The Best CW Key / Paddle in the WORLD!!! 

Like the sculpture for the desk. Traveler for mobile/portable., although you may need a sticky pad under it to keep from wandering. Also have a couple cw Morse paddles for backpacking. Great video om.

The best CW key is always the one you haven't bought yet

The best CW key is the one that gets you doing CW on the air!

BENCHER for the win!

For your lightweight keys with magnets on the bottom, consider buying a jeweler's bench block, for ~10 bucks online. They add about 20 oz to the paddle and have a silicone bottom that grips the desk. I went with the Owden (3" round/ 3/4" tall). Works great for my POTA paddles that attach to the metal case of my QRP rig. Now I can use my BamTech TP-III and Pico Palm Paddle at my home station.

I'm pretty happy (for at home) with my Brass Racer (Vibroplex paddles). Maybe a little light, but I have found that if I moisten the bottoms of the rubber feet (a little spit works) and let it sit for a couple of minutes, then it has more than enough traction.

Begali is currently offline for at least one week due to a flooding disaster. I hope they do not suffer inventory or manufacturing losses. Good thing it occurred after the Dayton event, so inventory was sold and not lost due to flooding.

Left, right, squeezie-squeezie!

yet another great CW video. Thank you for putting it out. We need more content like this.👍

Answer: the best one is the one that you use? I have a straight key and have seldom ever used it. Thanks for showing the different types. Just getting back to the hobby and like your content.

TJ..nice video as usual. One of the best straight keys I have ever used is a U.S. Army Signal Corp Flame Proof J-5-A. I don't use a straight key too often, but with all the keys I have, the J-5-A is the smoothest. Surprising, they are not that expensive at hamfests, etc..

With keys - like all things - you get what you pay for. Personally, there's nothing better in the world than a Begali. If you do lots of CW, one of these is a must. You may think "I'm not paying $600.00 for a paddle". How much do you pay for a good radio though? It is a crafted instrument for sending morse code. Surely that counts for something. Some paddles: Bencher (awful), Vibroplex iambic (mediocre), Kent (better)....N3ZN (great).....Begali (best).if you use them long enough you'll see what I mean. 73 de Scott W1AL

Love the disco ball in the PC.

I have a Vibroplex Zephyr, and I think of it as a musical instrument more than a code key. It needs a musician to play it properly. But when you put the 2 together you get beautiful music.

That is a hefty collection of keys!

Fit hits the Shan 😂 yep buy once cry once on a good paddle. I’m always kinda bummed to see a crappy key at field day.

Quakehold! 88111 Museum Putty Neutral - this will hold a light CW paddle in place. Suggested by my instructor at LICW.

The OM himself talking about upsetting OMs. 😛 *Old man yells at cloud*

I think it is misleading to refer to a sideswiper/cootie as a single lever paddle. A single lever paddle requires a keyer. It is the keyer that generates the dits and dahs. A cootie/ sideswiper is really a cousin of a straight key where the formation of the dits and dahs is entirely up to the operators' manipulations without any intervention by electronics. Other things I would look for in a single lever or dual lever paddle are low friction movement of the arms, quality contact materials and zero up/down slop. So, they should be mechanically smooth and consistent. The up/down slop is where I think the Bencher is less than great. Like you, I prefer to touch the paddles a little higher up. Of course that would depend on what base or non-slip material you have it on. I have replaced the stock paddles on a few of mine, but that then becomes an opportunity to modify the appearance to suit your preference, with rare wood types, carbon fiber, different color plastic, drilled with lightening holes (allegedly permitting higher speed operation (not me) and it looks more sporty!). 73

While learning the alphabet, is it best to learn all the letters and numbers before buying a CW key? Or, does it help the learning process to practice on the CW key while learning? Dumb question? Recommendations?

Thank you for this helpful video. I'm looking to buy my first desktop paddle. One thing that you didn't provide any commentary on is the choice between magnetic and spring returns. What are the differences between them? 73 Jim N4FAF

Nah, the best way to aggravate an old Ham is to refer to Paddles as a "Key".

Why the one I own of course! Isnt that usually how those conversations start "Mine is better or bigger then yours" right? If ya Don't believe a guy, just ask him he will tell ya lol.

Great video TJ. Is that a Begali paddle with the round base? What is the weight on that one?

Thanks for another great video. I must agree weight is very important. My Begali Pearl, 3.7lb what a monster that wont move. Did you spot your name in my Bio on this months CWOPS Newsletter. I am thinking of buying a Dynamometer to set my paddle up, do you have one?

Hi. Could you please recommend a good key for beginners to learn Morse code? Thanks

The 9A5N looks neat. Do you have one or have any experience using one?

I just want to know where to get one of those RA1AOM keys.

Great demo. I have my eye on the UR5Dx paddle CT599 are you familiar with it? Whats your thoughts please? Thank you KI5CDQ DON

The best paddle is The one you use.

I do like your white PC bild!

Never have your wrist bone on the desk, or you will suffer carpel tunnel.

The intro is looping. Let’s make it shorter. 😀

What? No 'proper' straight key? What type of Morse operating is this? Covered in another video I hope...

There is no best Morse paddle. A Morse paddle should be individually adjusted to the hand, like a ski boot. Just my piece of cake. Very cool Video, Tnx and vy73 de HB9CSA, DL4FDM