Welcome, Newbies! Say Hi in this thread!

Introduce yourself! Recommended for people who are just starting out, as opposed to experienced lathe cutters who are new members.

Moderators: piaptk, tragwag, Steve E., Aussie0zborn

Post Reply
User avatar
lolbergg
Posts: 3
Joined: Fri Dec 05, 2025 10:12 am

Re: Welcome, Newbies! Say Hi in this thread!

Post: # 68629Post lolbergg
Fri Jan 02, 2026 11:07 am

Hi guys, my name is Jo. I'm an audio engineer, producer and vinyl DJ. After having some releases on wax, I've been interested in cutting my own records.
A friend of mine bought the NC-V8 lathe from Dinsync and we're just trying out things, already have our first cuts that at least sound like music. I still need to learn a lot and this forum seems like a very good place to start.

User avatar
HellbenderJeff
Posts: 3
Joined: Mon Dec 22, 2025 11:18 am

Re: Welcome, Newbies! Say Hi in this thread!

Post: # 68642Post HellbenderJeff
Sat Jan 03, 2026 9:55 am

Howdy, all! Jeff from Hellbender Vinyl in Pittsburgh here, just wanted to say hi and hopefully learn a few new tricks from you wise men and women in order to keep our plant continually improving (I believe our plant manager/press operator Nick beat me to joining the forum as well, though he may have opened his account back when he was still pressing for Third Man). We run a Viryl WarmTone and LiteTone in Pgh, and our Philly location has a Hamilton M-231, a SMT Model 1500, and we just welcomed another WarmTone to that location as well.

Bill, aka "mr_scratchy_esq", dropped by last weekend to check things out, and even though his plans to revive G&C Record Co fell through all those years ago, I'm at least glad we got to show him that vinyl manufacturing is once again back in the Steel City!

User avatar
displacedsnail
Posts: 130
Joined: Sat Aug 12, 2023 8:34 am
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Contact:

Re: Welcome, Newbies! Say Hi in this thread!

Post: # 68650Post displacedsnail
Sat Jan 03, 2026 2:56 pm

Hey Jeff, welcome! Funny, I was just looking at your site this morning: I used to be friendly with Buscrates back when I was running This & That Tapes, was really glad to see his face on your site, haha. Did you guys take over the old Softwax plant here in Philly?

Anyway, welcome to the community, hope you all find a place here.

- Joe

User avatar
HellbenderJeff
Posts: 3
Joined: Mon Dec 22, 2025 11:18 am

Re: Welcome, Newbies! Say Hi in this thread!

Post: # 68729Post HellbenderJeff
Sun Jan 11, 2026 12:19 pm

displacedsnail wrote:
Sat Jan 03, 2026 2:56 pm
Hey Jeff, welcome! Funny, I was just looking at your site this morning: I used to be friendly with Buscrates back when I was running This & That Tapes, was really glad to see his face on your site, haha. Did you guys take over the old Softwax plant here in Philly?

Anyway, welcome to the community, hope you all find a place here.

- Joe
Nice! Bus ensures that we have what could quite possibly be the best QC department in the industry! :)

And yes, we did in fact take over the Softwax facility! So the SMT and the Hamilton presses were originally theirs, although we've been making some upgrades to the plant as well (repairs to the boiler and chiller were needed for example) and we also brought in the new WarmTone to add to the fun. Lots more room to grow into that space - if things continue to go well, I predict big things!

User avatar
misjah
Posts: 278
Joined: Thu Jan 20, 2011 1:42 pm
Contact:

Re: Welcome, Newbies! Say Hi in this thread!

Post: # 68731Post misjah
Mon Jan 12, 2026 6:39 am

Welcome here Jeff :)

User avatar
TheCuriousDevices
Posts: 3
Joined: Sat Jan 03, 2026 3:59 pm

Re: Welcome, Newbies! Say Hi in this thread!

Post: # 68733Post TheCuriousDevices
Mon Jan 12, 2026 3:02 pm

Hi, I'm Dale from UK. I have an wilcox-gay recordette embosser that i am working on. Okay tests at the moment, but gonna need some solid advice to get it right.
Here to learn all I can and share anything I learn too if it isn't on here already.

User avatar
jstrakertroublemaker
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Jan 22, 2026 4:34 am

Re: Welcome, Newbies! Say Hi in this thread!

Post: # 68843Post jstrakertroublemaker
Sat Jan 24, 2026 6:05 pm

hello there !!!!

im in Australia in a little town called Maleny

im super keen to build a Lathe, mainly to try cutting Music into things like Xrays (i broke my spine about three years ago so have a few xrays spare hahahahahaha)

User avatar
doc35
Posts: 4
Joined: Thu Sep 25, 2025 11:55 am

Re: Welcome, Newbies! Say Hi in this thread!

Post: # 69009Post doc35
Mon Feb 02, 2026 11:26 am

Hello, my name is Marc and I’m based in Brittany, France.

I took my first steps with a Vanrock ATOM101, but without success, due to mechanical issues caused by transport. Still, I haven’t lost hope!

I’m currently setting up a workshop/studio to engrave narrations and dedications on 7-inch records.

If I manage to order an NC-V8, I’ll then be able to offer not only 7-inch but also 12-inch records, much to the delight of my future clients.

My business is currently being established under the very French name "Vinyle Vintage Records"!

Looking forward to hearing from you!
Marc

User avatar
sixtoo
Posts: 9
Joined: Tue Jun 10, 2025 3:57 pm

Re: Welcome, Newbies! Say Hi in this thread!

Post: # 69247Post sixtoo
Sat Mar 07, 2026 1:14 pm

Hello Trolls. Robert Squire here. Long time lurker, first time poster.

I am a music producer from Toronto, Canada, I suppose most famously known for releases in the 2000’s on Bully, Ninjatune, Anticon, etc. But more locally known for small community building in many places (I have designed and built a lot of sound related venues, club nights, labels, galleries, etc).

I finally was (after many years of trying) accepted to see Souri last fall. I just returned from a couple months of touring in Japan (in support of a 30 year anniversary project with a live AV show) just unboxed the crates, and am finally getting down to the lifelong dream of being able to cut records (as soon as I get through the first wave of headaches, of which there has been -many-).

I didn’t get my setup to run a commercial cutting service, more for my own personal projects as someone who has been sampling records for 30 years, and as community building anchor for Toronto and Tokyo (I spend a lot of time there as well) beat scenes, by being able to offer super rare stuff for events I will be curating moving forward, and to support producers and sound-crews in my circle.

Throwing it out there preemptively, If anyone in CANADA (I don’t want to deal with international shipping or US goalpost moving of tarrifs) is looking to complete a Souri kit (aside from the meters, which I just drilled out to free from the crazy glue…) I will be getting rid of my optimizer, 2 mid side monitoring units, his mixer, and all cabling and rca trim pots, as I have decided to map my head and use a combination of software and TC Clarity for signal visualization / calibration. I have already upgraded all my cabling to Canare to try and make the most of the signal path (including a direct RCA through box with a (9v-powered tapped buffer) for the physical metering (as to not draw current using y-splitters or any other DIY workarounds to see exactly what is being sent to the cutter). The RCA buff mult has been built by HALE modular (also here in Toronto) and I could possibly do a run of them if there is interest (in either a guitar pedal form factor, or rack mount).

This is me in case anyone feels like deep diving / community vetting. I know a few folks in here for sure.

Best.
Rob.

www.sixtoo.productions
Sounds : @sixtoo.productions <- this account is having stores of my woes setting up my setup.
Studio : @treamentcentretoronto

User avatar
Flipside_Scotty
Posts: 1
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2026 11:59 am

Re: Welcome, Newbies! Say Hi in this thread!

Post: # 69313Post Flipside_Scotty
Fri Mar 20, 2026 11:58 am

Hi all! I’m an oldies DJ from Pittsburgh (hey Jeff, what’s up haha) and just recently got myself 2 cutting machines for my birthday, which I’ve wanted a machine for at least 15+ years. One of them is a Presto K-10 (I think from 1950 or ‘55 - I have a letter to the previous owners from Presto dated ‘55) and the other is a Meissner. The Presto is currently on the work bench of a friend getting a full cleaning and restoration

User avatar
HellbenderJeff
Posts: 3
Joined: Mon Dec 22, 2025 11:18 am

Re: Welcome, Newbies! Say Hi in this thread!

Post: # 69320Post HellbenderJeff
Tue Mar 24, 2026 12:07 pm

Cheers, Misjah and Scotty! Scotty, I might have to put you to work soon ;)

User avatar
sandman91
Posts: 1
Joined: Tue Mar 31, 2026 10:28 pm

Re: Welcome, Newbies! Say Hi in this thread!

Post: # 69351Post sandman91
Wed Apr 01, 2026 11:45 pm

Hello, I'm here to learn about how to make a DIY cutter that is capable of producing skipless scratch records with audio quality comparable to old ruffneck records and cenobite Records. I am a hardcore DJ and producer and I am here to learn more about how to make my stuff.

User avatar
Lowambitionrecords
Posts: 1
Joined: Fri Feb 21, 2025 3:37 pm

Re: Welcome, Newbies! Say Hi in this thread!

Post: # 69433Post Lowambitionrecords
Tue Apr 14, 2026 1:49 am

Have been a member of lathe trolls for nearly a year but haven't posted an intro yet!

My name is Matt Judge. I run Low Ambition Records & based in Melbourne, AUS.

Have been using a heavily modified HARA M-180 the past year or so to put out records & been having a lot of fun with it. Here to learn more and seek guidance from the more advanced trolls 8)

User avatar
displacedsnail
Posts: 130
Joined: Sat Aug 12, 2023 8:34 am
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Contact:

Re: Welcome, Newbies! Say Hi in this thread!

Post: # 69434Post displacedsnail
Tue Apr 14, 2026 8:15 am

@lowambitionrecords Hey Matt, it's about time I saw your name pop up on the forums - Welcome!

User avatar
lemak91
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon Oct 06, 2025 5:30 pm

Re: Welcome, Newbies! Say Hi in this thread!

Post: # 69435Post lemak91
Tue Apr 14, 2026 2:04 pm

Hey yall

Newbie here, interested in learning how to cut records. Planning on purchasing the VR T-560 as well as some additional upgrades for it. Thank you all for the knowledge on here, looking forward to learn more about this art form.

Thanks!

User avatar
Drmbrk
Posts: 1
Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2026 4:04 am

Re: Welcome, Newbies! Say Hi in this thread!

Post: # 69478Post Drmbrk
Fri Apr 24, 2026 3:11 am

Hi all, I’m Justin, newbie here but huge enthusiast about analogue music, physic ownership and 20 years of music production. Sadly I see that vinyl has been monopolised and all hobbyist machines have not disappeared, leaving the music ownership question off the table.

I’m here to soak up information like a sponge, and get knowledgable enough to get my own cutter so I can practise the art and take back physical ownership of our music.

Any help from the community would be appreciated, and any guidance towards where I can do a course and buy a machine. Many thanks to you all. 🙏😀

User avatar
Avios_99
Posts: 3
Joined: Mon Apr 27, 2026 11:51 am

Re: Welcome, Newbies! Say Hi in this thread!

Post: # 69496Post Avios_99
Mon Apr 27, 2026 7:27 pm

Greetings! Happy to have found this collective. Hoping to purchase a lathe and begin my own record cutting adventure!
Thanks for having me :)

Avios

User avatar
HamRadioRenegades
Posts: 1
Joined: Sun Apr 26, 2026 5:33 pm

Re: Welcome, Newbies! Say Hi in this thread!

Post: # 69512Post HamRadioRenegades
Thu Apr 30, 2026 12:25 am

Hello from Kansas City! My friend just purchased a 1948 Masco RK-5 with an Astatic crystal cutter and some 7" twin hole PVC blanks to get us started. The seller said it's better for 78s than 33s. I bought a BSR Lab-54 for playback. Looks like this forum will be a great place to get expert advice!

Post Reply