Best way to enlarge spindle hole in vinyl records


I just completed the setup of my Michell Gyro Se and I have noticed that some of my vinyl records will not fit well with the platter be the spindle hole in the records are too small by a narrow margin. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Johnny
johnnyrw
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
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