Optimal stiffness for a Garrard 301 bearing brace.

[Wakefield Turntables]

Does an optimal material stiffness exist for bracing the main chassis and the bearing on a Garrard 301?? I see products made from Steel and Carbon fibre, I've been using a steel brace on the chassis for a couple of years now and I wonder if more can be gained from the TT by moving over to Carbon Fibre? Any help from / insight / recommendations is always welcome.


Thanks in advance.

[CageyH]

Personally, if weight is not a problem, I would stick with the steel.
Carbon can be very stiff, but it all depends on the lay up, type of material used and the curing process.

[Jimbo]

I can tell you from a cycling perspective I have had Steel, Carbon, Aluminum and Titanium bikes.

The order of stiffness / rigidity is as follows.

1. Titanium
2. Steel
3. Aluminum
4. Carbon

If I were to choose a material based on my experience of strength and rigidity I would go for titanium certainly but it is very hard and difficult to cut.

I would not choose Carbon as it is by comparison brittle and quite flexible although very light which is why cyclists like it. It also has a nice "feel" to ride but the is because of its inherent flexibility and absorption of vibration.

Not sure if this helps but may give some sort of perspective?

[Wakefield Turntables]

Kevin, Jim, thanks for your input. I'm looking at ways of drawing the last the drip of performance from my 301 and have been given an oppotunity to try some Carbon fibre based products. I've got a stainless steel chasis stiffener in place but I have chance to try a bearing brace made from Csrbon fibre. So, I was just wondering if anyone had any experience in this area, possibly to give me a little, "heads-up". I'm very long in the tooth with this hobby (like a sabre tooth tiger) and should know that the only real way of finding these things out is just to try and see what happenss. :doh:

[Jimbo]

Kevin, Jim, thanks for your input. I'm looking at ways of drawing the last the drip of performance from my 301 and have been given an oppotunity to try some Carbon fibre based products. I've got a stainless steel chasis stiffener in place but I have chance to try a bearing brace made from Csrbon fibre. So, I was just wondering if anyone had any experience in this area, possibly to give me a little, "heads-up". I'm very long in the tooth with this hobby (like a sabre tooth tiger) and should know that the only real way of finding these things out is just to try and see what happenss. :doh:

One aspect that maybe an advantage with Carbon fibre would be its ability to absorb vibration so if you do go down that route you may get stiffness and less vibration!?:)

[CageyH]

Carbon fibre is 5 times stiffer than steel, by weight.
But there are many variables to take into account with the manufacturing process.

Carbon fibre can be made to be flexible, as it is used to make aircraft wings, and rigid wings are never a good idea for comfort.