Record wear for continuous playback (art installation)

[raretone]

Hi all,
I have been asked to cut some records for an art installation which will feature continuous playback of said records.

They will be 18 minute 12"s played continuously for 5 hours a day, 5 days a week for 4 - 6 weeks (to be confirmed). Part of the installation involves an auto restarting turntable arm which will play the record from the beginning when it finishes - I don't know any more about the project (and can'f find out for now, long story, NDA's etc.)

So my question to you fine people is - How long do you think Lathe cut PETG records will last before audible degradation? I know records last a fair while but with continuous, repeated playback, I honestly have no idea! 100 plays? A few hours?

I know there's a lot of other factors with turntable set up etc. but let's assume everything will be set up correctly on a fairly decent turntable and playback stlyus.

Any thoughts, help or advice are much appreciated!

[kugelblitz]

i'd say a record can play for 200hrs no problem.
and i'd don't think a lathe cut degrades any faster then a pressed record.
but if you're worried about it, and if the project has a bit of a budget, just have 5 or 10 copies cut and replace them in case of trouble...

[mushroomjesus]

shout out to Dr.Dub they played a pressed locked groove and a lathe cut locked groove 1 million times here is the link .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhzpN0yXu3s







(spoiler alert - lathe cut had way more fidelity then the pressed record at the end.) but what I took away from the test was that no one is going to listen to a record 1 million times and that a lathe cut and pressed record really last FOREVER as long as you take care of them.