The Secret Society of Lathe Trolls

Get a 100g spring scale on amazon or something. Then make sure you have 35g of weight on the head. You can add weight, OR you can pull the stylus out a little further, which will add more weight.

As Scott said, you can cut diamond with any lathe from a Presto 6N or better (any lesser lathe can accommodate a diamond, but will chew up styli pretty quick due to lack of adjustment points, weight control, etc. Will also be harder to mount a stereo head on anything smaller.) I don't sell diamonds ...

handcut wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 09, 2021 8:07 am

I'm wondering how much the cutting area of the disc is affected by the width of the head on a Presto 8N..?

About 1/8”. But Konstantin and I are working on fixing this. He is modding one of my heads now to try something new.

Aussie0zborn wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 07, 2021 5:57 pm

I've got a Presto 6N in Sydney. Will need some work.

If you get this one, I could possibly help you get it rolling via Skype depending on what it needs. It's a well engineered machine and usually fixable. What's it need, Mike?

Hi Brian I practice the embossing, and I have done a test. The results is quite disaster. Do you think that maybe this technique is not suitable for laserdisc? Thanks in advance Laserdiscs are acrylic (not polycarbonate like CDs) so they have to be cut using sapphire cutting styli. They also must b...

He doesn't have a site as of now, but when it goes into a larger production run, I may start selling them on RecordLatheParts.com. Konstantin will chime in soon with photos and sound samples. I tried linking to FB photos but they showed up as broken links.

Nope. I am only using and helping to test them. They take any standard long or short shank stylus.

If you were talking to him a year ago, you may be thinking of the very first incarnation, which was huge (the size of Souri's head) and heavy. Cheaper and less refined than the new updated and smaller version, which has really only been around for 7-8 months.

Price seems to of shot up from what he quoted me last year. Sure they’re still worth the money though. Aren’t they a bit big and heavy also which could cause an issue on some set ups? Well, as is par for the course with brand new products, the very first batch is where the kinks are that have to ge...

Not sure if it has been mentioned on here yet, but Konstantin Tokarev in Mexico City has developed a new stereo cutting head. I have several and have been helping him test them. They sound great and dealing with Konstantin is a pleasure. There are about a dozen of them out in the field as beta test ...

I may be able to help you. Sounds up my alley. Email details to LatheCuts-AAAAT-yahooooo-Dawt-Cawm

It's the same turntable as on a 75a lathe. I have one without the cutting arm as well, but it didn't come with a model number either. Mine had a small bodine motor rather than the Westinghouse. The turntable probably isn't all that desireable due to the tire drive around the platter. Those tires dry...

The hiss is because you are most likely using dead needles or using a wrong combination of needles and blanks. The low volume is most likely because your 5c cutterhead has armature rubber that has gotten dried and crusty and is not allowing the armature free movement. And/or the amplifier isnt work...

I have cut plenty of diamond hifi discs, but because of the fragile and expensive nature of diamonds, i have done zero experimentation with them. Ive experimented heavily with every other type of needle and material, but don’t want to put a $300 stylus at risk. I have been told that polycarbonate gi...

I have cut plenty of diamond hifi discs, but because of the fragile and expensive nature of diamonds, i have done zero experimentation with them. I have been told that polycarbonate gives an inferior cut to petg and is harder on the needle by someone who has experimented.

I hope they take the needle shield off that turntable before they drop it on the disc!

having embossed tens of thousands (if not over 100,000) of records at my studio over the last 15 years, I can tell you it is more than anecdotally proven that Polycarbonate is the best material for embossing. But it DOES create static and draw dust, but it can be cleaned off, and if properly stored ...

We test every embossed record we make on a Crosley. Its possible with 35-37g of weight on www.recordlatheparts.com styli. However, you have to keep volume under control… too much lateral modulation (especially in the highs) on the shallower grooves will casuse skating and skips.

Deitrich Shoenneman at Complete Mastering knows of one for sale I believe.

Only have one spot left for the SECOND Lathe Cut Camp in October now. Next one wont be until Spring probably.