Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2013 — The man in the Big Brown Truck delivered a new key to my QTH yesterday afternoon, a Vibroplex Chrome Warrior. This isn’t a particularly collectible key, but I have been a big fan of the K8FF design since it was kitted by the NorCal QRP Club.
I own several NorCal K8FF keys, and I like the feel and design of the key … very compact but very robust. Some QRP keys appear just a little too Rube Goldberg for my liking, though I can assume they still get the job done.
Vibroplex took K8FF’s excellent design and refined it for mass production. I really enjoy Vibroplex’s version of the key. I own two (I think!) standard Code Warrior Jr. keys, and one stays close to my operating position because if I’m going to use an iambic keyer, that’s my first choice … the Bencher BY-1 is my next favorite key, truly the workhorse key of iambic keying.
The Chrome Warrior is really nice; unlike the Code Warrior Jr. keys I own, the center block has “Vibroplex” engraved on the top, and the serial number engraved on the rear of the center block. I had some reservations about the brushed chrome base back when Vibroplex released that version of the key, but it is a very attractive alternative to the highly polished chrome (as used on my Bencher BY-2); it doesn’t show finger prints like the mirror-finish chrome surfaces can.
The key arrived in great shape and was packed very well … always good to have someone doing their due diligence when it comes to proper packing of a small, heavy item that UPS is going to handle. The only adjustment I made was to reduce the return tension on each lever (it was a little too stiff for my liking. Admittedly I’m not going to be running 40 words per with it either!).
I didn’t really need the Chrome Warrior, but it is an attractive addition to my key collection. I don’t know it will every become collectible (though it has a low serial number of 113), but I look at it as something to use and enjoy. The combination of the brushed chrome and brass parts is very attractive. Some users of the K8FF design are critical of the fact the levers almost always have a bit of up/down play in them, which from what I can tell, is due at least partly to the bushing design of the key pivots. For users who want zero up/down play in the levers of their iambic key, it may give the design a sloppy feel. But remember, this isn’t a Schurr or a Begali, nor is it priced like one.
The photo doesn’t do the key justice. If you make it to Dayton Hamvention, do yourself a favor and check one out at the Vibroplex booth.
I’ve neglected to update this blog for a bit, but I’ll have a new key to blather on about at length very shortly. Stay tuned!
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