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A beneficial Technics tonearm mod that only costs $2.50...

If you look around, you'll find that there is shrink tubing that will shrink 2 to 1. Why would you need to remove the collet?
 
jimreeves said:
If you look around, you'll find that there is shrink tubing that will shrink 2 to 1. Why would you need to remove the collet?
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It was mentioned in a much earlier thread here that it was, if not actually necessary, at least advisable to do so.

John
 
jsisk said:
cube-tube...

Is that a clamp or a weight you are using in the pics?

I have a Technics SL-1600 MKII and have considered trying a weight but the owner's manual says to never use a weight as it will damage the DD system.
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That's a 460g (1.01 lb) weight that I'm using, and have been using for years. I can't imagine why the manual would say to not use it. This deck has been working perfectly the entire time. Strange...


Also, i just want to say that I think the O-rings tweak is a better solution as it's very easily reversible, looks better (I prefer the chrome look on this TT) and I guess to an extent, tuneable.
 
I've found teflon tape wrapping to be a useful and reversible tweak on a couple of my tables.

I have a 1200 arm in with the deli meister to get his treatment as a gift for my son. Paul uses the heat shrink approach since he is re-wiring the arm the collet will be off anyway. Cosmetics be dam***ed, (some like the look).

I like the idea of the of a Herbie's damper too although the added mass could be a potential issue. Obviously easily reversible. I haven't tried it myself on a tonearm but use Herbie's on a number of my tube gear pieces quite successfully.
 
Muddywaters said:
I've found teflon tape wrapping to be a useful and reversible tweak on a couple of my tables.

I have a 1200 arm in with the deli meister to get his treatment as a gift for my son. Paul uses the heat shrink approach since he is re-wiring the arm the collet will be off anyway. Cosmetics be dam***ed, (some like the look).

I like the idea of the of a Herbie's damper too although the added mass could be a potential issue. Obviously easily reversible. I haven't tried it myself on a tonearm but use Herbie's on a number of my tube gear pieces quite successfully.
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Using teflon tape may very well work fine, but that has to be ugly I would think.

As far as the Herbie dampers, my o-rings probably do just as good a job for far much less. Not saying anything bad about Herbie's products, just that at the moment, I have to pinch my pennies if you know what I mean.

Also, all five of these o-rings are super light. I don't think you would have to worry about added mass with these.


Normo said:
Hey, where did you buy those "O" rings? Norm
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At Ace Hardware in the plumbing section. Only 49 cents each.
 
flavio81 said:
What do you use? A cigarrette lighter? I have heatshrink tubing, but haven't used it yet.
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I've done a bunch of arms. I may have done Beatcomber's arm in the photo too. Glen, correct me if I'm wrong.

A lighter will work, but I find a heat gun on low setting to start, then high setting, gives bst results.

As does removing the arm tube from the pivot section, the collet, and internal wire- which I do as I also rewire them. Removing as such allows for a more precise end result.

I also damp the arm tube internally with cotton. Kevin at KAB also uses cotton to internally dampen the arm tube.

Lastly, Kevin adds a plastic end cap with o-ring to the tone arm end stub. $4.99. I use this from Kevin, and I add expanding foam (two squishy ear plugs work well) into the end stub.

I finish with higher quality RCA cables.

The shrink tube, cotton, and foam ear plug material are a few dollars.

The tone arm wire and RCAs add around $45 to this, but I feel are worth the investment.
 
electrical tape works good too and is easy to take on and off if you want to check it out the sound and then remove
 
There's certainly a lot more talk about using different tapes and heat shrink tubing than there is o-rings.

Here's the issues I have with tape and shrink tubing...

Tape, no matter what kind you use is going to make some kind of mess on the tonearm that might be a bit of a PITA to clean off. Not to mention that it's covering the entire arm, so not really "tuneable".

Heat shrink tubing, once on and fully shrunk is nearly impossible to gt off of something as light and delicate as a tonearm. In order to remove it, it has to be cut/sliced to get off, risking damage to the tonearm. And again, not to mention that it's covering the entire arm, so not really "tuneable".


With o-rings on the other hand, they simply slip on and slip off with just a little care taken going over the collet in either direction. You can use however many you want as well as position them anywhere you like, making them fully tuneable to your liking. Not to mention that they leave no residue, but if they do leave any kind of marks, a simple gentle wipe with a cloth removes it.

Don't knock this technique until you try it.
 
cube-tube said:
There's certainly a lot more talk about using different tapes and heat shrink tubing than there is o-rings.

Here's the issues I have with tape and shrink tubing...

Tape, no matter what kind you use is going to make some kind of mess on the tonearm that might be a bit of a PITA to clean off. Not to mention that it's covering the entire arm, so not really "tuneable".

Heat shrink tubing, once on and fully shrunk is nearly impossible to gt off of something as light and delicate as a tonearm. In order to remove it, it has to be cut/sliced to get off, risking damage to the tonearm. And again, not to mention that it's covering the entire arm, so not really "tuneable".

With o-rings on the other hand, they simply slip on and slip off with just a little care taken going over the collet in either direction. You can use however many you want as well as position them anywhere you like, making them fully tuneable to your liking. Not to mention that they leave no residue, but if they do leave any kind of marks, a simple gentle wipe with a cloth removes it.

Don't knock this technique until you try it.
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A second on that. The only potential thing I've thought of is the increased tonearm mass and higher (lower?) compliance. And to what extent does this change the cartridge-arm match?
 
Teflon tape leaves absolutely zero residue and can be applied to only parts of the arm as desired by the individual. For that matter heat shrink can as well, (doesn't remove easily as already pointed out). No rule that it has to cover the entire arm. Blue painters tape also works as an option and is easily used and removed wit no residue.

I bring up theses options not to knock o-rings but just that as alternative options. In many cases people may have those tapes sitting on the shelf at home no additional cost at all.

I can say that I have found in certain instances that Herbies dampers have outperformed o-rings in my tube applications though. Still Herbies aren't cheap compared to tape or o-rings and would exceed them in weight I think.

Adding mass to the arm tube will effect it to some degree no matter the method the less weight the better as far as altering compliance and effective mass.
 
cube-tube said:
Don't knock this technique until you try it.
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I don't think anyone is. It's a reasonable idea, and I think I'll give it a try if I can ever remember to buy some. I would like to know how the weight of the rings compares to a length of heat shrink tube, though.
 
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