Cutting Material Question?

[swordsect]

Hello Trolls -

I have a Record Cutter that I bought off of Gib about 5 years,
and I want to cut some records, BUT I don't want to use the Apollo discs,
is there a cheaper alternative to cutting? Besides the vintage blanks that pop up on ebay? If so where might on find these?

thx.

Swordsect

[swordsect]

Also I'm wondering if it would be possible to cut onto blank vinyl that I would just buy from a pressing plant. Mostly i'm concerned about the needles for the Old Record cutters that Gib sells (i'm assuming most of you know who Gib is) I'd be curious to try this, anyone else have experience?

I'm not really worried about the sound quality all that much, I mean i want it to sound good, but these will basically be for listening purposes, not mastering purposes....

[opcode66]

You can't cut plastic without a diamond stylus. And, it seems that pressed blanks can be too tough even for diamonds. You have to use a softer plastic when making pressed blanks to cut. Otherwise they will tear up your $300 diamond stylus and no one wants that.

[swordsect]

could you suggest a plastic material? what about Polycarbonate?

[opcode66]

That is precisely what people use. It comes in sheets. You can have them machined to discs with center holes. Makrolon is the best black colored polycarbonate but it is expensive. Clear is pretty cheap generally. Vinylike and Vinylrecoder both sell polycarbonate blanks (though the later only to customers of the Vinylrecorder). Cymbolism is a guy on this forum who sells polycarb blanks. Also, some soft pressed blanks will be available from Fraggle via Mossboss.

[swordsect]

THANKYOU!

this is exactly the kind of info i was looking for.

[opcode66]

Sure no problem!

[piaptk]

Also, plastic picnic plates work. I use Safeway brand and they worked great (if you don't mind a little surface noise). I did cut a blank pressed records with a sapphire stylus once with decent success... but only about 30 seconds and then got worried about my needle. How long your needle will last is very questionable. I am pressing some blanks right now for use with my diamond, if you want to buy a couple when they come in, they will be about $3. Again, they MAY trash your sapphire needle pretty quick, or may not.

[swordsect]

Yeah, i've done the plastic picnic thing. Really I was just looking for something more real, and less DIY style. Thanks for the tip, maybe i'll hit you up, $3 is a great price!

[piaptk]

Yeah, i've done the plastic picnic thing. Really I was just looking for something more real, and less DIY style. Thanks for the tip, maybe i'll hit you up, $3 is a great price!

Unfortunately, if you want anything un-DIY, you may have to upgrade from the lathe you have, if it's one of the little suitcase cutters.

[swordsect]

Yeah, i've thought about this many times. Is there a model you or anyone else could recommend for a relatively affordable entry fee?

btw, the cutter I have i wouldn't even classify as a "lathe" its one of the old amateur home recording cutters.

[piaptk]

I always recommend the Presto 6n. It's the VW bug of record cutters... nothing fancy, but there were a ton made and they are easy to fix and find parts for.

[swordsect]

hey great, thanks for the advice, i've looked into that machine before.