DIY turntable - build a VPI like turntable on a piece of live edge bur

[doji]

I am new to turntable DIY.

I have a fantasy - build a nice looking turntable on a piece of live edge bur wood. It can be VPI like setup -
* An external motor (found 'Jasmine Audio' motor for $300 on eBay)
* A thick platter (metal or anything else, found some on eBay about $400~ $600)
* A tonearm (something like RPM250 ?)

Looks like already over $1K.

My cheaper Plan B:
* find a vintage Dual turntable , something like a cheap sell for parts. Dig out the motor/control board, platter /bearing spindle.
* Get a Rega tonearm used.

Put all into the live edge base. In this plan, the cost should be half than the first idea.

Can someone share some idea? Or if you have some BOM list you can share. I don't want to go crazy with the spending, but want to get a good setup with fair nice sound.

Thanks

 

[elcoholic]

Just a comment on the plinth. Solid burl tends to be unstable with changes in humidity. Burl is the result of some damage to the tree and there is no predictable grain structure. If you’re thinking burl stick with veneer. For stability in solid wood look for a species with a tangental to radial shrinkage ratio as close to 1:1. Then look for a riftsawn or quartersawn live edge slab. Air dried is always preferable to kiln dried for stability as well as appearance. That will be the most dimensionally stable slice of the tree for you to put all your work into. Looking forward to following your project.

 

[doji]

Just a comment on the plinth. Solid burl tends to be unstable with changes in humidity. Burl is the result of some damage to the tree and there is no predictable grain structure. If you’re thinking burl stick with veneer. For stability in solid wood look for a species with a tangental to radial shrinkage ratio as close to 1:1. Then look for a riftsawn or quartersawn live edge slab. Air dried is always preferable to kiln dried for stability as well as appearance. That will be the most dimensionally stable slice of the tree for you to put all your work into. Looking forward to following your project.

wow! that's a lot deep into the wood stuff.
I thought of the uncertainty with burl live edge material, was thinking of making a platform out of it as the first idea. but I really want to have a turntable growing on a piece of natural live edge, so I'm gonna do it just for the looking

 

[MisterDK]

I am new to turntable DIY.

I have a fantasy - build a nice looking turntable on a piece of live edge bur wood. It can be VPI like setup -
* An external motor (found 'Jasmine Audio' motor for $300 on eBay)
* A thick platter (metal or anything else, found some on eBay about $400~ $600)
* A tonearm (something like RPM250 ?)

Looks like already over $1K.

My cheaper Plan B:
* find a vintage Dual turntable , something like a cheap sell for parts. Dig out the motor/control board, platter /bearing spindle.
* Get a Rega tonearm used.

Put all into the live edge base. In this plan, the cost should be half than the first idea.

Can someone share some idea? Or if you have some BOM list you can share. I don't want to go crazy with the spending, but want to get a good setup with fair nice sound.

Thanks

If you can find a Rek-O-Kut K-33H on the cheap, you’ll have a good motor (Papst), and a decent platter with very good bearing. I bought one for just such a project.

 

[Andre Garcia]

Hi.
butcher block are pretty stable, heavy and looks good.
spindle- tonearm perpendicularity is a key, gimbal tonearms will be more challenge than unipivot, so learn about.
go head there is a lot to learn and experiment.

I made mine including the tonearm.

AG.

 

[adnick]

If you’re set on using Burl then mix up some epoxy to coat one side of it, especially any cracks or knots, you can even add color…I’ve used epoxy for years to save wood that many wouldn’t use….

VR
Andy

 

[rothwellaudio]

Hi.
butcher block are pretty stable, heavy and looks good.
spindle- tonearm perpendicularity is a key, gimbal tonearms will be more challenge than unipivot, so learn about.
go head there is a lot to learn and experiment.

I made mine including the tonearm.

AG.

The OP hasn't been on the forum for three years.

 

[mkane]

He must be done by now

 

[adnick]

Yeah, the info is still current

 

[baeron]

Dead thread with some excellent feed back!

 

[Andre Garcia]

This new format is a pain on phones!
Lol.
Show it like it was a new post.
Anyway.
AG.