For once Sreten I am in total agreement with you. 😱 The BSR deck in its original format is total pants. It's cheap, it's built by BSR who had a reputation for chucking out rubbish. BUT it was free 🙂 and if I get something out of it then woohoo. This is the challenge I've set myself.
Are you saying that I should go with the fixed idler drive rather than a sprung drive in the format I'm working with? I'm going on my experience of working with a Garrard that had a sprung deck with an idler.
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Here's where I want to end up...
a drawing of the first "Nanook turntable". Just a good re-plinth with a 219😉 . Once I get a feel for this, I'll try the one for the Dual 1214. After that I'll be doing a "free form" plinth (hopefully to create my own idler drive).
I';; finally cut the first layer of the Lab60 plinth , then adjust the template to represent what the second layer should be. And so, and so , and so on. Until the mechanism, including motor is completely enclosed.
a drawing of the first "Nanook turntable". Just a good re-plinth with a 219😉 . Once I get a feel for this, I'll try the one for the Dual 1214. After that I'll be doing a "free form" plinth (hopefully to create my own idler drive).
I';; finally cut the first layer of the Lab60 plinth , then adjust the template to represent what the second layer should be. And so, and so , and so on. Until the mechanism, including motor is completely enclosed.
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I have looked to see what a Lab60 is, but haven't found one...Can you Post a Pic of One Stock, so we know what your Starting Point is?
Is it Maybe the Equiv. to the A.T.60 (which I have), and is Lab. TT?
Is it Maybe the Equiv. to the A.T.60 (which I have), and is Lab. TT?
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Well it's been a busy day down the shed. We've had a bit of sunshine so Having taken measurements and drawn the template it was transposed onto the top board and cut out. I decided to go with the fixed top plate as opposed to floating and to keep it on top rather than sunken. It does look good and the drive is now almost silent. I have cobbled together a platter to sit on top of the BSR standard which now gives it a full size and looks good. Pictures to follow for your opinions 🙂
Hi,
I'm saying nothing of that BSR is worth using, its all pants.
Its simply not worth any attempt to improve garbage.
I'm saying you best bet with those two lumps of wood
is probably rubber feet on the bottom, motor attached
to the bottom, springs between them, belt drive, and
a decent main bearing, platter, mat, arm on the top.
You can find something cheap which is a much better
starting point IMO, and give a far better end result.
rgds, sreten.
edit : crossed posts, seems its too late to avoid
cutting for the BSR. Well live and learn, the BSR
can be made better, but not half as much really as
starting off with something that is more suitable,
and starts off being much better in the first place.
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I have a Sweet Idea about making a 10" platter into a 12"...If, that's is what is needed here..
So far it has cost me:
Two bamboo chopping boards - £30
Four walking stick finials - £3
A pack of long screws - 75p
A BSR turntable - free
Four chrome legs - free ( salvaged and made from the support stem of an old dead steam cleaner )
To finish I will require:
A length of power cable and plug. I intend to use a lead from a computer.
A switch box for the RCA connectors giving me a dual input to a single output to an amp. I may splash out £15 for a four input box that I spotted online which would then allow me to connect in the Saturn and another turntable or arm without the need to keep disconnecting.
An arm support for the DIY unipivot arm.
The parts for a well tempered arm although I pretty much have these down the shed apart from the fluid.
Paint for the top plate.
A possible replacement bearing for the BSR.
The bearing in there is in perfect condition but may not be the best in the world so trying out a second may give it a better chance of improvement although for my money what is going to improve? It's near silent, it spins at the correct speed on all four chosen speeds. It's solid as a rock, it looks damn cool and for under £40 and a clunker put together down the shed from old bits and bobs by some old bodger without an engineering degree to his name I'm very pleased with its outcome. 😉
Two bamboo chopping boards - £30
Four walking stick finials - £3
A pack of long screws - 75p
A BSR turntable - free
Four chrome legs - free ( salvaged and made from the support stem of an old dead steam cleaner )
To finish I will require:
A length of power cable and plug. I intend to use a lead from a computer.
A switch box for the RCA connectors giving me a dual input to a single output to an amp. I may splash out £15 for a four input box that I spotted online which would then allow me to connect in the Saturn and another turntable or arm without the need to keep disconnecting.
An arm support for the DIY unipivot arm.
The parts for a well tempered arm although I pretty much have these down the shed apart from the fluid.
Paint for the top plate.
A possible replacement bearing for the BSR.
The bearing in there is in perfect condition but may not be the best in the world so trying out a second may give it a better chance of improvement although for my money what is going to improve? It's near silent, it spins at the correct speed on all four chosen speeds. It's solid as a rock, it looks damn cool and for under £40 and a clunker put together down the shed from old bits and bobs by some old bodger without an engineering degree to his name I'm very pleased with its outcome. 😉
Post away Sled.
The platter I have is only a seven inch! I have come up with a solution to the problem that works involving three blocks of wood, three two pence pieces (damn I should have added that to the inventory) and a spare aluminium platter that I had down the shed.
I may have a mate machine me three replacements and have these rubber topped to give a little bit of additional sound insulation but will see what the sound is like when I connect up an arm and stick a record on.
I'm under no illusion that there are much better decks out there, indeed I have three turntables down the shed that I could have used for this threads project but I wanted to see if I could:
a. improve the BSR from the form that it was in,
b. have a go at working with the plinth form that I had chosen (at a cost level that I could walk away from if it didn't work) and
c. meet my own challenge to produce something that performs well, looks and sounds good (to me at least) and have fun down me shed as I give it a go.
So far a and b have worked well, c is there all bar the sound trials which will happen once the arm is connected up. Watch this space 🙂
I thought that I'd be able to do this Online...But now that this has arrived, I find that it's 1/4" too Thick and is Way Heavy...To do this Right will take some Trips to 'Bed Bath And Beyond' Etc..At least I have a Nice Marble Cheese Board...
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Good for a base and if you find a dark and light wood combo would turn into a very unique project.
Anyhow I have managed to upload a pic of the clonker 🙂
Anyhow I have managed to upload a pic of the clonker 🙂
Looking good Squiffy.
It's amazing what can be done. I do agree with sreten a little though. The best use of these boards might be to re-use them when you end up with a better idler in the future. The better idler need not be ridiculously expensive (it good even be free if you're lucky), but this project can give you a real taste of what can be done. Put the 219 on the thing (however you can) and have a listen).
I've been working all day trying to get a good template made and drawn out in sketchup. I'll post the first layer when it is cut.
The fun never stops 🙂 .
sled108: good idea, but stone can get very heavy. I don't think I like the idea of a platter much heavier than about 2.2 kg ( or close to 10 lbs.).
It's amazing what can be done. I do agree with sreten a little though. The best use of these boards might be to re-use them when you end up with a better idler in the future. The better idler need not be ridiculously expensive (it good even be free if you're lucky), but this project can give you a real taste of what can be done. Put the 219 on the thing (however you can) and have a listen).
I've been working all day trying to get a good template made and drawn out in sketchup. I'll post the first layer when it is cut.
The fun never stops 🙂 .
sled108: good idea, but stone can get very heavy. I don't think I like the idea of a platter much heavier than about 2.2 kg ( or close to 10 lbs.).
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Yeah, Tell me...I'm surprised at how Heavy this one is...I guess that I have no choice than to Hit the 'Home Stores' now...Just to be Sure of what I get...
I didn't think that this would Work, but it Did...a 13" Marble Platter, with No Center Spindle Hole, only the Needle Gauge to True it...And It Works...Why is it so Hard to find a 12"-1/4", 3/8" Round Marble?
If you can find one, all that you need to do is to Carefully Center an Old Lp and Tape it...Then use a Dremel Tool with a Conical Stone Bit to Make the Hole for the Spindle..
If you can find one, all that you need to do is to Carefully Center an Old Lp and Tape it...Then use a Dremel Tool with a Conical Stone Bit to Make the Hole for the Spindle..
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So...Not having Any Thing better to do...I Punched the Platter...Now I have a Garrard AT60 with a 13" Marble Platter...
And, It Spins True...
And, It Spins True...
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Nice one Sled how does it sound? The Beast had a glass platter from a Systemdek and I loved it.
Thanks for the comments Stew, the boards were inexpensive and a good size for the BSR but would be a little tight to fit a normal size deck. I do like the look so will keep an eye out for more suitable sized boards for a better quality turntable. I have my dream decks, the Garrard 301 and 401, a Thorens 124 and a Lenco 75 mmmmmm one of each would be an ideal setup for me.
Thanks for the comments Stew, the boards were inexpensive and a good size for the BSR but would be a little tight to fit a normal size deck. I do like the look so will keep an eye out for more suitable sized boards for a better quality turntable. I have my dream decks, the Garrard 301 and 401, a Thorens 124 and a Lenco 75 mmmmmm one of each would be an ideal setup for me.
I'm just getting into the 'Critical Listening'...To tell you the Truth...It Sounds the Same as when I had 3 Old LPs taped together under the Felt Mat...But, it Looks a Hellava Lot Sweeter...And, I'm still just Marveling on how I managed to Punch the Hole 'Dead On True'...I think I'm Watching it Go Around more than Listening now...
I think the Next thing to Listen for is if I should Run the Felt Pad, or Right on the Marble....
I think the Next thing to Listen for is if I should Run the Felt Pad, or Right on the Marble....
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On the glass platter I ran a felt pad as I felt the sound was too 'tinny' without. I tried a rubber mat but this dulled it too much. On the Saturn although it has rubber nipples on each of the pods that the record sits on I still have a stiff felt pad for the same reason.
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Sled, Home made DIY turntables just look so damn cool and when you hear a good sound coming out of throw away bits and bobs or parts that are ment for something else completely different it makes you feel good. This is the essence of the 219 tonearm and, I believe, this turntable thread. Mine will never beat a middle to top end turntable but might compare with a middle range. Using the principles and the designs of a higher level turntable allows you to take parts that would have been thrown away by most and produce something that might just amaze people.
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