Good time to buy Begali products

[hhoyt]

I recently had the pleasure of using an N3ZN AB7CE key during the CQ WW
CQ contest and it was fantastic!

If you are looking at Italian paddles, be sure to check out Alberto
Frattini's jewelry at:

http://www.i1qod.it/prima.htm

I use a "Chrome Iambic" and it is the best paddle I have ever used, but
of course paddles are a personal preference!

Cheers & 73,

Howie - WA4PSC
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[Charlie T, K3ICH]

Has anyone on here used a March Magnetic Paddle?  Mike's out in Winchester
VA and hand makes these individually.

I'm not qualified to comment since I can barely use my antique Vibro-Keyer.

73, Charlie k3ICH


----- Original Message -----
From: "Howard Hoyt" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Sunday, January 25, 2015 12:42 PM
Subject: [Elecraft] Good time to buy Begali products

>I recently had the pleasure of using an N3ZN AB7CE key during the CQ WW CQ
>contest and it was fantastic!
>
> If you are looking at Italian paddles, be sure to check out Alberto
> Frattini's jewelry at:
>
> http://www.i1qod.it/prima.htm
>
> I use a "Chrome Iambic" and it is the best paddle I have ever used, but of
> course paddles are a personal preference!
>
> Cheers & 73,
>
> Howie - WA4PSC
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
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>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]

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[Grant Youngman]

At one time I had a very early March key, before he started putting serial numbers on them and refined the design somewhat.  Even at that, it was very nice key.  I’ve been selling off my key collection the last few years.  I’ve had Jones, G4ZPY (VHS), N2DAN, other Begalis, and a variety of other interesting stuff.  The paddles I have left are a Begali Signature and a Vibroplex Deluxe I’ve had forever— and I don’t plan on parting with either.  I still like the VIbroplex a lot — they don't have the panache (or the price) of the Begali, but they can be adjusted for a great feel and are exceptionally good paddles IMO.

Grant NQ5T


> On Jan 25, 2015, at 4:02 PM, Charlie T, K3ICH <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Has anyone on here used a March Magnetic Paddle?  Mike's out in Winchester VA and hand makes these individually.
>
> I'm not qualified to comment since I can barely use my antique Vibro-Keyer.
>
> 73, Charlie k3ICH
>
>

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[Jim Low man]

Yes, indeed!  I have one and it's very nice.
Actually, it belongs to Chuck Adams, K7QO.
It's on a somewhat-indefinite loan to me.
I found out from a Mutual friend that Chuck didn't care for it that much.
Of course, "feel" is a very subjective matter.

It had some minor wear, so I sent it back to Mike for refinishing. Now
it's as good as new.
It looks good in my collection and, if Chuck ever asks for it back, it's
in better shape than when he loaned it to me.

73 de Jim - AD6CW

On 1/25/2015 2:02 PM, Charlie T, K3ICH wrote:
> Has anyone on here used a March Magnetic Paddle? Mike's out in
> Winchester VA and hand makes these individually.
>
> I'm not qualified to comment since I can barely use my antique
> Vibro-Keyer.
>
> 73, Charlie k3ICH
>

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[Jim Hoge-2]

Charlie,
My wife gave me a March R-3A a few years ago. It spends most of its time on a display shelf. While it is a nice key, it couldn't usurp the prime position my Begali Sculpture holds. Most of the reasons why are purely personal but one is what I would consider a design oversight.

By comparison, the Begali's finger pieces are spaced  0.575" (outside dimension) while the March's are 0.500". Minimum force to close a contact on the Begali is 6 grams and the March is 19 grams. These two parameters are very personal as I prefer a wider spacing and a very light touch.
What I consider a design oversight is the length of the contact spacing screws, they are nearly  0.375" longer than they need to be and to me, stick out like a sore thumb.
That said, the key is well machined and functions very well. It is a fine example of key art. It just isn't my favorite.

73,Jim W5QM
 

     On Sunday, January 25, 2015 5:28 PM, Jim Lowman <[hidden email]> wrote:
   

 Yes, indeed!  I have one and it's very nice.
Actually, it belongs to Chuck Adams, K7QO.
It's on a somewhat-indefinite loan to me.
I found out from a Mutual friend that Chuck didn't care for it that much.
Of course, "feel" is a very subjective matter.

It had some minor wear, so I sent it back to Mike for refinishing. Now
it's as good as new.
It looks good in my collection and, if Chuck ever asks for it back, it's
in better shape than when he loaned it to me.

73 de Jim - AD6CW

On 1/25/2015 2:02 PM, Charlie T, K3ICH wrote:
> Has anyone on here used a March Magnetic Paddle? Mike's out in
> Winchester VA and hand makes these individually.
>
> I'm not qualified to comment since I can barely use my antique
> Vibro-Keyer.
>
> 73, Charlie k3ICH
>

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[Gary Smith-2]

I have the Begali Sculpture which I recently bought. The prices on
their web page are I think, a set price and are not changed as the
Euro fluctuates. The exchange price the day you buy it is what you
pay. I waited till the price hit a low and then bought.

I love the key itself but have a personal issue with it that will
require I go back to my old jewelry making skills; it's the paddle's
shape and how I hold my fingers when I key. The Sculpture paddles are
designed to be used by those who touch the key with a fairly  
horizontal finger contact to the table.

I'm a strings player for 50+ years and am used to holding a "guitar"
pick not opposed, but with thumb forward and index curled behind so
as to give equal pressure on the up-stroke & down-stroke while
holding the pick equally with both digits. This affects how I contact
the paddles themselves as my muscle memory is comfortable with that
position and keying with my right hand, I contact the lower part of
the Sculpture paddle perfectly well with my right index but the
center of my thumb presses into the top of the left paddle as the
paddles are beautifully made but asymmetrical with the top section
being shorter than the bottom. After a while my thumb gets sore as
it's the dead center of the thumb print that takes the pressure.

Not a problem with the paddle or design of the paddles, it's just
what I've learned to do doesn't fit this particular paddle. One
possibility would be for me to use two right sided paddles and turn
one upside down for the thumb side but that would not look balanced.
So what I'm thinking of doing is  making a set of paddles out of clay
that reflect how my fingers actually contact the paddles and that
will be a perfect contact for both the thumb and index finger. I'll
then make a copy of this out of silver which is easy to cast and not
all that expensive and use those instead. Another option would be to
sculpt them out of wood but I think I'd get greater accuracy by
making a mold of the exact contact and replicate that in metal. Not
sure how to do that molding in plastic with what I have available.

for the vast majority, the way these paddles are shaped is truly
perfect. The key itself is absolute perfection and a joy to use.

Gary
KA1J

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[Vic Rosenthal]

If it is like my Begali Pearl, the fingerpieces could be removed and
turned upside down, swapping the right and left pieces so that the
countersinking would be on the correct side. Worth a try, anyway.

On 26 Jan 2015 20:31, Gary Smith wrote:

> I have the Begali Sculpture which I recently bought. The prices on
> their web page are I think, a set price and are not changed as the
> Euro fluctuates. The exchange price the day you buy it is what you
> pay. I waited till the price hit a low and then bought.
>
> I love the key itself but have a personal issue with it that will
> require I go back to my old jewelry making skills; it's the paddle's
> shape and how I hold my fingers when I key. The Sculpture paddles are
> designed to be used by those who touch the key with a fairly
> horizontal finger contact to the table.
>
> I'm a strings player for 50+ years and am used to holding a "guitar"
> pick not opposed, but with thumb forward and index curled behind so
> as to give equal pressure on the up-stroke & down-stroke while
> holding the pick equally with both digits. This affects how I contact
> the paddles themselves as my muscle memory is comfortable with that
> position and keying with my right hand, I contact the lower part of
> the Sculpture paddle perfectly well with my right index but the
> center of my thumb presses into the top of the left paddle as the
> paddles are beautifully made but asymmetrical with the top section
> being shorter than the bottom. After a while my thumb gets sore as
> it's the dead center of the thumb print that takes the pressure.
>
> Not a problem with the paddle or design of the paddles, it's just
> what I've learned to do doesn't fit this particular paddle. One
> possibility would be for me to use two right sided paddles and turn
> one upside down for the thumb side but that would not look balanced.
> So what I'm thinking of doing is  making a set of paddles out of clay
> that reflect how my fingers actually contact the paddles and that
> will be a perfect contact for both the thumb and index finger. I'll
> then make a copy of this out of silver which is easy to cast and not
> all that expensive and use those instead. Another option would be to
> sculpt them out of wood but I think I'd get greater accuracy by
> making a mold of the exact contact and replicate that in metal. Not
> sure how to do that molding in plastic with what I have available.
>
> for the vast majority, the way these paddles are shaped is truly
> perfect. The key itself is absolute perfection and a joy to use.
>
> Gary
> KA1J

--
73,
Vic, 4X6GP/K2VCO
Rehovot, Israel
http://www.qsl.net/k2vco/
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[Gary Smith-2]

Alas, the holes are countersunk which on this key aesthetically looks
ideal. I'd need two right side keys for the one inverted, on the
left, to play nice with my thumb. Again, this isn't a slight against
anything with the key whatsoever, it's the way I touch the paddles
that is unusual. But if I make sculpted paddles for my Sculpture,
that sounds right. ;)

With this key and the K3, CW / RTTY really can't get much more fun to
send.

Gary

> If it is like my Begali Pearl, the fingerpieces could be removed and
> turned upside down, swapping the right and left pieces so that the
> countersinking would be on the correct side. Worth a try, anyway.
>
> On 26 Jan 2015 20:31, Gary Smith wrote:
> > I have the Begali Sculpture which I recently bought. The prices on
> > their web page are I think, a set price and are not changed as the
> > Euro fluctuates. The exchange price the day you buy it is what you
> > pay. I waited till the price hit a low and then bought.
> >
> > I love the key itself but have a personal issue with it that will
> > require I go back to my old jewelry making skills; it's the paddle's
> > shape and how I hold my fingers when I key. The Sculpture paddles are
> > designed to be used by those who touch the key with a fairly
> > horizontal finger contact to the table.
> >
> > I'm a strings player for 50+ years and am used to holding a "guitar"
> > pick not opposed, but with thumb forward and index curled behind so
> > as to give equal pressure on the up-stroke & down-stroke while
> > holding the pick equally with both digits. This affects how I contact
> > the paddles themselves as my muscle memory is comfortable with that
> > position and keying with my right hand, I contact the lower part of
> > the Sculpture paddle perfectly well with my right index but the
> > center of my thumb presses into the top of the left paddle as the
> > paddles are beautifully made but asymmetrical with the top section
> > being shorter than the bottom. After a while my thumb gets sore as
> > it's the dead center of the thumb print that takes the pressure.
> >
> > Not a problem with the paddle or design of the paddles, it's just
> > what I've learned to do doesn't fit this particular paddle. One
> > possibility would be for me to use two right sided paddles and turn
> > one upside down for the thumb side but that would not look balanced.
> > So what I'm thinking of doing is  making a set of paddles out of clay
> > that reflect how my fingers actually contact the paddles and that
> > will be a perfect contact for both the thumb and index finger. I'll
> > then make a copy of this out of silver which is easy to cast and not
> > all that expensive and use those instead. Another option would be to
> > sculpt them out of wood but I think I'd get greater accuracy by
> > making a mold of the exact contact and replicate that in metal. Not
> > sure how to do that molding in plastic with what I have available.
> >
> > for the vast majority, the way these paddles are shaped is truly
> > perfect. The key itself is absolute perfection and a joy to use.
> >
> > Gary
> > KA1J
>
> --
> 73,
> Vic, 4X6GP/K2VCO
> Rehovot, Israel
> http://www.qsl.net/k2vco/
>

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[Merv Schweigert]

I have the exact same "problem" Gary, and never mention it as many CW ops
dont get the drift.   I use triangle shaped paddles and that seems to
work for me,
you can get scrap plastic from a plastic dealer in many colors,  I found
the same
thickness in red and blue and made new paddles,  sanding the cut edges with
really fine sandpaper makes them clear and rounded and look professional,
its easy to counter sink the holes with a larger size drill bit.
I usually do it by hand (not with a drill)  so I dont break the plastic
which is easy to
do with a drill.
73 Merv K9FD/KH6

> Alas, the holes are countersunk which on this key aesthetically looks
> ideal. I'd need two right side keys for the one inverted, on the
> left, to play nice with my thumb. Again, this isn't a slight against
> anything with the key whatsoever, it's the way I touch the paddles
> that is unusual. But if I make sculpted paddles for my Sculpture,
> that sounds right. ;)
>
> With this key and the K3, CW / RTTY really can't get much more fun to
> send.
>
> Gary
>
>

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