look at a bag of parts and see the mechanical device they'll build into, the KK1 has good instructions available online. If you can follow directions as complex as those to bake a cake from scratch or build a code practice oscillator from a kit, you can handle this build.

The end result is a very small straight key, with a heavy aluminum base and a very solid brass key body. It's easily adjustable to have knob movement of less than a millimeter from up to down, and has a solid feeling of contact.

I just finished assembly today, and don't have it wired yet, never mind anything operable to connect to, but it feels very solid for such a small device; the last straight key I handled (many years ago) was a classic telegraph type; the only quality this unit gives away to that is the solidity on the desk surface that comes from weight.

Adjusting the KK1 for contact clearance and spring tension took barely a minute, requiring no tools. Solder tabs are provided for wire connections (no need to try to keep a curled wire end under the thumbscrew while tightening). The KK1 has no ball bearings or knife edge bearings; it's a pin in a slip fit hole, but it'll be hundreds of hours of sending, if ever, before I develop the feel that can tell the difference between this simple version and a premium key that might have those features.
KD8ZM Rating: 2018-03-15
Good key, but with limitations Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Great workmanship. Easy to assemble, if you watch the YouTube videos on doing so (instructions included are not so great).
Mine had a part missing. Contacted Doug and he sent it right away. Still, would be better if they had QC before sending. -1 point for that.
Biggest issue is that he has given no thought to how one would secure a cable to this nice little key. There are electrical contacts of course, but having whatever cable you use sort of twisting in the wind and bending the wires until they fall off, makes me wonder if the designer actually uses this key? It's just too essential a miss, to have missed. Was he thinking that this would be mounted to a wooden base, and that base would be used to secure the cable? If so, where are the holes in the aluminum base for securing a wooden base to this key? Lots of questions in this regard.
In sum,it's a good key that could be made great if he had some way to securely attach a cable to it. As it is, I am using hot glue to physically secure the cable. Not a very elegant solution, but it works.
KD8NJY Rating: 2016-06-02
Components don't fit Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I bought my KK1 at Hamvention in Dayton Saturday. I tried to put it together and found that the Hole in the Operating Lever is too small to fit the Dowel Pin through. I have sent 3 emails to Doug, 2 to the address on the paperwork and the 3rd to an address I found on line. I told him my problem, in all 3, left my email, mailing address and phone number. This Saturday, the 4th, it will have been 2 weeks and I have heard NOTHING. I am very disappointed as I had read so many good reviews about this product and company.
AC2JB Rating: 2015-09-20
High Quality key for a reasonable price Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
The KK1 kit was promptly mailed in a small shipping envelope. I had no difficulties assembling the kit. It is a pleasure to use and it looks good. It takes up almost no packing space.
Price is now around $50.
I highly recommend this key for KX3 Or other QRP field use.
Jeff AC2JB
W8RBT Rating: 2015-06-12
Very Nice Straight Key & Great Company! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I'm new to Morse Code. Still listening and learning. I'm only good for 7 to 10 WPM. This was my first straight key. The price is great ($49 now). The quality is outstanding. Very precise machine work. The instructions are very simple and easy to follow. I built mine with the knob at first, but then removed it. I like a very low knob. You can build it either way. Finally, Doug was very professional and responsive to emails. I was anxious to get the key, so I emailed him and he responded that he would drop the key at the Post Office on the way home. Great guy. In short, I highly recommend this key and American Morse Equipment.
K2WO Rating: 2015-03-24
What a Great Key! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I just picked up a KK1 from Doug at American Morse. It took me about 30 minutes to put together and what can I say, it is one amazing little key. It is perfect for portable QRP operations and even. Top quality, great support, recommended.
AA6KI Rating: 2014-09-28
Stand-up seller too Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've owned my KK1 for several years, and it is still one of my favorite keys. I agree with all the excellent reviews here.

Just wanted to add that Doug Hauff stands behind his products. Recently I wanted to replace the paddle for my KK1. It was working fine, but it had developed a tiny crack -- no doubt because I had over-tightened the mounting screw. Doug sent a replacement with no questions asked.

Great product, great service.
AK4LP Rating: 2012-06-19
Very nice, small key! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
As others have said, customer service is top notch. I received this key just a few days after ordering it. It went together easily. I polished it before assembling, and that gave it a nice look.

I love the feel of this key. It is small, so I just use a single finger to key with it, but that works great for me. I thought about adding a knob, but after using it I've decided not to do that. It is a perfect match for my new HB1B xcvr.

If you are looking for a small key that doesn't feel cheap, and that can be adjusted to your tastes, I recommend you check this one out.
KD8SGE Rating: 2012-05-30
The best Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The key was shipped very quickly and went together easily without any difficulty whatsoever. It's a very well made, sturdy little guy and I'm certain I'll have it for many years to come. It's the only key I currently own and, frankly, it's all I need!
W3HI Rating: 2012-04-26
Very nice little key! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
The KK1 was shipped to me in record time. The kit went together quickly, and I was out the door for a QRP camping trip. The key felt good to me after a few CQs and, after fine adjustment, I never had one problem with it all weekend. I hardly ever thought about the key while operating, and I suppose that is the way it should be. When I got home, I added a small plastic appliance knob to it for use in the shack, and one day, I may either paint or polish the base of it. I usually use a Nye-Viking Master Key at home, but I find my KK-1 being used more and more as it has a very small footprint on the desk. Doug Hauff makes a very nice little key in the KK1. Kudos to American Morse!