Vinylium diamond stylus

This is where record cutters raise questions about cutting, and trade wisdom and experiment results. We love Scully, Neumann, Presto, & Rek-O-Kut lathes and Wilcox-Gay Recordios (among others). We are excited by the various modern pro and semi-pro systems, too, in production and development. We use strange, extinct disc-based dictation machines. And other stuff, too.

Moderators: piaptk, tragwag, Steve E., Aussie0zborn

User avatar
cymbalism
Posts: 391
Joined: Wed Apr 22, 2009 9:55 am
Location: omaha.nebraska
Contact:

Vinylium diamond stylus

Post: # 5993Unread post cymbalism
Mon Aug 10, 2009 8:20 pm

since i'm having no luck finding a diamond anywhere else, i'm going to bite the bullet and purchase one from vinylium in the upcoming weeks and get an adapter made for my grampian head. has anyone (aside from flo :D ) purchased one from vinylium and if so, how fast is shipping time from time of purchase?

thanks for your time!
all the best!
- tommie 'plan 9' emmi
poly-cut lathe cuts / cymbalism recordings

User avatar
ameise
Posts: 49
Joined: Fri Jul 17, 2009 12:45 pm

Post: # 6023Unread post ameise
Wed Aug 12, 2009 7:18 pm

hi,

i bought a lot of them from vinylium...shipping was fast,
but they only went from switzerland to germany
and i guess it depends on how buy the vinylists are at the moment...

i got some old grampian styli...maybe that might be a basis
for an adapter?

greetings
mart

User avatar
ameise
Posts: 49
Joined: Fri Jul 17, 2009 12:45 pm

Post: # 6026Unread post ameise
Wed Aug 12, 2009 8:02 pm

hey cymbal

check it out yourself:
http://amei.se/~mart/ameise/upload_pool/5a592068e30c04a1e1e361064c8a8aab/grampian_vinylium_compare.jpg


seems as if it is possible to fit the small vinylium shank
(appears to me little bigger than the saphier of the grampian)
into the grampian shank

i will have to measure it more exactly
but the picture might give you a hint...

greetings
mart

User avatar
flozki
Posts: 592
Joined: Fri May 19, 2006 4:40 am
Location: switzerland
Contact:

neumann to grampian adaptor

Post: # 6033Unread post flozki
Thu Aug 13, 2009 7:27 am

hello
here a quick and dirty instruction how to do the adaptor....
or at least how i did. a drawing with the steps.

important is to make it out of two parts.
or you can make it out of one part if you have a special conical tapper reamer

you need a lathe (not a cutting lathe hehe to do it..or go to a mechanics shop). best one for watchmakers with chucks.
i use something like this:
Image

a reamer 1:20
a drill 1.0 mm
a drill 1.8mm
and a piece of aluminum diameter 3mm

it do mine out of alumnium. you can also do in brass. but the lighter the better...
i do 2 piece: a holder and the conical insert

holder.
1. start with a 3mm diameter round approx 30mm long.
2. machine the body. it should have a head of approx. 2.2mm diameter 3mm long.
3. drill a hole 1.8mm approx. 2.3 mm deep.
4. reverse the piece and machine down the shaft to diameter of the grampian stylus..1.5mm? measure out this. i dont know by heart.

conical insert
5. machine diameter 1.8 at least 5-6 mm long
6. drill a hole 1.0 mm through
7. ream the cone and test with an old neuman stylus
8. then cut off a part of 2mm

assemble
9. put in the conical insert to the stylus holder.
depending on tolerances you can press in slightly or use some super glue...

finito

here a ugly drawing hope it helps.
Image

User avatar
mossboss
Posts: 2168
Joined: Sun Jul 01, 2007 8:18 am
Location: Australia.

Shank

Post: # 6036Unread post mossboss
Thu Aug 13, 2009 8:40 am

Hey Flo
Nice watchmakers lathe Well done My old clanker will never be able to this fine work I am Jealous :wink:
cheers

User avatar
Simon
Posts: 632
Joined: Wed Mar 05, 2008 12:25 pm
Location: London, Brighton - England

Post: # 6038Unread post Simon
Thu Aug 13, 2009 11:14 am

Hi flo

I do my shank adapters by hand.

Are they just the same size as the 320?

If so I can make some up.
Happy to learn something new.
Wanted: Stylus for Presto, Mono heads Grampian, Fairchild, Presto, Fairchild 740 lathes, Presto 8n, 8d 8dg lathes or parts or Presto or wot ever recording Amps, PM me what you have for sale.

User avatar
flozki
Posts: 592
Joined: Fri May 19, 2006 4:40 am
Location: switzerland
Contact:

Post: # 6046Unread post flozki
Thu Aug 13, 2009 3:19 pm

i dont know if it is same as 320.
it just fits my grampian. diameter of shank is approx. 1.8mm
and then i do it as short as possible...
so this is how it works for me...
any picture for the handmade adapter?

for good cuts the conus 1:20 has to be accurate... stylus needs to sit tight...
even better would be to eloxate the adapter after machining..
eloxating hardens the aluminum....will last longer...

User avatar
Bratwurst
Posts: 30
Joined: Fri Feb 01, 2008 10:08 pm

Post: # 6089Unread post Bratwurst
Sun Aug 16, 2009 3:00 pm

Cymbalism:

I just purchased a diamond from vinylium. Shipping was fast from Switzerland to Canada. About 2 weeks. The build is fantastic (I haven't tried it yet, but it looks great under glass).

Flo was a prince and previously converted my vinylrecorder head to fit the vinylium stylus. So now that I know Vinylium will sell me stylus, I am happy! My only criticism is that there was no follow-up email after I paid, so was a little scared. But I know those guys are very busy, so no big deal. It's here and I'm smiling.

User avatar
cymbalism
Posts: 391
Joined: Wed Apr 22, 2009 9:55 am
Location: omaha.nebraska
Contact:

Post: # 6291Unread post cymbalism
Fri Sep 11, 2009 8:47 pm

just a heads up, for those of you interested in getting a diamond stylus from vinylium, i highly recommend it! these guys are on point even though their correspondence is a bit slag. i placed the order about a week ago and followed up with a phone call to let them know i did and shortly afterward got an email w/my order details. i transferred my money to them last friday and it arrived on my doorstep today. literally less than a weeks shipping time from there to the midwest here in the states.

dont hesitate - do it up!
all the best!
- tommie 'plan 9' emmi
poly-cut lathe cuts / cymbalism recordings

User avatar
emorritt
Posts: 525
Joined: Thu Nov 09, 2006 2:03 pm
Location: Tennessee

Post: # 6309Unread post emorritt
Sun Sep 13, 2009 12:37 am

Flo, I'm assuming this is industrial diamond and not the really expensive stuff; would it be possible to make an all-jewel diamond cutter for westrex heads? I know in Europe most are Neumann, but what about us?!?!?!? :cry:

User avatar
Hamilton
Posts: 62
Joined: Mon Sep 18, 2006 12:52 pm
Location: Argentina
Contact:

Diamond Stylus

Post: # 6486Unread post Hamilton
Fri Oct 09, 2009 9:01 am

cymbalism wrote:just a heads up, for those of you interested in getting a diamond stylus from vinylium, i highly recommend it! these guys are on point even though their correspondence is a bit slag. i placed the order about a week ago and followed up with a phone call to let them know i did and shortly afterward got an email w/my order details. i transferred my money to them last friday and it arrived on my doorstep today. literally less than a weeks shipping time from there to the midwest here in the states.

dont hesitate - do it up!
GOG BLESS YOU you are a lucky man,I bouhgt a Diamond one 15 days ago,I sent the copy of the payment,make 5 phone calls and I allways talked with an answer machine,is so difficult to return one of my 7 emails,I`m realy sad cause I bought two System from Vinylium,and I`m still waiting for the Stylus :cry:

Claudio Canova
Hamiltonrecords®
www.hamiltonrecords.com.ar
PHONE:54+011-4655-3292

User avatar
flozki
Posts: 592
Joined: Fri May 19, 2006 4:40 am
Location: switzerland
Contact:

Post: # 6487Unread post flozki
Fri Oct 09, 2009 10:09 am

yes... contact problem as usual.
but there is hope.

products will be available ( yes we are also behind schedule ) on vinylike.com webshop.
but we hope to open the shop this month... with limited items...

for the diamonds i have to say. i really try hard to find cheaper alternatives. but it seems to be a damn diamond mafia. not easy to find a open minded producer and good prices... but search is going on....

and $320 is definitely too much. the problem is that they also dont get supergood prices...
my dream is under $100. but i guess that is a dream. but under $200 would be already a big step.
i bought recently a dremel tip. with about same stonesize as a vinylium tip...
Dremel Nr. 9929 Diamond Engraving Point around $15.
Image

ok it has no surfaces and stuff. but if we add in the money to add the surfaces... should be possible. to have it around $100-150
the problem is that there are only very few prducers who can lap down the diamond to the tolerances we need. so price is very high....

f.

User avatar
Hamilton
Posts: 62
Joined: Mon Sep 18, 2006 12:52 pm
Location: Argentina
Contact:

Diamond

Post: # 6489Unread post Hamilton
Fri Oct 09, 2009 11:02 am

flozki wrote:yes... contact problem as usual.
but there is hope.

products will be available ( yes we are also behind schedule ) on vinylike.com webshop.
but we hope to open the shop this month... with limited items...

for the diamonds i have to say. i really try hard to find cheaper alternatives. but it seems to be a damn diamond mafia. not easy to find a open minded producer and good prices... but search is going on....

and $320 is definitely too much. the problem is that they also dont get supergood prices...
my dream is under $100. but i guess that is a dream. but under $200 would be already a big step.
i bought recently a dremel tip. with about same stonesize as a vinylium tip...
Dremel Nr. 9929 Diamond Engraving Point around $15.
Image

ok it has no surfaces and stuff. but if we add in the money to add the surfaces... should be possible. to have it around $100-150
the problem is that there are only very few prducers who can lap down the diamond to the tolerances we need. so price is very high....

f.
Dear Flo
I know that is real a big money,but allways in a bussnies both parts have to be responsabe,I have customers that are waiting for me,maybe my times aren`t the same from Vinylium but I if you have a company with employes each one with his job is to hard to reply an email ????,i receive mor than 50 mail dayli and I take my time to answer all,that`s my sadness I only got silence,I did my job to make the f. money to buy a Diamond Stylus and was a test cause I had the intention to buy four,I hope that you could find the way to make your Diamonds no only for the price that
is in certain point no so important but please watch your clients,the world is big and all we write spread worldwide,thanks fro your advice I`ll take it 8) .

Claudio.
Hamiltonrecords®

User avatar
flozki
Posts: 592
Joined: Fri May 19, 2006 4:40 am
Location: switzerland
Contact:

Post: # 6490Unread post flozki
Fri Oct 09, 2009 11:09 am

hey... you don't have to tell me....
dont mix up please...
i am not part of vinylium anymore....
so you have to tell them directly...

i dont get the emails sent to vinylium.
i also dont pick up the phone there....

User avatar
Hamilton
Posts: 62
Joined: Mon Sep 18, 2006 12:52 pm
Location: Argentina
Contact:

Diamonds stylus

Post: # 6492Unread post Hamilton
Fri Oct 09, 2009 12:04 pm

flozki wrote:hey... you don't have to tell me....
dont mix up please...
i am not part of vinylium anymore....
so you have to tell them directly...

i dont get the emails sent to vinylium.
i also dont pick up the phone there....
:oops: Scuse me cause my English is poor,and could be that my words involts you no way wasn`t my intention,I mean about clients to take care on them,when your store or any store that offer a service will on market,and believe me I realy don`t know that you had a relation with Vinylium.

Regards.

Claudio.

User avatar
Hamilton
Posts: 62
Joined: Mon Sep 18, 2006 12:52 pm
Location: Argentina
Contact:

Diamond Stylus

Post: # 6598Unread post Hamilton
Thu Oct 22, 2009 4:25 pm

:D Thanks to Vinylium........got the Stylus,seemed to be a little mail problem go on and keep on cutting.

Hamilton
www.hamiltonrecords.com.ar

User avatar
Simon
Posts: 632
Joined: Wed Mar 05, 2008 12:25 pm
Location: London, Brighton - England

Post: # 6853Unread post Simon
Thu Dec 03, 2009 12:02 pm

Could we not find a manufacture who makes Dremel bits and ask them to produce them

Why does it have to be a lapped version.

Why not a industrial diamond stone faceted version?

Typo..

Any way if you need to join forces PM me.

flozki wrote:yes... contact problem as usual.
but there is hope.

products will be available ( yes we are also behind schedule ) on vinylike.com webshop.
but we hope to open the shop this month... with limited items...

for the diamonds i have to say. i really try hard to find cheaper alternatives. but it seems to be a damn diamond mafia. not easy to find a open minded producer and good prices... but search is going on....

and $320 is definitely too much. the problem is that they also dont get supergood prices...
my dream is under $100. but i guess that is a dream. but under $200 would be already a big step.
i bought recently a dremel tip. with about same stonesize as a vinylium tip...
Dremel Nr. 9929 Diamond Engraving Point around $15.
Image

ok it has no surfaces and stuff. but if we add in the money to add the surfaces... should be possible. to have it around $100-150
the problem is that there are only very few prducers who can lap down the diamond to the tolerances we need. so price is very high....

f.
Happy to learn something new.
Wanted: Stylus for Presto, Mono heads Grampian, Fairchild, Presto, Fairchild 740 lathes, Presto 8n, 8d 8dg lathes or parts or Presto or wot ever recording Amps, PM me what you have for sale.

User avatar
tape
Posts: 320
Joined: Thu Jan 25, 2007 3:52 pm

Post: # 6859Unread post tape
Thu Dec 03, 2009 7:04 pm

maybe it exists and can be modified, like these: http://www.healiohealth.com/tek9.asp?pg=products&specific=jsepqnn8

User avatar
piaptk
Posts: 1763
Joined: Fri Jan 25, 2008 3:40 am
Location: Tucson, AZ
Contact:

Post: # 9482Unread post piaptk
Mon Jun 21, 2010 10:20 am

Any advice on using these things? I finally got my styli from Vinylium, but after an hour of experimenting I've been getting mediocre sound. I'm using a Presto 1c with one of Simons adapters. Cuts have a weird microphonic sound (like when you are banging on the sleeve of a mic) and are missing certain frequencies with an occasional pfftt sound. I've tried realigning it in the adapter several times, and it changes it up a little, but it's still got that weird microphonic thing going on. The chip is also getting instantly tangled around the stylus and can't get picked up by the vacuum.

I know I will have to keep working on it, but with a $350 stylus, I'm really anxious about moving forward too quickly without getting some tips from people who use these quite often.
I Buy/Sell/Restore Vintage Machines/Parts and Provide Phone/In Person Tech Support
www.MichaelDixonVinylArt.com
www.LatheCutCamp.com
www.RecordLatheParts.com
www.MobileVinylRecorders.com
www.LatheCuts.com

User avatar
cymbalism
Posts: 391
Joined: Wed Apr 22, 2009 9:55 am
Location: omaha.nebraska
Contact:

Post: # 9483Unread post cymbalism
Mon Jun 21, 2010 11:05 am

piaptk wrote:Any advice on using these things? I finally got my styli from Vinylium, but after an hour of experimenting I've been getting mediocre sound. I'm using a Presto 1c with one of Simons adapters. Cuts have a weird microphonic sound (like when you are banging on the sleeve of a mic) and are missing certain frequencies with an occasional pfftt sound. I've tried realigning it in the adapter several times, and it changes it up a little, but it's still got that weird microphonic thing going on. The chip is also getting instantly tangled around the stylus and can't get picked up by the vacuum.

I know I will have to keep working on it, but with a $350 stylus, I'm really anxious about moving forward too quickly without getting some tips from people who use these quite often.
be careful with the pffftt sound - mine started doing that then all it would do is shred the surface and go SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

i have yet to hear back from vinylium about an order i placed a couple weeks ago - no confirmation email or anything so i think i'm waiting until andy or moss get their's done - at least they talk to you when you ask them something
all the best!
- tommie 'plan 9' emmi
poly-cut lathe cuts / cymbalism recordings

Post Reply