Cutting on Non-Lacquer Discs

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

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lester
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Post: # 3005Unread post lester
Thu Jun 26, 2008 5:33 pm

Aussie0zborn wrote:So Lester what were the cuts on the blank vinyl disc like? What was the surface noise like? Were they easy to cut and how did you go with suction of the swarf?
Well, i must say after getting the right heating the sound really is ok! Also the chip doesn't stick to the stylus as easily as with the 'vinyl' dubplates i am used to cut. I'll try to post a pic one of these days...
we're all analog men in a digital world :-)

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piaptk
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Post: # 3518Unread post piaptk
Tue Sep 30, 2008 12:28 pm

cuttercollector wrote:I was trying to think if there was any type of pressed vinyl record that had a "blank side" or significant blank space without even lead in or lead out grooves that could be experimented with. All I can remember were certain sections of test records for anti-skate which had no grooves.
(this, BTW is not the best way to set antiskate).
I second the idea of asking a pressing plant to just press some blanks. But that would require blank stampers.
They probably could come up with those....
It sounds as if with proper stylus type, angle and heat they could be made to cut OK.
I run a vinyl label and do some lathe cuts through Peter King in New Zealand. I did a one-sided, square 8.375 actually pressed vinyl record through Erica Records for a band called Casiotone for the Painfully Alone. If you want something to experiment on, you could check that out. www.piaptk.com

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Internet
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Post: # 3522Unread post Internet
Tue Sep 30, 2008 7:03 pm

I cut now since few years on real pressed records (or PVC) and it's sound really good. It all depend from which pressing plant the vinyls comes...

Aussie0zborn
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Post: # 3558Unread post Aussie0zborn
Sun Oct 05, 2008 9:01 am

Why not get together and press 100 or 200 blank records? I know a couple of plants that will press them from 100% pure vinyl. One in the USA charges about $1 each + plating + blank lacquer master discs. Check Aardvark Mastering in the USA for an idea of plating prices and Apollo website for price of lacquers. It really isnt that expensive if everyone gets together on this.

To answer an earlier question, there will be no grooves cut on the master lacquer disc. The outside area of a 14" lacquer is roughened (between 12" and 14" diameter) as is the label area. This is crucial to helping the nickle plating adhere to these parts of the disc.

I am happy to co-ordinate this if there is sufficient interest. You could also priint up your own labels and have them pressed onto the disc, although this would require a pressing plant that would take a substantial interest in what we're doing.

There is a plant in Australia that uses the DMM 12" profile. The profile of the record does not appear contoured at all (although it is) so the surface appears to be perfectly flat much like a lacquer disc. This should be a benefit for cutting as there is no groove guard or any other obvious contours. Their prices are much higher than USA prices.

Any takers?

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Simon
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Post: # 3588Unread post Simon
Mon Oct 13, 2008 6:24 pm

I am up for a bunch as i am just starting out - it maybe a good cheap way to practice.

I am in the UK - so depending were they are pressed - cost of shipping etc.

Oh yes - I need Juke box 45's with the big hole. :lol:

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dietrich10
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Post: # 3589Unread post dietrich10
Mon Oct 13, 2008 7:14 pm

First I can have any min. of records pressed with plant I have good relationship with. asking him about blank records now.

But i really worry about my sx74 cutting directly into vinyl. I guess does not make sense for me to set the vms70 up for vinyl cuts as I seem to be already cutting 10-20 sides a week on 14" lacquer masters. I do not want to ruin what I have built already!

but now has me thinking of a small simpler lathe in the room.

friend runs a cd based label that has their 10 yr anniversary and a good following. going to do one vinyl release a month next yr and only 12 copies per release! we thought of doing them on ref lite's but its actually a better deal to press 12 records. this vinyl cutting would take me too long i think to get it right
cutting lacquers-vms70 system

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dietrich10
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Post: # 3591Unread post dietrich10
Tue Oct 14, 2008 9:19 am

would these vinyl blanks need to be higher weight than standard 140?
i can have these made and price would depend on how many are needed by all. ship from just outside of nyc so airmail not too much. and USD low currency still for most of you

lmk
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blacknwhite
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Post: # 3594Unread post blacknwhite
Tue Oct 14, 2008 12:10 pm

Count me in.

I was planning on doing this myself sometime, for single 45s and 78s (small-hole 10" and large-hole 7", blank-pressed, blank-labeled) but haven't found time to arrange it yet.

If someone did it for the above formats, I'd like to buy more... but for 12-inches, which is what most the interest on this forum may be, I'd be interested in maybe 10 or so of those if the price doesn't sound Too high above pressing costs (I'm thinking in the neighborhood of US $3-4 per disc)

Anything in the 140 - 180 gram weight range sounds fine to me.

For a small amount like that, again, if the price is right, I'd be willing to prepay for my discs, to help with the pressing costs.

- Bob

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dietrich10
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Post: # 3595Unread post dietrich10
Tue Oct 14, 2008 2:36 pm

I would really need to know what is exactly needed and i could do them.

12" 180 gram -with no labels or white labels?


7" -large or small hole?

not sure of 10"
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lester
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Post: # 3596Unread post lester
Tue Oct 14, 2008 3:54 pm

i'd say 12" white label : count me in!
we're all analog men in a digital world :-)

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blacknwhite
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Post: # 3598Unread post blacknwhite
Tue Oct 14, 2008 7:23 pm

lester wrote:i'd say 12" white label : count me in!
OK, same thing for me, 12" white label.

Either 140 or 180 gram, I don't care... Does anyone else care?

(if no one else cares, and the difference in price between 140 and 180 is "small", then let's do 180 gram; if the difference is "big", we can do the cheaper 140 gram...)

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dietrich10
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Post: # 3599Unread post dietrich10
Tue Oct 14, 2008 7:58 pm

I would really need to have orders for 200@ $4(+shipping each to make it worthwhile. Also be able to do reorders when orders come in for 100+ after first run.

180 gram 12"
white labels
black or white sleeves
$4 each + shipping. A box of say 50 180 gram records should weigh 30-35lbs. 32lb box to belgium via priority mail is $118.50

Please pm what you need with your email address.
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Simon
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Post: # 3608Unread post Simon
Sun Oct 19, 2008 12:40 pm

I found this place in the UK

http://www.quickpress.co.uk/

Not in business any more
Last edited by Simon on Tue Oct 21, 2008 10:39 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Simon
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Post: # 3611Unread post Simon
Mon Oct 20, 2008 8:40 am

well the phone does not work and the online form does not either.


I have just sent them an e-mail...

We will see.
Last edited by Simon on Tue Oct 21, 2008 9:19 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Simon
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Post: # 3612Unread post Simon
Mon Oct 20, 2008 10:39 am

Found another.
Last edited by Simon on Thu Oct 23, 2008 5:16 pm, edited 2 times in total.

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Simon
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Post: # 3626Unread post Simon
Tue Oct 21, 2008 10:39 am

Ok I have spoken to them and they seem to be up for it.

I found a guy on the Internet who is cutting vinyl records.

From his FAQ

How are they made?

Your vinyl record will start off as a blank disc. This is bathed in heated distilled water and then heated to the optimum cuttting temperature upon the cutting lathe. The groove is manually inscribed from the peripheral to the interior of the record using an eliptical diamond connected to a 600 watt amplifier.

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Simon
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Post: # 3627Unread post Simon
Tue Oct 21, 2008 12:32 pm

Ok he is going to a short run for us of 50 7" large hole.

Who wants some to test?

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cuttercollector
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Post: # 3628Unread post cuttercollector
Tue Oct 21, 2008 12:40 pm

Let others have 1st crack at them but if you can't get rid of all of them I would like to buy just a few.

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Simon
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Post: # 3630Unread post Simon
Tue Oct 21, 2008 12:47 pm

If they are cheap - I was going to send them out at cost to get some feedback

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dietrich10
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Post: # 3631Unread post dietrich10
Tue Oct 21, 2008 1:40 pm

I started the 12" production of these but i only have people for 50-60 copies so far. really need 150 to make it worth the work

180 gram!
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