Key No7 Single Paddle

This key is the second single paddle morse key I have made and the seventh key I have made in total. From this it can be assumed that I really like making morse keys. Each time, I like to make them slightly different, so that they have a little uniqueness. 

I particularly like using marble or slate for the base though this does add a certain amount of extra work because of the hardness of the material.  Using agate for the finger plates, I think most would agree, adds a nice touch and compliments the overall look with the marble, however this material is extremely hard and difficult to drill. 

I have tried diamond tipped dremel drills to accomplish this with no success, making it necessary to fix the finger plates with epoxy resin into a slot made in the brass. The agate I acquired, was that of broken shards from display disks, bought from a fossil and semi precious stone shop by the sea front in Charmouth. 

Making these broken pieces into the desired shape was also extremely difficult and time consuming,  requiring diamond tipped cutting tools also. Fortunately the dremel cutting disk I used, proved to be more successful than my attempts at drilling the material. The weight of the completed key is 683g causing it to sit firmly on the desk, resisting any tendency to move from where it is placed.

Trying out the key on the air was a real pleasure, there was no loose play, it was positive and responsive, looking great on the shack desk.

My first six QSOs while using this key after compleating it in December 2019 were:

LZ7MM on 20m at 09/12/2019

F5TXA on 40m at 09/12/2019

OY1CT on 20m at 09/12/2019

DL3JRA on 40m at 09/12/2019

EB4IC on 20m at 11/12/2019

DL50NFA on 40m at 11/12/2019

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