1st attempt at a DIY turntable

[Binaural]

I'm well on my way on completing my DIY turntable. I love the way the Teres turntable looked, so it's modeled (well, really copied) in my design.

The bearing was actually the easiest problem I had in this project. I wound up using the Shovel Head bearing method used in the Altmann turntable. It is definitely sufficient to hold the 22lb platter.

The whole deal is made form 3/4" MDF cut with a basic jigsaw and then stacked and glued with regular wood glue. The edges were then sanded flat and even. The paint job has taken the most time. I've been working on it and experimenting with what I was going to be able to do to make it look the best. I had a gallon of SW gloss black latex paint. This turned out to be the winner as I was able to attain a high gloss finish. It's dang near piano black. I am more than happy with the way the finish has turned out on the pieces that have been completed.

The design consists of the traditional Teres design with a sub plinth that will hold the turntable and the motor. The plinth will sit on rubber feet to offer some amount of decoupling from the motor which will also be isolated with rubber feet.

I need to complete the finish on the platter and the edges of the sub plinth. The tonearm will be a Ladegaard air bearing type that I have almost completed as well. The motor will be one from a floppy drive. Not sure what kind of enclosure the motor will be in, but I'll tackle that when I get to it.

I've included a couple of obligatory pictures. Any comments or suggestions are welcome. It will hopefully be finished in the next couple of weeks. I can't wait!!!

[Binaural]

Here's a good pic of the plinth which is completely finished sans bearing.

[Binaural]

Another angle.

[Binaural]

With bearing. The bearing will not be sticking up this far when it's properly installed. It'll be up about 1" or so and will sit up into the platter to raise the center of gravity.

[Binaural]

Finally with the platter sitting on the bearing. There will hopefully be no more than 1/8" between the two when finished. The closer I can get them, the better (cosmetically that is.)

[dnewma04]

It's coming together very well. Looking forward to seeing the finished project.

[Binaural]

Thanks, just took a break from sanding the platter to browse the forum. I truely love this place. I have learned so much from it and I'll try my best to contribue all that I can back to it. If this thread can help just 1 person, then I feel it would have been worth it. Thanks again for the kind words.

[Jim Leach]

I am also in the beginning stages of my DIY table and your's looks great!

Any updates since the last post?

[rkernell]

Would you share the painting process that you used and how you filled in the edges of the MDF? I have wanted to try this material as well but I haven't a good process to fill the edges of the boards.

Rick Kernell

[stanbp]

Any updates on this project? How did you get the platter round and concentric to the valve shaft? I am in the process of a turntable project and with limited tools am finding kinda tough going. Yours looks great so far.