HELP!!! anyone sourced a DIY bearing?

[ssmith]

Hi everyone,
This is my first post.
I want to build my own turntable. I've read through ALL the threads (including one on an oil-damped platter & unipivot bearing -- which took me at least a day to get through and digest. ). The conclusion I had from the long DIY TT thread was that the great ideas on oil damping/uinpivot etc were not quite up to scratch. Therefore the bearing is causing be problems.

On my DIY TT, here is where I am now:

Motor:
Have the plan for a cheapo PLL-DC solution ($10)
( http://rcswww.urz.tu-dresden.de/~cs8...krishu/dc2.htm )

Tonearm:
unipivot DIY...
( http://rcswww.urz.tu-dresden.de/~cs8...krishu/uni.htm )
( http://www.altmann.haan.de/tonearm/default.htm )
( http://www.freewebs.com/stereobass/funwithtonearms.htm )
...but I still have to work out anti-skating, and maybe I'll have to go for an RB300/250 from audiogon (around $300)

Platter:
Hardwood, sandwiched, made with a router or a lathe. Not the difficult bit.

BUT the one thing that is bugging me
is the spindle bearing. So far I've only found the teres bearing ($290 - ouch), and a nice one here with no details on source and price.
( http://rcswww.urz.tu-dresden.de/~cs8...rishu/bear.htm )

SO, to cut a long story short, does anyone know of sources / parts lists / ideas / whatever for a good DIY bearing? Basically one where it is possible to buy the parts and not have to do machining.....

And if anyone has tried the Altmann arm, I'd love to hear about it!

thx in advance,
ssmith

[Miniwatt]

http://www.scheu-analog.de/preisliste.htm

They have a great bearing, but this one is € 210,-

You might want to get a second-hand Thorens or something, use that bearing. Has been done loads of times..

[Nanook]

I am in the same situation as you. I decided on making my own unipivot arm (can't wait to try it).I have no reason yo believe that it will not sound good. Hard anodized aluminium arm tube, sliding weight, and a fine tune screw. No anti skating for now.

I just bought a Sugden Connoisseur, without tonearm. I have a couple of arms here, but wanted to try my hand at building one. I have $5 CDN invested in total. I think I will need to dampen the arm tube with a balsa wood insert.

As for the bearings, I am also in the process of building a "DIY" turntable, and am using an old Garrard Lab 80 as a starting point. The centre of the platter has a pressed in insert, and is precision balanced. I am having a machine shop make a centre spindle that will be supported by 2 ABEC 7 roller blade style bearings in a hollow housing, and a flange on the platter side to allow installation. Don't know if it will work but willing to give it a try. I guess if Garrard got away with loose ball bearings the precision electric motor style ABECs should be OK. It seems that the bearing is the single largest hurdle to jump in building your own table. Planning on having a single Rollerblade wheel turned down for the idler wheel. Not sure if I will drive the inside or outside of the platter. Good luck.

[ssmith]

Yep, the bearing is a real headache. There was a long thread about building a floating platter, but in the end it seems the best bet is a bearing along the lines of Scheu or Teres. Looking at the whole difficulties involved -- including finding a machiner who could make a bearing -- I may just opt for a Scheu set-up..

But then there is this:
http://rcswww.urz.tu-dresden.de/~cs8...rishu/bear.htm

he's promised to "also publish drawings, prices as well as name the sources" - so I guess I may wait for that!!!

Thanks for the tips.

[StylinLP]

ssmith, your welcome to email me if your interested in a diy teres type bearing crafted by a professional research machinist.
Let me know
stylinlp@cox.net

[thinkbad]

Why not build a air-bearing ? I don`t think it is any more complicated to build by the average DIY`er than a ordinary TT-bearing.
A suitable compressor could be from an old refrigiator and of course you should fit a Ladegard arm...

Cheers
JB

[ssmith]

Air bearing? Looks waaaaaaaaaaay too complicated for me!

StylinLP - PM sent....

[rif]

Would a high quality part from a bicycle be good to use? Just a thought. You'd have to cur off the quick-release of course

Link to Shimano

[cyteen]

The highest quality bearing that I know of that can be had for no money is the one found in dead harddrives. There is an added advantage that it is already attached to a machined aluminium base which would make attachment/mounting easier. ( The motor might even be usable ).

A while ago I came across a floppy based turntable but thought at the time a HDD would be a better base to start from.

[ssmith]

rif! A bicycle hub? Actually I'd kind of thought of it, having in the past been a cyclist and wheel builder. The link you gave -- for dura-ace -- shows you know your cycling too... they are smoooooth hubs. But the problem is mounting to a plinth and fitting it into a platter. Will have to give that one more thought!

and thx for the hardrive tip cyteen.. I'm wondering if it can hold a heavy platter though?
I'm sure I have a dead one somewhere, so will pull it apart...