The Secret Society of Lathe Trolls

Nigie · Joined: 29 Dec 2007 Posts: 7

Can someone confirm reference lites are cut using a heated sapphire please ?

What is the better option,
Sapphire & Reference Lites - or Diamond and PVC ?

For quality and durability of 7" records to be played in a jukebox ?

Thanks

Nigel

blight · Joined: 19 Jul 2006 Posts: 45

for jukeboxes, PVC only, with a large center hole and 1.5mm thick.
souri made his machine for jukeboxes. it works great.
jukeboxes are adjusted to a bit more needle weight than a usual turntable - about 5-7 grams usually.

JayDC · Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 1:49 pm Post subject:

the DJ lites don't have a second hole. I've had them slip on my presto before, totally sux.... you need the vacuum plater if you really want to use them. I've also have my chip vacuum actually pull the plate up off the platter, too. They can be hard to cut.

blight · Joined: 19 Jul 2006 Posts: 45

there are prestos with vacuum platters?

JayDC · Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 4:48 pm Post subject:

I've seen 8's with the vacuum platter. I think I could do it to my 6, since it has holes in the platter for it, just need to figure how how to rig it up.

blight · Joined: 19 Jul 2006 Posts: 45

cool didnt know that, can you upload a picture of your lathe?

btw, you can use a piece of metal which you screw onto the axis of your platter to fix the plate to the platter. like a 5cm diameter 0.5cm thick disc with a hole in the middle that fits onto the platter's axis and another hole from the side into which a thread is cut, then you insert a hex screw, you need a long tool to reach the screw

JayDC · Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 5:38 pm Post subject:

can't do that b/c my overhead cutting arm, clamps down the record.

Nigie · Joined: 29 Dec 2007 Posts: 7

Any more on my original thread please ? Its gone off topic.

I currently use 2mm PVC in my 8 jukeboxes and works fine, but was considering Reference Lites instead - on the basis that sapphire cutter styli are far less expensive than the diamond.

I have never had record wear issues on any kind of record in any of my jukeboxes, which I have owned for 20 odd years.
Ok they track slightly heavier, but if set up correctly they are perfect. Its where people dont measure the tracking and have binding trip switches and stiff tone arm cable that starts to bring wear into the equation.

Too light tracking is as bad as too heavy also.

I have played lacquers in them many times and they don't really seem to wear much more after the initial treble drop off.

So far then it looks like the consensu is to continue with PVC.
Souri no good as a source as he only sells to his customers.

Thanks, Nige

studiorp · Joined: 01 Nov 2007 Posts: 26

Hello Nigie, if you want buy PVC blanks, you can contact Andybee of Mastercut.eu, because he sell the same discs of Souri.
About PVC or acetate, I prefer the first, because it has a low wear of the groove than acetate.

JayDC · Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 1:57 pm Post subject:

reference lites are a harder acetate coating and sound harsh compared to a dub. I've also heard the PVC has a harsher sound. With that in mind, I'd go with the PVC.

PVC blanks are cheap, and you go through more blanks then styli.