Wanted: VTF Scales, Zerostat, Etc

[Brigadoon]

The next part of my journey back into vinyl sees me wanting for the doodads and whatsits that are stock in trade for the serious black disc spinner. So basically I'm looking for:

- a VTF scale
- Zerostat gun
- carbon brush
- stylus cleaning bits
- cartridge alignment protractor
- spirit level
- any other useful bits - stranded hair of a vestal Virgin, cold pressed snake oil, pixelated fairy dust, you know, the usual :)

Anybody have any surplus bits they would like to exchange for beer tokens?

[walpurgis]

Don't get too carried away Barry. I don't use anything fancy myself.

I set tracking force with one of these: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/600g-0-1g-Mini-LCD-Digital-Scale-Pocket-Jewelry-Gold-Diamond-Gram-Scales-TA-/301480637095?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item4631a572a7 I choose one with a plastic weighing platform to give the stylus an easy time.

I spirit level is handy to initially set your TT up. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Bullseye-Surface-Level-Measuring-Bubble-Trailer-Tripod-Camper-Mounting-Holes-/361087151543?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item541278adb7

I hardly ever clean the stylus and when I do I just use a sticky pad. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ONZOW-ZERODUST-STYLUS-NEEDLE-CLEANER-NEW-Zero-Dust-FAST-FREE-P-P-with-NO-TAX-/151671254398?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item23504fad7e

Cartridge alignment protractors are available free on the net.

I use a velvet pad to clean records. The carbon fibre ones are a pain in the arse as the fibres are too floppy.

I've got a couple of antistatic guns and they work, but it gets tiresome using them, so I don't bother. I don't really get static problems anyway.

[Audio Al]

No mention of the classic FOO :scratch:

Most arms can be set up without a tracking weight thingamejig :D

[Brigadoon]

No mention of the classic FOO :scratch:

Oh no, how could I have forgotten FOO..:doh:




:D

[struth]

I wouldnt trust one of those dials on an arm. I have never found one thats accurate yet. as for Foo; nowt wrong with a sprinkle of foo:)

[awkwardbydesign]

No mention of the classic FOO :scratch:

Most arms can be set up without a tracking weight thingamejig :D

None of my 3 can! Even the AT1503 has a shortened arm tube, so the scale is off.

[awkwardbydesign]

Don't get too carried away Barry. I don't use anything fancy myself.

1) I set tracking force with one of these: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/600g-0-1g-Mini-LCD-Digital-Scale-Pocket-Jewelry-Gold-Diamond-Gram-Scales-TA-/301480637095?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item4631a572a7 I choose one with a plastic weighing platform to give the stylus an easy time.

2) I spirit level is handy to initially set your TT up. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Bullseye-Surface-Level-Measuring-Bubble-Trailer-Tripod-Camper-Mounting-Holes-/361087151543?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item541278adb7

3) I hardly ever clean the stylus and when I do I just use a sticky pad. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ONZOW-ZERODUST-STYLUS-NEEDLE-CLEANER-NEW-Zero-Dust-FAST-FREE-P-P-with-NO-TAX-/151671254398?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item23504fad7e

4) Cartridge alignment protractors are available free on the net.

I use a velvet pad to clean records. The carbon fibre ones are a pain in the arse as the fibres are too floppy.

I've got a couple of antistatic guns and they work, but it gets tiresome using them, so I don't bother. I don't really get static problems anyway.

1) Make sure the platform is not magnetic; mine is, but I use a polystyrene block to get the right height, which overcomes that.
2) These are frequently not centred; rotate in EXACTLY the same place to check, and sand down the base if it's out.
3) I have a Decca and I am not letting one of those near the stay cord!
4) And your printer has to print EXACTLY to scale or it's worthless!
And you're lucky to have no static problems. I do, so I use my Zerostat.

[Barry]

1) Make sure the platform is not magnetic; mine is, but I use a polystyrene block to get the right height, which overcomes that.
2) These are frequently not centred; rotate in EXACTLY the same place to check, and sand down the base if it's out.
3) I have a Decca and I am not letting one of those near the stay cord!
4) And your printer has to print EXACTLY to scale or it's worthless!
And you're lucky to have no static problems. I do, so I use my Zerostat.

Owing to the small clearence between the cartridge and the record surface, the Decca has to be kept clean and are much more robust than you think.

[awkwardbydesign]

Owing to the small clearence between the cartridge and the record surface, the Decca has to be kept clean and are much more robust than you think.
I do clean it. But not with snot!

[Brigadoon]

Ahem...! :offtopic:

[awkwardbydesign]

Sorry.

[Brigadoon]

Sorry.
:rolleyes: "There's always ONE...."



:D



Seriously, no-one has a spare Zerostat or VTF gauge?

[struth]

:rolleyes: "There's always ONE...."



:D



Seriously, no-one has a spare Zerostat or VTF gauge?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Professional-LP-Vesion-Digital-Turntable-Stylus-Force-Scale-Gauge-Led-NEW-dzr-/231528662930?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item35e82f0792

[Brigadoon]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Professional-LP-Vesion-Digital-Turntable-Stylus-Force-Scale-Gauge-Led-NEW-dzr-/231528662930?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item35e82f0792

...and this is why I love AoS :)

Thanks Grant, just ordered & paid for.

Now if only someone was selling a Zerostat.......



:lol:

[Barry]

...and this is why I love AoS :)

Thanks Grant, just ordered & paid for.

Now if only someone was selling a Zerostat.......

Are you expecting to be troubled by static Barry? Just use a decent carbon fibre record cleaning brush. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VINYL-RECORD-ANTISTATIC-CARBON-FIBRE-CLEANING-BRUSH-DECCA-DERAM-MADE-IN-ENGLAND-/321753354185?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item4ae9fe8fc9

[Brigadoon]

Are you expecting to be troubled by static Barry? Just use a decent carbon fibre record cleaning brush. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VINYL-RECORD-ANTISTATIC-CARBON-FIBRE-CLEANING-BRUSH-DECCA-DERAM-MADE-IN-ENGLAND-/321753354185?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item4ae9fe8fc9

Thanks Barry again, bought and paid for.

I'm not too bad on the static front, but some of my charity shop purchases could light a gas hob when I remove them from their covers.....

Do you rate carbon brush over velvet pad?

[awkwardbydesign]

:rolleyes: "There's always ONE...."
:D

Who is prepared to apologise....

[Barry]

Thanks Barry again, bought and paid for.

I'm not too bad on the static front, but some of my charity shop purchases could light a gas hob when I remove them from their covers.....

Do you rate carbon brush over velvet pad?

I'm not partisan - I will use either.

I used to use a Watts 'Disc Preener': a velvet-clad perforated plastic cylinder into which was inserted a second perforated plastic cylinder having a porous foam core to create a 'wick'. This wick was saturated in water and then fitted into the outer cylinder. The humidity provided by the slow evaporation of the water allowed the Disk Preener to not only remove any dust but to discharge any static.

At the moment I use a Decca carbon fibre brush for cleaning/discharging duties (mine is an original Decca brush, the later ones have two rows of bristles: one row of Kevlar bristles; the second of carbon fibre). I think you can still buy them on ebay for ~ £6.