Building high-end 'tables cheap at Home Despot II
This is one of my favorite threads to read with sort of anticipation what you guys are going to come up next. I love to experiment myself, however finding time is a real problem for me. I would like to see this thread to be as clean as possible and avoid another shut down by AgoN. (lot of info. down the drain) Having a different opinion is always refreshing and I am all for it. Person reading this or any other thread won't be force to look at the subject from prefixed point of view but will be expose to the matter from two extreme sides of the argument or view. At the end you are given a choices.....and what it is true I leave it to You - Reader. Now, to get back to the topic. I have no expirience with slate or any other natural stone used in building turntables but I do agree with Johnnantais in regards to mass as a solution (shortcut) to stellar performance and base for Lenco. My own projects are as slow as a snail but I am getting some work done. MMF 7 with bamboo butcher block plinth, MOERCH UP - 4 tonearm and DENON 103R is long done and sounds way better then original version - hands down. Turntable "X" is almost finish ( I will upload some pictures to "my system" later tonight). The "X" is a combination of quality parts and different techniques are implemented to make it work. Here are some of them: Platter: Machined 67mm acrylic contoured to match record surface (indent for record label) Bearing: Large diameter inverted fixed spindle with polished ceramic ball on Teflon thrust plate. Motor: Belgium manufactured precision hi torque DC motor Drive: Mono filament, non elastic drive belt Plinth: 10 layers 3/4inch each. 5 layers of HQ MDF and 5 layers of HQ(13) Baltic birch. Motor is not in contact with the plinth ( Almost like MMF7 design) to reduce vibration transmission & noise. Arm-board is made out of acrylic (0.5inch also oddly shaped) Separate base made out of the same materials as the plinth. (6 layers. Also a stand for the motor) Iso-pads used between top 3 and bottom 3 layers of the base. Heavy brass cones for TT (3). Last but not least, a dedicated stand - 95 pound (aluminium and marble. Fill-able with sand if desire) Total weight - about 200 pounds. I can not tell you if it is going to sound any good but I sure hope so. I do apologize if some of you find it not on topic. just sharing some ideas that worked for me. Not a Lenco project but some techniques will be implemented in that project as well. I left a Lenco build-of for last becouse a expirience and know how is little on this side of the face but after two smaller projects I am hoping to gain basic skills and knowledge to use in Lenco table building expirience. Cost of this table is in the region of $1200 and not including arm and cartridge. Arm will be also MOERCH UP - 4 and DENON 103R cart. (arm-boards on all tables are made in such a way that switching arms is fast and easy = cheap) Next time a little more on all out assault design for my Lenco project. Cheers Mariusz S. |
Sorry for typo. Pics are here. Base will look the same, just thinner. Stand was purchased from a company that also builds TT. Materials and 2 stage system will be used in Lenco project. |
Home "made" or "professionally" molded to the desire shape, weight & form........makes very little difference IMO. What counts is that you all have tried (in its own way) to improve on already great design - "Idler - the performance/economy CHAMP" , and that's what counts. _________________________________________________________________________ ................... My opinion only ................... I too am againts overcharging fellow audiophiles/music lovers. But it should not be a mystery that some are in it for the money. And the last group that is a little tricky.......to figure out (at least for me). Real audiophiles with real talent and skills that figure out how to do both: support their hobby(s), passion and put the bread on their family table. __________________________________________________________________________ |
John, I am not promoting belt drives or anything like that. All I am saying is, that : plinth design is extremly important If possible, more mass is better IMO wood works and is DIY friendly it is more practical and economically a better choice Is slate better then combo of MDF, ply baltic birch ??? I do not know. What I do know is that making plinth for Lenco or any other turntable from slate can and probably is pain in the A$$ to execute successfully and effectively. That is of course only my opinion. |
I would not go against 1.5 - 2.0 slate with the jigsaw. Wet saw with diamond blade is more like it IMO. Or take it to a local shop - it might cost you around $100 for few straight cuts. Mario, got the router(2) , got the jigs(thanks to you.. remember). I am good. All I need is time & this forum to guide me through. Thank you and John for all your work and time to share with the rest. |
Agreed. My Lenco project was not just the TT on the cheap.....believe me I can afford multi $$$$ turntable but chose other wise. Not only Lenco gave me the chance to transport myself into the World of Music but forced me to gain knowlodge and know how on turntable building , basis , setup, materials, constraction etc. It is not always about the money.......is it????? It can not be........right? At least for some of us. I am glad and thankfull, those that influence me and help me build it and restore Lenco......that is what it is all about.....or at least should be. Cheers and enjoy your records anyway you can....being it a 30K or $200 analog rig. Whatever makes you jump, dance , sing or cry. Mariusz |
Hi Mario, good to hear from you. Always a pleasure. Thanks for understanding. That was my point exactly. We can all gain from each other experiences. (I am sure my MMF-7 arm-board looks familiar. LOL) My take on use of wood, MDF or ply. is that it is relatively easy to work with and effective. Its only drawback is that you need mass to get the most out of it ( For truly great design I would not go below 65 pounds). I sounds great on triple layered plinth too (I have tried that - experiment is more like it) but it leaves you only the after taste that won't go away. I am no builder or anyone that should be taken seriously in TT design or someone that has the know-how. I build TT for fun and my own satisfaction and use materials & techniques that make most sense and are within my reach and skills. Using slate might be too time consuming and costly to make it right. Slate is difficult to work with and fragile. It can get complicated and fast if your design isn't anything but simple. I personally would not take upon myself to use it in my projects. I do however have access to a 'Soapstone' and guy who can and will turn my vision into reality. But how would that work in Lenco plinth design - sound wise is everybody's guess. But it might be something I may explore in the future. Cheers and happy listening Mariusz |
