Single Paddle
The AF6L Spirit Single Paddle Morse Key!
Individually Made for You in the USA!
The Spirit Morse Single Paddle Key is designed, custom-machined, assembled and tested here in north Idaho.
Each key purchased helps support my family and provides work for Erik the local machinist too.
We're both self-employed and reachable, and you're much closer to the creators than just purchasing a box off a shelf.
Modern Design
Rather than follow the traditional, "steampunk" designs in brass and wood that make up most of the current market, the Spirit Single Paddle Morse Key was designed to be modern-looking from the outset, individually custom-machined to exacting dimensions.
The design is heavily inspired by the B2 Spirit Stealth Bomber, known for its dark, sleek lines, and a shape born from function rather than tradition.
Machined from a solid block of billet 6061-T6 aircraft-grade aluminum, the Spirit Single Paddle Morse Key represents the culmination of modern design and development efforts to create a crisp and consistent key that looks at home with your modern radio equipment.
The final design is the result of the experience of master-machinist Erik, who spent many years working at Boeing, designing and making all kinds of classified parts for military stealth programs including the B2 itself.
The key has a black anodized finish with a clear anodized lid and paddle to match the B2 and, of course, most modern radio equipment.
Consistent Performance
Many keys drift out of consistent feel as they are used, some even after just a few minutes of use and often in the middle of a treasured QSO.
The driving aim of the Spirit design is the ability to finely adjust the paddle movement and pressure.
Each fine adjustment is easy to achieve, yet locks firmly into place to avoid changes during use.
The clean, simple design is also free of external knobs or screws to bump, misalign or catch to upset the adjustments once made.
Magnetic Return and Dampening
For this key, we developed an innovative arrangement of rare-earth magnets, using three different styles to provide the necessary adjustment.
We like to call this the "Bermuda Triangle", a triangle of three pairs of magnets.
On the back of the key is the dampening adjuster, with which you can dial in the force needed to move the paddle, from barely any force at all to rather stiff.
On each side are balancing adjusters, which ensure the centering and influence paddle speed.
Some experimentation will be needed with the magnet and contact adjustments to make it perfect for you, but the range of adjustments provides a very wide range of possibilities.
It's a weird combination, but it delivers like no spring system ever could, and once locked in place it stays that way!
Stable and Solid
Weighing in at a healthy 2lbs, the Spirit Single Paddle Morse Key anchors firmly to the table with its silicon rubber feet, providing a stable experience even during enthusiastic keying. For those requiring even more stability, tapped threads are hidden under the feet to facilitate bolting the key to any surface.
The mono-block concept means that all parts are anchored firmly within the same solid metal block. There are no wooden parts to expand and contract with the seasons and no subassemblies to come loose.
The key is just under 4 inches square and the top surface sits around 1.5" above the tabletop.
The paddle protrudes just over 1.3 inches, giving plenty of room to grasp with ease.
Dust Control Built In
Many keys need the extra purchase of a cover to keep dust from getting into the mechanism. These never seem to fit right or look good and as dirt builds up, it can quickly change the feel of the key.
Careful consideration has been made to minimize dust entry, with the lid sealing the top and helping keep the internal key parts free from dirt and dust.
The lid is held in place by four small 4-40 stainless screws to ensure it stays put.
Floating Paddle
The paddle itself is fast and smooth moving, with gentle dimples to facilitate positional memory.
Erik really delivered on the engineering of the pivot, allowing the paddle to almost float. Many high-end keys use bearings, but the Spirit Morse Key goes a step further. By using a post and hole pivot with a large contact area, machined to within 0.0005 inches and lightly lubricated with copper grease, we have reduced the drag and response time. The quicker key movement comes from a lighter paddle, made thinner by not having to incorporate bearing pockets.
When you consider the fraction of an inch of movement at the end of a long paddle, the minute rotational and stress forces do not justify the loss in performance of building in bearings, which often have more slop too. For the technically minded, the rotation is 0.38 degrees with a 0.001" contact gap, approximately 0.0006" at the edge of the pivot post, less than the take-up clearance in regular ball bearings!
Stable and Solid
Weighing in at a healthy 2lbs, the Spirit Single Paddle Morse Key anchors firmly to the table with its silicon rubber feet, providing a stable experience even during enthusiastic keying. For those requiring even more stability, tapped threads are hidden under the feet to facilitate bolting the key to any surface.
The mono-block concept means that all parts are anchored firmly within the same solid metal block. There are no wooden parts to expand and contract with the seasons and no subassemblies to come loose.
The key is just under 4 inches square and the top surface sits around 1.5" above the tabletop.
The paddle protrudes just over 1.3 inches, giving plenty of room to grasp with ease.
Dust Control Built In
Many keys need the extra purchase of a cover to keep dust from getting into the mechanism. These never seem to fit right or look good and as dirt builds up, it can quickly change the feel of the key.
Careful consideration has been made to minimize dust entry, with the lid sealing the top and helping keep the internal key parts free from dirt and dust.
The lid is held in place by four small 4-40 stainless screws to ensure it stays put.
Floating Paddle
The paddle itself is fast and smooth moving, with gentle dimples to facilitate positional memory.
Erik really delivered on the engineering of the pivot, allowing the paddle to almost float. Many high-end keys use bearings, but the Spirit Morse Key goes a step further. By using a post and hole pivot with a large contact area, machined to within 0.0005 inches and lightly lubricated with copper grease, we have reduced the drag and response time. The quicker key movement comes from a lighter paddle, made thinner by not having to incorporate bearing pockets.
When you consider the fraction of an inch of movement at the end of a long paddle, the minute rotational and stress forces do not justify the loss in performance of building in bearings, which often have more slop too. For the technically minded, the rotation is 0.38 degrees with a 0.001" contact gap, approximately 0.0006" at the edge of the pivot post, less than the take-up clearance in regular ball bearings!
The standard paddles are 1.36" to the top and 0.16" from the table
surface.
The taller paddles are 1.68" to the top and 0.48" from the table surface.
Stainless Steel Contacts
The electrical contacts are stainless steel and hemispherical in shape to permit a clean contact and break. When considering the choice of materials, both silver and gold are far softer and are less likely to stand up to hard use. The quick paddle movement and contact shape make for a clean, crisp make and break, allowing the key to maintain this performance in the long run.
The 18-8 stainless contacts have a hardness of Rockwell B80, around 6 Mohs, whereas silver and gold are around 3 Mohs.
Easy Connections
The output is found in the form of a standard 3.5mm stereo socket on the back, recessed to continue the smooth look. This allows the use of any standard 3.5mm stereo cable for connection, without being tied to proprietary connections or irreplaceable fixed and soldered cabling.
Competitively Priced - Great Value
The workmanship of this key really stands out, with every edge lightly chamfered, accurate radii, and smooth surfaces.
Quality engineering, design, machining, material, and service are not cheap, but the Spirit Single Paddle Morse Key is certainly good value. Small quantity, individual manufacture, and testing mean that you get a high-quality key without the usual fuss and problems.
Whether starting out in cw, or an expert with years of experience, the Spirit Single Paddle Morse Key represents an excellent choice at this price point.
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AF6L Spirit Single Paddle Adjustment Instructions
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Spirit Single Paddle Morse Key
$285
Includes shipping within the US
(Please contact us for international orders)
(Please contact us for international orders)
Spirit Single Paddle Morse Key with a Taller Paddle
$285
Includes shipping within the US
(Please contact us for international orders)
(Please contact us for international orders)