How do you choose a mat?

[The Vinyl Adventure]

I'd like to try a new mat for my tt
I dot want to just go blindly buying mats to try ...
So id like adivce on how to pick one?
At there problems that I could identify that certain mats solve?
Are there any mats that are an advantage on almost any tt?
I don't want to spend a fortune ... £50 would be expensive for me (the deck only cost me £60!)

[Stratmangler]

Get a cork one from Ebay.
Mine cost £25 delivered.
http://theartofsound.net/forum/showpost.php?p=311349&postcount=5 :)

[YNWaN]

There are a lot of theories on how mats work and therefore a lot of different approaches intended to address those theoretical ideas - however, in my opinion/experience, most of those theories aren't true. What I would say is that, in general, heavily damping the record does not sound good.

You could experiment by making your own mats - in the past I made a cork mat for a couple of quid out of a cork floor tile.

[Haselsh1]

Hamish, my cork mat via ebay made a massive difference to the sound of my Project RPM-4 as there is now so much more detail coming from it. OK, at the same time I upgraded the turntable with an upgrade kit but I am more in favour of a cork mat. Mine was the Project cork mat at around thirteen quid. Very best of luck to you.

[The Grand Wazoo]

Have a play around with these things & see what you end up with:



Tiles (http://www.diytools.co.uk/unsealed-sanded-1-8-3mm-cork-floor-tiles-x-9.html?utm_source=Google-Product-Search&utm_medium=Organic-Feed&utm_campaign=Google-Product-Search&gclid=CLma55rh968CFRQrfAodmE7eEA) £7.10 for 9

http://www.diytools.co.uk/media/catalog/product/cache/4/image/332x332/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/u/n/unsealed-sanded-1-8-3mm-cork-floor-tiles-x-9.jpg

Compass (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Helix-Oxford-Various-Stationery-Storage/dp/B000J66XPG/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1336723167&sr=8-7) £2.85

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41-YIj6OJQL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

Craft Knife (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Zoom-Craft-Utility-Knife/dp/B004BTW9M8/ref=sr_1_sc_1?s=officeproduct&ie=UTF8&qid=1336723253&sr=1-1-spell) £1.21 (although I bought 10 for a quid in a pound shop the other day!

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41Qq-bZtNBL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

PVA (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Glue-Pens-Safe-Quick-Bottle/dp/B005QA8URE/ref=sr_1_4?s=officeproduct&ie=UTF8&qid=1336723369&sr=1-4) £0.18

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/513mW55xMIL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

Here are some clues for what shapes you should be aiming for before you apply the PVA:

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_L9Je34Cc0ks/Sr7U1lY0GuI/AAAAAAAABLA/lAx8jPXKGO8/s400/MargheritaPizza_2.JPG

http://www.sxc.hu/pic/m/n/na/nazreth/1023028_doughnut.jpg

Hundreds & thousands or mozzarella are optional (though not advisable).


EDIT - Oops! Mark said the same thing while I was looking for images.

[Dominic Harper]

This is all you need. Many of my customers purchase these and are very very happy bunnies

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/XTM2-287-CORK-TURNTABLE-MAT-TECHNICS-SL1200-ETC-/110868627062?pt=Turntable_Parts_Accessories&hash=item19d048fe76

[The Vinyl Adventure]

Thanks all!!
So cork then yeah?
Brilliant Chris! What's the glue for though...
Looks as though Shaun might still be on to the winner £13 ready made!
Although that route might be less fun..!?

[YNWaN]

So cork then yeah?

Well.....not necessarily....

[Rare Bird]

How do you find a mat when you can only use a 294mm diameter one!

[synsei]

You go for this one if you like cork mats Andre, 293mm (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/XTM2-CORK-MAT-REGA-LINN-401-301-SYSTEMDEK-ETC-turntables-/120896370886?pt=Turntable_Parts_Accessories&hash=item1c25fc38c6#ht_1665wt_1396)

[Rare Bird]

Never tried cork!

[synsei]

Might be worth a punt at the price and if it doesn't float yer boat I'm sure someone will take it off your hands on here. For the record I bought one of these for the old Thorens and it tightened things up good 'n' proper... :cool:

[The Grand Wazoo]

Brilliant Chris! What's the glue for though...


Make one that's pizza shaped.
Make another one that's doughnut shaped - the hole being your recess for a label.
Stick 'em together.

[Mika K]

For me the plain cork did not work and I'm guessing it might be due to its too soft and dampening nature. However the cork mats of Loricraft or Blue Horizon are clearly better as those have some rubber substance included and this seems to make a huge difference.

Just try different solutions and you'll notice what seems to rock your boat :)

[YNWaN]

Hmm..as you say, they contain rubber particulate (this is gasket material and can be purchased on eBay), but I'm not convinced this makes them "clearly better".

[Macca]

Hmm..as you say, they contain rubber particulate (this is gasket material and can be purchased on eBay), but I'm not convinced this makes them "clearly better".

I am also using a rubber/cork compound mat with label recess I think it was £20 off e-bay. It has a label recess and is quite thin. It is preferable to the stock (Technics) all rubber mat which as been mentioned elsewhere, colours the sound in a bad way. The rubber mat gives bass a 'rubbery' quality, I can't put it any other way. But I'll try - 'bouncy and a bit spongey'. With the cork/rubber this effect disappers. I've not tried any of the options further up the price range like the Acromat, Herbies, etc. Too bloody expensive :lol:

[YNWaN]

Indeed, I'm not a fan of rubber mats at all.

[Macca]

Indeed, I'm not a fan of rubber mats at all.

Yes, I can't really see a Linn LP12 working well with a rubber mat - no doubt someone is doing it somewhere though...and claiming it's brilliant ;)

[Marco]

Indeed, I'm not a fan of rubber mats at all.


Yup - they're absolutely of zero use for hi-fi purposes! :nono:

Hamish, you've had some good suggestions so far, but don't forget that you don't have to go down the brand new route, so also scour around for second-hand versions of the 'audiophile' mats, which you dismissed earlier as being too expensive - you might end up with a bargain! ;)

Marco.

[YNWaN]

Yes, I can't really see a Linn LP12 working well with a rubber mat - no doubt someone is doing it somewhere though...and claiming it's brilliant ;)

I didn't really mean for an LP12, I was thinking more generally than that.

Although, many years ago the LP12 was sold with a rubber mat, the felt one came a bit later.

[Macca]

Interesting, I didn't know that. Anyway the cork-rubber mat is nothing like an all rubber one, sound-wise. Just to clarify.

[Alex_UK]

Dom mentioned the XTM2 cork mat - I really like the XTM1 acrylic mat - tried several different options and was what I settled on - YMMV, of course!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/XTM1-REGA-LINN-THORENS-FROSTED-ACRYLIC-TURNTABLE-MAT-/110862133527?pt=Turntable_Parts_Accessories&hash=item19cfe5e917#ht_3312wt_1396

[YNWaN]

I've tried a few acrylic mats, both commercially available and ones I have made - I like the idea of them, but I really don't like the sound of them and they are one of the more coloured options in my opinion. I think this is because whilst they are good at damping some frequencies they are significantly less successful at attenuating other frequencies.

[The Vinyl Adventure]

Yup - they're absolutely of zero use for hi-fi purposes! :nono:

Hamish, you've had some good suggestions so far, but don't forget that you don't have to go down the brand new route, so also scour around for second-hand versions of the 'audiophile' mats, which you dismissed earlier as being too expensive - you might end up with a bargain! ;)

Marco.

Mcru David is going to loan me a few bits and bobs to play with ... I suspect the blue horizon mat might be included so I might well compare that to whatever I can knock up with a bit of tile ...

[NRG]

I disagree about the use of rubber mats! ;) You need to experiment and dont apply the same thinking to all turntables...used in isolation they may not work but I find they damp the platter very well and if used, as I do, with a second mat the combination can produce very good results indeed. :eyebrows:

Another material the DIY might like to try is a roll of kitchen anti slip mat like this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kitchen-Non-Slip-PVC-Grip-mat-Anti-Skid-Rug-Matting-Dash-Liner-30x50cm-/110866845620?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item19d02dcfb4#ht_2710wt_1274

[Mika K]

Anyway the cork-rubber mat is nothing like an all rubber one, sound-wise..
Second this. I usually dislike rubber mats in my players but these cork mats with some rubber compound seems to do it for me.

There are also cheaper alternatives than Loricraft or Blue Horizon ones, so it's not a expensive trial..

[The Vinyl Adventure]

Blue horizon one certainly looks the part

http://i728.photobucket.com/albums/ww282/hamish_gill/79bd33ab.jpg

Thank you for the loan David ... I'll have a play with the options you have sent and let you know!

[YNWaN]

Sorry it's a bit out of focus - took it ages ago:

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h90/markemark_2006/1-3.jpg

[The Vinyl Adventure]

Wuts dat den?

Annoyingly, the blue horizon is seemingly very effective ... The tt sound less muddy(?)

[YNWaN]

Made it myself about 7 years ago.

(did you have a rubber mat before, they do sound very muddy)

[The Vinyl Adventure]

Yeah, muddy and sorta pushed backwards soundstage ... By comparison this is (I'm so shit at hifi superlatives) much more in the room and ... Erm less muddy

I'm now trying what appears to be a similar compound of rubber and cork to the blue horizon that I think David had made ...
I'd go as far to say its better ... Like the blue horizon, but more effective at bringing the sound outward!
This might be the keeper already! The music is dancing around the room like it does with my majik ds - brings out the holographic(?) traits I like in my speakers so much!
Who'd a funk a mat would be this effective eh? (probably most the people here ;))

[YNWaN]

Is it a bit thinner/harder? (Dave's mat I mean, compared to the blue horizon - physically, not the sound)

[keiths]

Just spotted this thread. Nobody's mentioned these yet

http://www.simister.com/public/reso-mat.jpg

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-TransFi-TURNTABLE-PLATTER-MAT-RESO-MAT-/180758760125?pt=UK_AudioTVElectronics_HomeAudioHiF i_Turntables&hash=item2a160fcabd

[The Vinyl Adventure]

It's a single layer and fits the spindle much tighter
Maybe a tiny fraction harder... it's hard to tell as its a single peice
I'll have to check thickness when I've stopped listening

Here it is
http://i728.photobucket.com/albums/ww282/hamish_gill/f7957e2b.jpg

[YNWaN]

Just spotted this thread. Nobody's mentioned these yet

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h90/markemark_2006/2a.jpg

[Mika K]

Btw, anyone here has some experiences of these?

http://www.tnt-audio.com/jpg/garrardmat_rubato.jpg

[YNWaN]

It's a single layer and fits the spindle much tighter
Maybe a tiny fraction harder... it's hard to tell as its a single peice
I'll have to check thickness when I've stopped listening

It it is a single layer then some records will effectively be resting on the label area rather than the surface of the mat - surprisingly, I would actually expect that to sound better :).

Also, if the dual layer mat is glued together, I would expect that to sound less good.

[YNWaN]

Btw, anyone here has some experiences of these?

Guy has (and sells them).

http://www.puresound.info/id2.html
________________

All these copper mats are spray lacquered to stop them oxidising and going dull. So the actual contact with the record surface is the lacquer; I don't know how much of a difference this makes as the lacquer is thin, but I would like to hear one with the lacquer removed.

[The Vinyl Adventure]

It it is a single layer then some records will effectively be resting on the label area rather than the surface of the mat - surprisingly, I would actually expect that to sound better :).

Also, if the dual layer mat is glued together, I would expect that to sound less good.

It def does sound better ... I've checked back against the blue horizon ...

So do you think there might be any merit in adding a weight/clamp?

Cheers for te thoughts, they seem to be confirming my experiences ...

[YNWaN]

So do you think there might be any merit in adding a weight/clamp?

That's a whole can of worms and the short answer, for me, is 'it depends' and 'quite possibly no'.

I realise that this sounds contradictory, but the clamp in my pic does not work in the way any clamp you are likely to use will, the mat is quite different and (importantly) the main bearing is also quite different.

There's no harm in borrowing a clamp, or weight, to try though :).

[The Vinyl Adventure]

I probably won't bother then...
Seeing as I got this at my special I-made-him-a-website-that's-got-most-if-not-all-of-the-products-on-the-first-page-of-google discount, I've got a pretty bloody good value for money upgrade ... I might just sit back and enjoy it as is for a while! :)

[The Vinyl Adventure]

... Actually before I have to eat those words and whilst I have somone in te knows attention ...
Very Light weight but good headshell? Same spec headshell leads?
Those were the only thing on my list...
My generic headshell is just over 6g ... But I fear it might be crap ...

[YNWaN]

Umm...OK

[The Vinyl Adventure]

???

[YNWaN]

I meant I don't really understand, but you seem to be happy - so cool :).

[The Vinyl Adventure]

Dont get me wrong .... I very much am!
It's not long ago I was ranting to anyone about not spending money on hifi anymore ...
But that kinda the point, I've got here a tt I got for £60, a mat for a small amount, a cart I love for £50 a free phono stage ...
I'm quite enjoying getting a few little tweaks for a few small £'s
I still like this hobby, I just don't buy into it like I used to...
Regardless, my motivations and justifications are my own... A simple (I hoped) question might have got me another simple answer ... No?

[MCRU]

a true work of art...........

http://www.mains-cables-r-us.co.uk/58-594-thickbox/oyaide-hs-cf-headshell.jpg

the headshell that is, just got back in after watching Huddersfield Town FC beat MK Dons to get to the play offs at Wembley...get in there!!!

will send you a weight of some sort to see if it makes a difference fella

I could lend you an oyaide headshell but you may fall in love with it and not want to send it back!

[The Vinyl Adventure]

Cheers Buddy!
Yeah, I recon a £200 headshell is a bit ott ... Too heavy anyway :)

Good work on the football thing ... Means naff all to me!;)

[PaulStewart]

For me the plain cork did not work and I'm guessing it might be due to its too soft and dampening nature. However the cork mats of Loricraft or Blue Horizon are clearly better as those have some rubber substance included and this seems to make a huge difference.

Just try different solutions and you'll notice what seems to rock your boat :)

Just for information, when I was working with Loricraft we were making the mat initially for the then new 501. The material is called Tyco and it is made with random sized granules of cork in a polymer/rubber mix. The stuff was developed for use in the turbines on older nuclear reactors were vibrations were causing damage to the reactor cooling systems. Tyco sheets were used to damp these out as the thing about it is, (which also makes it a good TT mat), it absorbs and damps all frequencies equally. I tried loads of combinations when testing this materiel, the best was two layers and not glued.

Cheers

Paul S

[YNWaN]

it absorbs and damps all frequencies equally.

That is a very bold statement and would make it entirely unique - which, frankly, I doubt.

[The Grand Wazoo]

Rubberised cork is used for making gaskets
To you guvnor? A tenner for a 3ft x 2ft sheet (http://www.woolies-trim.co.uk/p-1693-rubberised-cork-sheet.aspx) of 1.5mm thick clobber & Bob's yer aunty's live in lover, cor blimey if you ain't got the makings of three 3mm thick mats complete with label recesses.

[JazzBones]

[QUOTE=Mains Cables R Us;326329]...........



, just got back in after watching Huddersfield Town FC beat MK Dons to get to the play offs at Wembley...get in there!!!

Don't like you anymore...Yeah the Dons :mex::mex:

Ron :lol:

[MCRU]

Rubberised cork is used for making gaskets
To you guvnor? A tenner for a 3ft x 2ft sheet (http://www.woolies-trim.co.uk/p-1693-rubberised-cork-sheet.aspx) of 1.5mm thick clobber & Bob's yer aunty's live in lover, cor blimey if you ain't got the makings of three 3mm thick mats complete with label recesses.

How do I get a rectangular piece of gasket material onto a 12" diameter circle then matey? :lol:

Its called nebar by the way. Rubber impregnated cork. :)

[The Vinyl Adventure]

Has it got a name your mat David?
I really think you should be selling them on your site!
It's worked a treat for me ... Couldn't wait to get home to have a listen to the tt again this evening!!

[YNWaN]

How do I get a rectangular piece of gasket material onto a 12" diameter circle then/

Is that a joke question; it sounds like you are asking how to cut out a circle from a rectangle?

[The Vinyl Adventure]

How would you cut a perfect circle from a square?

[YNWaN]

Cut round a glass mat, or platter (with a sharp knife, not a pair of round nosed scissors), or you could route an MDF (or acrylic) template with a circle jig and use that as a cutting template, or you could use a scalpel blade mounted in a beam compass (they usually come with this attachment), or you could use a laser cutter (or make cutting templates on the laser cutter). Of course you could just draw a neat circle with a compass and cut it out neatly with a knife. Honestly, cutting out a round circle of cork out of a rectangle is not a technical challenge (I could make acrylic cutting templates in about 15 minutes).

Are those enough options?

[Clive]

Around a knackered record...it can't be that hard!

[The Vinyl Adventure]

I can't imagin I could get as nice a finish as I'd like from a commercial product such as the cork mats I currently have here...
I can understand how to make a perfect circle, it's just cutting that to a fine finish that I couldn't do... Especially with the limited tools I have to hand!

[YNWaN]

Well, perhaps Hamish, I don't know what your practical skills are like; however, I know I could make one every bit as nice as any commercially produced item (and I'm sure many others could too).

[PaulStewart]

That is a very bold statement and would make it entirely unique - which, frankly, I doubt.

Well actually there are a number of substances that will absorb all frequencies evenly. It's all down to their structure being chaotic. RDC it the same sort of thing but rigid. Fluidised sand is another.

Cheers

[The Vinyl Adventure]

Perhaps I underestimate my self ...
I may well have gone down the DIY route if David hadn't been so generous
Regardless, I have something I'm happy with now

So do I get an answer to my headshell question?;)

[MCRU]

Cut round a glass mat, or platter (with a sharp knife, not a pair of round nosed scissors), or you could route an MDF (or acrylic) template with a circle jig and use that as a cutting template, or you could use a scalpel blade mounted in a beam compass (they usually come with this attachment), or you could use a laser cutter (or make cutting templates on the laser cutter). Of course you could just draw a neat circle with a compass and cut it out neatly with a knife. Honestly, cutting out a round circle of cork out of a rectangle is not a technical challenge (I could make acrylic cutting templates in about 15 minutes).

Are those enough options?

Or you could just buy one ready made and spend the time you would have spent doing the above having a beer on the patio, I know which I would prefer. :)

[MCRU]

Perhaps I underestimate my self ...
I may well have gone down the DIY route if David hadn't been so generous
Regardless, I have something I'm happy with now

So do I get an answer to my headshell question?;)

Sumiko headshell.

The record mat is on my site now, not posted it in the classifieds, thanks for the tip.

[The Vinyl Adventure]

Which sumiko?
I can't find any as light as the generic one I have at c.6g
Maybe the one I have is ideal under my circumstances anyway ...

[MCRU]

Which sumiko?
I can't find any as light as the generic one I have at c.6g
Maybe the one I have is ideal under my circumstances anyway ...

Why not do something that does not appear to be popular on this forum, "leave your gear alone" :lol:

If it sounds "right" stick with it. :)

[Reid Malenfant]

Why not do something that does not appear to be popular on this forum, "leave your gear alone" :lol:

If it sounds "right" stick with it. :)
:wave:

Perhaps I'm not off of my rocker after all :D

[The Vinyl Adventure]

You know me well enough to know that that has been pretty much my plan for ages!
I've just enjoyed a bit of cheap tinkering with the tt lately ...

[MCRU]

:wave:

Perhaps I'm not off of my rocker after all :D

I never said that! Having met you, how anyone could form that opinion is beyond me!:)

This is a very nice mat actually, fits nicely on a 401.

http://www.mains-cables-r-us.co.uk/439-1213-thickbox/mains-cables-r-us-record-mat.jpg

[wiicrackpot]

Hamish, if you are feeling flush, this might be what you are looking for, available in silver as well if you prefer, just ordered mine last night.

cheers. :)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320906403975&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:US:1123

wii.

[northwest]

Hamish, if you are feeling flush, this might be what you are looking for, available in silver as well if you prefer, just ordered mine last night.

cheers. :)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320906403975&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:US:1123

wii.

The real issue I have with this is the simple fact that now I have headshells without cartriges!
This of course is completely unacceptable so now.......... :rolleyes:

[YNWaN]

Or you could just buy one ready made and spend the time you would have spent doing the above having a beer on the patio, I know which I would prefer. :)

Yes, you would rather sit on the patio drinking beer whilst people paid for it by buying stuff they could make themselves in 15 minutes.

I know which I would rather do.

I've ordered some of the magic cork/rubber material.

[bobbasrah]

Rubberised cork is used for making gaskets
To you guvnor? A tenner for a 3ft x 2ft sheet (http://www.woolies-trim.co.uk/p-1693-rubberised-cork-sheet.aspx) of 1.5mm thick clobber & Bob's yer aunty's live in lover, cor blimey if you ain't got the makings of three 3mm thick mats complete with label recesses.

Good grief, Woolies is still on the go !!! :eek: Last used them many moons ago when rebuilding Sabre amd Scimitar........:D

[wiicrackpot]

The real issue I have with this is the simple fact that now I have headshells without cartriges!
This of course is completely unacceptable so now.......... :rolleyes:
But Graham, you know you want to, especially these are made by the makers of Audiocraft before they went bust,
Pickering picked up on it and had the makers to make them OEM, go on......once they're gone they are gone,
oh..brilliant for the high compliance fan boys as well. ;)

wii.

[The Vinyl Adventure]

8g is too heavy ... But they do a 5g one which is lighter than what I have so thank you for that!!

http://www.pickeringuk.com/cfb.html

[wiicrackpot]

Good find, cheaper than i got them for, just as well he's gonna throw in another set of bolts and i asked for some PVC washers so as not to mark the shell,
suspect it'll go well with my VX-15 dj cart.

wii.

[Macca]

Good grief, Woolies is still on the go !!! :eek: Last used them many moons ago when rebuilding Sabre amd Scimitar........:D

The AFVs? :scratch:

[bobbasrah]

The AFVs? :scratch:

:lol:

The 4 wheel (Del Boy on steroids) Reliants.....;)

[Macca]

:lol:

The 4 wheel (Del Boy on steroids) Reliants.....;)

Ah not as exciting. Still cool motors though. Fibreglass body = no rot :)

[Marco]

Yes, you would rather sit on the patio drinking beer whilst people paid for it by buying stuff they could make themselves in 15 minutes.


Isn't that the whole point of David being a hi-fi retailer, though, or am I missing something? :scratch:

You could say the same thing about almost anything in audio, providing that you had the time (and skills, if necessary) to do it yourself.

Don't bother buying those [Furutech connectors, or whatever], as you could make them yourself, out of sticky-backed plastic and squeezy bottles! Erm, well, yes, but..... ;)

Marco.

[YNWaN]

Except you can't make a functioning connector out of a squeezy bottle and some sticky back plastic (though I actually do have some CF sticky-back plastic).

You can make a cork TT mat yourself though - without special tools or machinery.

I realise the point of retail is to sell things to people, but you could just as easily have written that the point of DIY is not to have to buy things.

Anyway, I'll leave it there. I've ordered the materials I need and will be able to asses the properties of rubber loaded cork for myself shortly (let's hope I can figure out how to cut out a circle).

[JazzBones]

I thought this thread was about...'How do you choose a mat?, I would say by whether you like what its does for your music listening pleasure, maybe what it looks like, and more importantly whats it going to cost you? An educated evaluation has to be made does it not?

As to DIY, its nice if you're capable but life will carry on if you're not... I mean why bother to make a pare of jeans for yourself if someone is already manufacturing jeans at a civilized price?

If you cost a job, such as jumping into the car and going to the store to buy your cork mat and then think of the cost of your craft knife or scissors etc., it may make sense to buy ready made... possibly.. get my drift? :scratch:

[Marco]

Except you can't make a functioning connector out of a squeezy bottle and some sticky back plastic (though I actually do have some CF sticky-back plastic).

You can make a cork TT mat yourself though - without special tools or machinery.

I realise the point of retail is to sell things to people, but you could just as easily have written that the point of DIY is not to have to buy things.


Indeed, Mark. I get your point, but I'm sure that you also get mine. You can't 'scold' trade members for doing what they're here to do, simply because you don't think that the product they're promoting or selling is 'worth' it..........

I'd no sooner be sitting here cutting out bits of cork, to make a T/T mat, than I would be doing the ironing or cooking my own dinner! I have 'people' for that ;)

Marco.

[The Vinyl Adventure]

I could make my own house should I gain the nessasary skill sets and tools
I don't have them so I choose to pay a premium ...
It's the same for an aweful lot of things ... Especially in the world of hifi ...
I don't want to get in to any barmy barnys here but picking on David over a £19.50 turntable mat when there are plenty of manufactures in the hifi industry doing far far worse ...
Blue horizon charge 3x more for theirs for eg...

This forum has got a lot worse for this needless picking at people ...
It gets me down a bit, it's why I post less here to be honest

Just my 2p like :)

[DSJR]

Hamish, I cannot cut a proper circle even if my life depended on it, so have to either stump up or wait for people to take pity on me. I was fortunate, in that I received two beautifully cut cork mats for advice rendered on Rega servicing :) These are possibly not even rubber loaded (how does one easily check?) but work very well on my cheapo decks. I've seen the £20 cork/rubber mats on ebay and they look to be really good.

Another good cheap? mat is the £20 NAS Spacemat, which seems to work well and not intrusively on a wide variety of turntables. With some decks like 401's, just placing it on top of the stock mat works well.

As for much more expensive "mats," it's up to the buyer and available disposable income and, much as I rant and rave about the insane prices charged in "Top End" -ville, there are people well able to afford the prices and of course, there will always be people there to part them with their money :)

[NRG]

I've just made one in about 10mins! The postie dropped of a roll of the cork/rubber mat from Woolies this morning. Roll out the mat, cut around an old rubber TT mat using a pen knife...cut a second as the mat is only 1.5mm thick. Cut a center label hole in the second mat using a large coffee mug that seemed to be just the right size...sprayed on some 3M picture mounting glue and stuck the two together! Its just drying at the moment then I'll trimm the edge and have a listen!...oh I need a center hole! :lol:

Stunning picture to follow! :eek:

[prestonchipfryer]

Hamish, I cannot cut a proper circle even if my life depended on it, so have to either stump up or wait for people to take pity on me. I was fortunate, in that I received two beautifully cut cork mats for advice rendered on Rega servicing :) These are possibly not even rubber loaded (how does one easily check?) but work very well on my cheapo decks. I've seen the £20 cork/rubber mats on ebay and they look to be really good.

Another good cheap? mat is the £20 NAS Spacemat, which seems to work well and not intrusively on a wide variety of turntables. With some decks like 401's, just placing it on top of the stock mat works well.

As for much more expensive "mats," it's up to the buyer and available disposable income and, much as I rant and rave about the insane prices charged in "Top End" -ville, there are people well able to afford the prices and of course, there will always be people there to part them with their money :)


Have you got a link for the NAS Spacemat? please. As I'm Googling it and getting nowhere. Just getting NASA (as in outer space, etc). Also I agree with you and would find it practically impossible (for myself) to to be able to cut a perfect circle and a centre hole AND a recess for the LP mat

John :)

John

[The Vinyl Adventure]

I've just made one in about 10mins! The postie dropped of a roll of the cork/rubber mat from Woolies this morning. Roll out the mat, cut around an old rubber TT mat using a pen knife...cut a second as the mat is only 1.5mm thick. Cut a center label hole in the second mat using a large coffee mug that seemed to be just the right size...sprayed on some 3M picture mounting glue and stuck the two together! Its just drying at the moment then I'll trimm the edge and have a listen!...oh I need a center hole! :lol:

Stunning picture to follow! :eek:

Can I see a picture of the finish of the edge as best achievable with a knife
Im a cack handed idiot but id like to see how good a finish is obtainable through such methods should i learn some hand eye coordination ;)

[The Vinyl Adventure]

Hamish, I cannot cut a proper circle even if my life depended on it, so have to either stump up or wait for people to take pity on me. I was fortunate, in that I received two beautifully cut cork mats for advice rendered on Rega servicing :) These are possibly not even rubber loaded (how does one easily check?) but work very well on my cheapo decks. I've seen the £20 cork/rubber mats on ebay and they look to be really good.

Another good cheap? mat is the £20 NAS Spacemat, which seems to work well and not intrusively on a wide variety of turntables. With some decks like 401's, just placing it on top of the stock mat works well.

As for much more expensive "mats," it's up to the buyer and available disposable income and, much as I rant and rave about the insane prices charged in "Top End" -ville, there are people well able to afford the prices and of course, there will always be people there to part them with their money :)

Yep nor me ... no shame in buying what one can not produce ones self ... :)

mine has sorta black speckles in it ...
http://i728.photobucket.com/albums/ww282/hamish_gill/f7957e2b.jpg

[NRG]

Stunning! :D

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l82/_NRG_/other/IMG_0186.jpg

An edge? Its not perfect...but then what do you expect! ;)

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l82/_NRG_/other/IMG_0190.jpg

[DSJR]

Have you got a link for the NAS Spacemat? please. As I'm Googling it and getting nowhere. Just getting NASA (as in outer space, etc). Also I agree with you and would find it practically impossible (for myself) to to be able to cut a perfect circle and a centre hole AND a recess for the LP mat

John :)

John

To save any shilling comments for my NAS selling mate, here's another link -

http://www.decoaudio.com/deco_audio_turntable_mats.html

NAS stands for Nottingham Analogue Studio, by the way :) and there seems to be a basic website up and running now.

[The Vinyl Adventure]

Stunning! :D

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l82/_NRG_/other/IMG_0186.jpg

An edge? Its not perfect...but then what do you expect! ;)

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l82/_NRG_/other/IMG_0190.jpg

Looks like a pretty good effort to me!
I like your weight! that is very cool!
So ... the big question ... how does it sound?

[prestonchipfryer]

To save any shilling comments for my NAS selling mate, here's another link -

http://www.decoaudio.com/deco_audio_turntable_mats.html

NAS stands for Nottingham Analogue Studio, by the way :) and there seems to be a basic website up and running now.

Cheers :cool:

[JazzBones]

Hamish, I cannot cut a proper circle even if my life depended on it, so have to either stump up or wait for people to take pity on me. I was fortunate, in that I received two beautifully cut cork mats for advice rendered on Rega servicing :) These are possibly not even rubber loaded (how does one easily check?) but work very well on my cheapo decks. I've seen the £20 cork/rubber mats on ebay and they look to be really good.

Another good cheap? mat is the £20 NAS Spacemat, which seems to work well and not intrusively on a wide variety of turntables. With some decks like 401's, just placing it on top of the stock mat works well.

As for much more expensive "mats," it's up to the buyer and available disposable income and, much as I rant and rave about the insane prices charged in "Top End" -ville, there are people well able to afford the prices and of course, there will always be people there to part them with their money :)

Dave, the best method I've found is lay your sheet of cork or whatever, flat, get a compass with a Staedtler writing pen, draw your circle to match circumference of mat required, make sure you mark the centre before cutting then drop an appropriate sized dinner plate within the circle made, press down on this template and then use a very sharp craft/ Stanley knife to cut your circle using the edge of the dinner plate. Once you have done this go back to where you marked the radial centre and cut your hole, use a braddle to punch through the hole and then enlarge said hole to size (7mm).

If you don't have dinner plates use your platter, and say to yourself, 'I've been eating too many take aways'. :)

Cheers
Ron

[YNWaN]

On re-reading the thread, I now understand.

[Marco]

No worries, Mark :)

Marco.

[DSJR]

[COLOR="Red"]

Dave, the best method I've found is lay your sheet of cork or whatever, flat, get a compass with a Staedtler writing pen, draw your circle to match circumference of mat required, make sure you mark the centre before cutting then drop an appropriate sized dinner plate within the circle made, press down on this template and then use a very sharp craft/ Stanley knife to cut your circle using the edge of the dinner plate. Once you have done this go back to where you marked the radial centre and cut your hole, use a braddle to punch through the hole and then enlarge said hole to size (7mm).

If you don't have dinner plates use your platter, and say to yourself, 'I've been eating too many take aways'. :)

Cheers
Ron

Thanks Ron :)

[NRG]

Looks like a pretty good effort to me!
I like your weight! that is very cool!
So ... the big question ... how does it sound?

How does it sound? One note overblown bass....not good I'm afraid, it doesn't play bass lines well. A plain cork mat is more balanced in my system and the kitchen draw liner still the best...

[The Vinyl Adventure]

That's a shame ...

[NRG]

Not a problem though it may work for others...

[YNWaN]

Well I've had my rubarised cork delivered and have just done some test cuts on the laser cutter - it cuts very neatly indeed so I won't be bothering with making any templates (it's only a couple of minutes of CAD to generate the required files).

(smelly though - particularly when just laser cut)

I will probably have enough left to make people a couple (if they want) - custom sizes very easy to do (just cost of materials and postage)