Best way to enlarge spindle hole in vinyl records

Try a drill press with a Forestner (sp?) bit. (Different than a twist drill bit, this bit gives a flat bottom in material, not that important here, but usually gives a cleaner cut.) I only recommend this if you have access to an accurate drill press, and understand how to use it well. Start of with a bit that is the same size as the hole, and work your way up in one 1/32" increments. Make sure your bit is very sharp, and you should have no problem.

I actually wrote the below section before this section you're hopefully reading now. I noticed the title said change if you like so I decided to mention something I heard just recently. What I would like to mention is that with regards to LPs, there's a new version to the costly (but worth it) Continuum 2.0 speakers made by sound and design engineer, Roy Johnson from Green Mountain Audio -- not sure of the new model title (i didn't write it down) but it's the retail $800/pair speaker that's now being manufactured and I think at dealers handling Green Mountain equipment. (if you don't have a dealer near you, Roy's number in Colorado Springs is 1-719-636-2500 (I found it originally in TAS); Roy and I had quite the conversation, I was quite surprised to be introduced to such a nice, knowledgeable and caring person. I honestly wish there were more like him in today's audio world...I think those of you who know him would agree with my assessment....)
Anyway, talk about a speaker that produces or plays back unbelievable music....my gosh, I've never heard anything like it. And like many of you, I've heard a ton of hi-end speakers! How Roy Johnson came up with this is beyond me, especially for the money. Wow, does it play vinyl nice--really nice. Talk about clarity, everything was crystal clear, very neutral, harmonically so sound, and the soundstage and imaging was right in front of you. You would swear the speakers were turned off and the band was set up and playing right in front of you.
I simply had to find out how he did this so I called and talked with him and he told me that he finally found the solution on a cross-over technic that he's been working on for some 25 years. (I'm not a technical guy so it was above me) But whatever he did, it surely was evident in the playback. Anyway, if you're searching for a inexpensive speaker and like vinyl, you are going to be shocked! I mean shocked. The CDs sounded fantastic as well, but most of my time was spent listening to vinyl because that's mainly what I listen to. Now back to the other topic, the spindle of the LP....

Never make the hole bigger if you can get by. forget about the value of the record and all that, you want the music that's on the lp to last forever. there's nothing wrong with a rocking motion back and forth with the LP to get the lp on and off the spindle. I have many that do this to me. a little inconvenient but much better than any physical force you apply to permanently enlarge the hole. but if you really have to, search for a pencil whose circumference is the same size as the spindle and just move it up and down a couple of times until the lp will go on a little easier than before. you don't want it to slip on without any tension, tension is good, I think, my humble opinion. been listening to records since 1964, 8 years old. even though i have hundreds of cd's, the LP's rule--in that, they simply sound superior in all regards to CDs. but then again my LP playback system is superior to my CD playback system. Lps i found are so much funner to play, attract my attention and curiosity much more so than the CD. I like CDs but not like the LP.
Thanks and yes I did ramble, sorry.
Have fun and enjoy...
Bob

i suggest and use a center punch(9/16" - 5/8")with a very shallow pitch. set the lp on it and apply very gentle pressure, rotate 360.
takes the outer lip burr and rolls it out. no damage to the label or vinyl. kurt

I agree with the argument that too large a hole may increase your chances of off-center playback, but I disagree that tight coupling to the spindle is necessary or desirable for most turntables. If you have a noisy platter bearing, tight coupling (and clamping) transfers that noise to the record. This is why Roksan has a removable spindle. My Walker gets away with tight coupling and clamping to the spindle because the platter's air bearing is effectively noiseless.

Again: for heaven's sake be careful, if you MUST play the enlarging game, which inspite of what has been said above, I would refrain from. If you get the hole too large and you do not have a nice fiting contact between spindle and the LP you will get variable pitch, which you will certainly hear, especially on long drawn out notes. Also it would not do the suspension of your cartridge much good on the long run, adding more lateral strain to it than necessary.

Try this. If you have a small brush with a wooden handle that is at least slightly larger than the hole in the record, push the handle end into the record and give it a few gentle turns. I've used this method for years to open up -- just a little -- those too-tight discs. Cheers.

If all else fails use a saws-all and hog that hole out! just kidding, seeing as I have never used a record I could be the wrong person to ask, but simple logic would tell me that a saws-all would remedy your problem in a jiffy.

Tim

Get a "rat tail" file at a hardware store and slowly rim out the hole by rotating it; do NOT use a sawing motion. I occasionally have the same problem with my Walker Proscenium turntable, which has a larger than average spindle.

Blackie is right. The tighter the fit, the better it is.
(Honi soit qui mal y pense)

Do not enlarge the spindle hole, this will lessen the physical coupling and devalue your records! Just press it to make it fit, records should not be loose when put on the spindle.