New DIY TT... almost finished...pics

[valleyplastic]

Bart,
I for one am very impressed. I only wish I had half the talent as someone like your self to start a project such as this Turntable.
Keep us posted, you have my interest.
Dave
PS: Nice Photo

[Illusus]

Thank you, I am very flattered. In turn... I couldn't have done this without the inspiration the people that take their time to describe and show their projects provide.
The turntable is up and running, although not entirely completed, and sounds great. I have not been able to compare it to any other turntables other than what I have owned, a Thorens td 150,160 and 320, a Marantz 6700, and a couple DIYs based on the 160's bearing/platter assembly. Out of all these it is the quietest, backgroung wise. It brings out a lot of detail I have never heard before in my music, I have been especially amazed at how much information I have been missing on Pink Floyd's "the wall", I've listened to all four sides eight times since first set up. The imaging is great, all sounds and instruments have their own, definite space, something I have not heard clearly before. Bass is taught and well defined, I always complained to myself about the thinness of bass from my vinyl playback untill now. Before, in order to get deep bass I'd lower VTA and increase VTF which resulted in muddy bass and loss of detail. Not liking that sound I just got used to the thin sound. This set up has a very nice tonal balance.
All is not perfect though(I am my worst critic). The paint I used for the armboard seems to have put it ~1deg vertical out of alignment with the platter, I'll take it off and sand the paint off as soon as I can stop listening. The tape I am using as a belt leaves a residue on the motor spindle(I just now thought of turning it inside out, laff). Initially, I forgot to drill holes in the base of the motor pod for air flow, I was shocked by how hot it got. The ceramic bearing and teflon thrust plate still has not arrived, I also ordered a delrin thrust plate for comparison. Lastly, I would like to machine the micrometer shafts to have cone ends, but for now I found some acorn stainless steel acorn nuts that snuggly fit the ends of the shafts.
That's all I can think of for now.