NEWBIE STARTER GUIDE!

[Angus McCarthy]

Thank you, Mike!

Man, I wish this post was made 10 years ago, it would have saved me a lot of headaches and frustration over the years!

[billythedev]

Thank you for sharing all these informations with us!

[crinch]

Thank you!!

[piaptk]

Updated the main post for the first time in a few years.

[tsalehpour]

Thanks for this!

[fox___]

This is super helpful! Thank you for the breakdown!

[Skwoz821]

Might I inquire if Sapphire Embossing on PETG is a bad idea?
I’ve read that PETG is softer than Polycarbonate, wouldn’t the be beneficial for fidelity and stylus life?

[piaptk]

Might I inquire if Sapphire Embossing on PETG is a bad idea?
I’ve read that PETG is softer than Polycarbonate, wouldn’t the be beneficial for fidelity and stylus life?

It just doesn't sound good. Lots of surface noise and dull high end.

[Skwoz821]

Any thoughts on heating a sapphire embossing stylus?
Is it pointless for embossing?
Has there been any research on this?

Also, I believe you’re the person behind recordlatheparts.com?
If applicable, what temperature are those styli rated for?

Just bought a stylus from there, can’t wait to try it out.
Cheers!

[piaptk]

We don't heat the stylus for embossing, just heat the disc to around 105 degrees. Never really tried. I've always been told that you have to have suction pulling air past the stone if you are heating it and suction is the reason I hate doing anything but embossing. And we get pretty good results without it.

But, if you give it a go, let us know how it works!

And yes, I run RLP.

[CutR]

Is cutting not embossing polycarbonate with tungsten ok? the reason i ask is the stock gakken/PO-80 blanks are PETG and are supposed to be cut with the stock stylus what i amuse is tungsten. Although I'm not 100% sure it could be steel no?

[piaptk]

Is cutting not embossing polycarbonate with tungsten ok? the reason i ask is the stock gakken/PO-80 blanks are PETG and are supposed to be cut with the stock stylus what i amuse is tungsten. Although I'm not 100% sure it could be steel no?

I don't use tungsten needles or really cut (other than the very occasional diamond stylus cut or lacquer dub), I have found that embossing cones on polycarbonate are the best bang for my buck and get me great results for the money, so I've stopped experimenting with all the other possible combinations (there are plenty of combo results documented in my Newbie Starter Guide above).

[shinyskittles]

(PVC) Pressed Blank Records and PVC Discs Pressed blanks can be ordered through a pressing plant in large quantities and Soft PVC blank discs are available from RecordBlanks.com, but only seem to work with tungsten embossing needles. Blank pressed records, only work with diamond cutting needles, and are, in my experience, not worth messing with. These are both very hard on styli.

Heat up PVC slightly would that be an option?
I have 10 yellow blank pvc records ready to be cut

[Priestness]

Super information! I'm so glad I found this forum.

[VinylFiend]

Brilliant guide and a resource i keep returning to. Thanks Mike!