a continuation of DIY TT bearing...But now Tonearms!

[Nanook]

I'll ask the moderators to allow this thread to start. It is an outgrowth of the DIY TT bearing help.

Fairly quickly it had morphed into a bit of a discussion about tone arms. So here's my first post with my ideas, hope it is OK to do this (worse case scenario is that it's killed before it starts).

Hope to limit the discussion to tonearms , there are already lots of posts about DIY turntables, and one started about the bearings. In particular any DIY types are open for discussion, Air bearings , Unipivots, DIY mods to commercial products--no discrimination against any one or anything. I only ask that the posts are :
1) Friendly
2) Non-judgemental
3) Creative criticism and references to other articles and posts (and other sites if need be)
4) Personal experiences only---please no "I read in S'file" or "TAbS "or whatever.

So my first tonearm project:

I did finish my unipivot, and so far am quite please considering the buy in of $5 Cdn. A stolen, modified sketch is attached here. I mounted an old Grado cartridge and did a favourable listening comparison to my SME 309/Grado/ Oracle Alex Mkll setup (I just placed the tonearm at an appropriate place to allow alignment on a birch ply pedestal placed on the Oracle plinth). I used a continuous run of computer mouse flexible cable (did I see that somewhere in this Forum or was it earbud cable?), some old cartridge tags and a couple of really old, really cheap Radio Shack gold flashed RCA connectors.

The "headshell is a piece of Aluminium plate cut out at 17 degrees (guess, I did measure it but am notorious for screwing things up.) and wedged into the tonearm with hardwood dowels with a hole drilled into the bottom piece). Aligned with the Oracle alignment gauge. Listening to Elton John's "Candle in the Wind" (original Yellow Brick Road , 1973 edition ).
Now a couple of things. It IS FUGLY. it is not convenient to use and care must be used not to knock the arm brg.

Hope everyone enjoys this (I know there have been other similar threads but I thought it might be nice to re-awaken or start fresh on the heels of all the great DIY turntables that are out there..).

[ssmith]

Good idea for a thread. Here are some links regarding DIY tonearms to get it going.

1.The Altmann DIY Unipivot seems to be the one that started it all -- it's cheap'n'ugly, and allegedly sounds damn good. So anyone who's tried it and compared it with a mass market one (something like a Rega RB250?) please report here!
This is a better looking version.

2.the Krishnu unipivot appears to be a more elaborate version. Check out that site in general: it has details on bearings, motors etc and a great gallery.

3.This one is even more elaborate!

4. There is a thread here on using rolled up balsa wood to make the arm -- something that looks very very nice.

My personal project is to make a tonearm based on bits of the above. Sadly it's all in my head at the moment, because figuring out a bearing and platter are holding me back -- and even if I did make a nice DIY tonearm I've nothing to play it on.... However, in my research there appears to be two issues (correct me if I'm wrong please):
- calculating the effective mass of a DIY tonearm for cartridge compatibility can be hit and miss.
- some kind of anti-skating mechanism.

My way around the anti-skating (mentioned in the thread that started this one) is to dangle the arm from twisted threads hat can be twisted to increase or decrease the lateral force. I've attached my rather dodgy sketch again for good measure.

So, as Nanook said, anyone who's tried such designs PLEASE report here. This is crucial for noobs (just like me), because a project like this can be cheap while an RB250 can cost something like $250....

ssmith

[Nanook]

Did I metion I stole my sketch from you? If not , so sorry.

I have no antiskate mechanism on my tonearm, just fiddled with the wires exiting the tonearm and moved their location until there was almost no outward lateral movement of the arm on it's own.

As per saving money...like I said, I have $2.19 Cdn ( about USD $1.80) or so "tied up" into mine--wish I had a digital camera to show all. It is better looking than the one in your post , #3, but not as nice as the "better looking Altman" or the Krishnu (which looks like art!).

I had to mount an old counter weight to the arm in addition to the dice, and changed the wiring from RS "magnat" wire to 4 conductor "mouse" wire (that my wife really wanted me to throw out). I have to fashion an arm rest, but will not use a cuing lever..

The TT bearing is a real headache, but why not go to a thrift store or such and buy some old Dual or something to start with for very little money (cheapest one I've bought is a Dual 1019 for $1 Cdn or U$0.80). If it really is an issue of money, I'll give ya the old idler wheel Dual (you pay the freight). It needs the centre spindle attachment. Also in the previous thread, a $20, bearing can be had.

I have about $65 Cdn (USD $52), into a AR Sugden Connoissuer BD1, a Chinese Oak chopping block (used as a plinth) and the tonearm total.

Listening tests:
So far so good. I compared the DIY tonearm to my SME 309, using same model Grado, same Oracle Alex Mk ll turntable. I actually prefer the DIY. My youngest daughter (18 and a music lover) liked my arm better too---unsolitcited view, as did my wife. The SME sounds "dark" by comparison (or am I hearing distortions as added "sparkle"?).

This hobby does NOT have to cost alot (I know, I'm poor), can be incredibly fun, and the end result can be very musical.

Attached is an edited sketch to reflect the changes that I made to the arm and a sketch of the top view of the re-plinthed Sugden. I am no "rendring wondr" so please no comments about my primitive sketches:-)

[planet10]

Quite creative stew ... here is a pic my favorite Connoisseir i did up (in the early 80s). Now owned by a friend in vancouver it is still playing music.

dave

[Nanook]

well I don't have a digital camera....

so I tried my hand at image editing and a little drawing. The drawing is as accurate that I can make in my comp hack sort of way (I'm not a graphic designer or Inet guru..).

The arm and table are as described, except that mine has rounded corners and I haven't finished the wood:-(

Everybody that I have been able to suck into listening to it absolutely loves it. People I know who aren't "audiophiles", that is no pretensions regarding any sort of listener "jargon" comment on it in a very positive way. I think if you provide people with "the language" or what you hear, it is not a fair evaluation that you get, they hear what you point out.

Next up, an instructor in my Manufacturing Process Program. Hope I'm not boring anybody. Wait until the Garrard gets done....

[Nanook]

sems like no interest so please kill it .

[SY]

Actually, it is interesting, but since my knowledge is second-hand, I can't comment.

Do see what EC8010 has done. IIRC, his unipivot was based on a ballpoint pen.

[Nanook]

Sy,

Thanks for the encouragement

EC8010 is online now, but doesn't accept emails. Did a search to no avail. Do you have a link to his tonearm?

[Paul Dimaline]

Originally posted by Nanook
Sy,

Thanks for the encouragement

EC8010 is online now, but doesn't accept emails. Did a search to no avail. Do you have a link to his tonearm?

Here you go!


Paul.

[Nanook]

I really did a search...
Wow the arm looks very impressive...

and it costs a lot more than a single quid to make .....
(mine cost $2.19 Cdn, or about a single British pound).

for the pivot I used a 1mm ball point pen refill that I cleaned out and filled w/mineral oil (I was just being a little anal..), I used "JB Weld" to hold an inverted brass pipe plug into the arm tube for the bearing.

But wow does the arm by EC8010 look great, I'll read the complete thread..

thanx for the link


stew