Very thin polycarbonate

Post: # 18252Unread post **ckaps15** Sat Feb 18, 2012 4:10 pm

I recently had an online purchasing mishap (there seems to be a pattern developing). Anywho, I ended up with three sheets of .005" thick lexan polycarbonate rather than the .05" that I had been meaning to buy. Unfortunately, it's hardly worth the cost of shipping to return them.

Would there be any way I could put these to use? I had been considering trying to do a few very shallow cuts, but I'm hesitant because of the fear the stylus would just go right through and get messed up on the turntable below. What amount mounting the sheets on another material?

Thanks for any advice.

Post: # 18253Unread post **Angus McCarthy** Sat Feb 18, 2012 4:47 pm

There's an idea. Somebody mentioned using bad WW-era glass discs for experimental lacquering, I suppose you could do much the same with thin polycarb sheet and a suitable core.

Post: # 18259Unread post **ckaps15** Sat Feb 18, 2012 7:56 pm

I had thought about glass. Do you think the sheet would be a thick enough coat to cut on?

Post: # 18260Unread post **ckaps15** Sat Feb 18, 2012 8:34 pm

nevermind that last question. i am sure the information is posted here somewhere

Post: # 18261Unread post **Angus McCarthy** Sun Feb 19, 2012 11:33 am

You could use an Acrylic base too, rather than glass.

Post: # 18264Unread post **fraggle** Sun Feb 19, 2012 5:19 pm

i reckon you should be just alright. just don't cut as deep as you normally do.

Post: # 18265Unread post **ckaps15** Sun Feb 19, 2012 10:47 pm

Yeah, I figure it may be best to go with acrylic just as a precaution.

Post: # 18270Unread post **maniman** Mon Feb 20, 2012 4:59 am

put another sheet (or simply other blank) under the one you gonna record , as the people do for Xray films and flexidisc-like mood.

Post: # 18565Unread post **ckaps15** Fri Mar 09, 2012 3:14 pm

I have managed to get this to work and the sound quality is about just as good as with a thicker sheet of lexan. Of course, a thicker sheet of lexan may have more potential for success than I have reached thus far.

All I've had to do is secure a sheet of the .005" on a regular piece of polycarbonate (to ensure I don't completely destroy my stylus if it happens to go all the way through). I've basically just taped the thinner sheet on top and cut away, only at a slightly shallower depth. I've even been able to cut on both side of a sheet.

The only concern I have is that on the thick sheet of lexan used, there are a few light marks from where the stylus is initially placed, almost as if an incredibly shallow groove was cut without penetrating through the thinner sheet..

Post: # 18568Unread post **Angus McCarthy** Fri Mar 09, 2012 7:15 pm

If the drop is heavy enough it's not inconceivable that it could emboss through the thinner sheet. It might just mean saving that one thick piece as a sacrificial sheet.

Post: # 18571Unread post **ckaps15** Fri Mar 09, 2012 11:16 pm

Yeah Angus, I figure that's what I'll have to do for the time being. I'm not sure if it's standard or one of the previous owners did it, but the turntable on the lathe has a layer of felt. What do you think the risk is of cutting the thin sheet directly on the turntable? I doubt the stylus will pierce the thin sheet but I don't know if there is still a risk.

Post: # 18576Unread post **ckaps15** Sat Mar 10, 2012 1:32 pm

alright another question. while experimenting with the thin lexan, i have been attempting to cut 12" sheets on my wilcox-gay recordio. however, the cutting arm doesn't seem to advance while cutting this far out on a disk. is it just the model itself isn't designed to cut 12" records?

Post: # 18584Unread post **Techie** Sun Mar 11, 2012 8:15 am

Recordios are not designed to cut 12" diamater. !0" is the max. The feed screw does not extend that far out. The will play up to 12" and record up to 10".

Post: # 18591Unread post **ckaps15** Sun Mar 11, 2012 1:38 pm

Thank you very much. Now I won't have to keep wasting blanks attempting to cut at 12"