Redboy
a few good watts
Yeah, tomorrow seems like a long way off. Nice that the good Dr. is local, though. I can grab that belt on the way home from work.
Empire experiment
- Thread starter Redboy
- Start date
Redboy
a few good watts
Got her spinnin'! I picked up the belt on the way home. Seems the isolation grommets for the motor are a little tired, so I'll need to hunt some of those down. But for now, things sound pretty good! No chance to truly evaluate it yet, though.
Surprisingly, the cartridge was almost dead on after moving the tonearm over!
Surprisingly, the cartridge was almost dead on after moving the tonearm over!
Attachments
So a Simple Green bath is a recommended cleaning method for metal parts? I'm looking to clean up my first pieces but haven't because I wasn't sure on the best method that wouldn't damage anything. The loss off silkscreening on the 'i' in empire was from scrubbing or the cleaner itself or..?
MaxSeven
Word Skeptic
I suggest the use of Orange Hand Cleaner, as deep staining can be removed with very little effort. Any area with silk screening should be o.k., as long as one doesn't press too hard. I think the quality of the silk screening will be a big factor in it's resistance to deterioration during cleaning. Also, a long duration bath in cleaner is not advised, unless you want to do a complete stripping.
My opinions only, and of course, I shant be responsible for any damage that results from using the methods described above.
Redboy
a few good watts
Yep, I scrubbed the i... :tears:
Actually, that silkscreen is incredibly fragile. I barely brushed over it with a damp cloth, and that's what happened. It wanted to come off!
What you use to clean metal will depend on what kind of metal it is, what's making it dirty, and whether it has a protective coating or not. I tried Simple Green this time around because I've had good luck with that product on aluminum, and I hoped it wouldn't hurt the silkscreen. It did a great job taking off the grunge, but unfortunately was a bit rough on the ink.
I'm happy with the results overall. There are a bunch of damping and mass loading tweaks I want to try on this table now.
Actually, that silkscreen is incredibly fragile. I barely brushed over it with a damp cloth, and that's what happened. It wanted to come off!
What you use to clean metal will depend on what kind of metal it is, what's making it dirty, and whether it has a protective coating or not. I tried Simple Green this time around because I've had good luck with that product on aluminum, and I hoped it wouldn't hurt the silkscreen. It did a great job taking off the grunge, but unfortunately was a bit rough on the ink.
I'm happy with the results overall. There are a bunch of damping and mass loading tweaks I want to try on this table now.
240sx4u
Lunatic Member
Badass nate, didn't take long to put that thorens at the curb eh'
Really sharp looking table.
Be careful with simple green, I have had less than desireable results with aluminum when it sat on there too long. It almost kind of oxidized it.
Also your lettering dilemma...
If someone has one of those tables that is totally dissassembled and the top plate could be scanned, my buddy could likely make up either stickers, or paint mask to perfectly match. Wouldn't be too costly.
Or you could have someone lazer etch it into the metal and fill it with paint. Now that would be sweet.
Evan
Really sharp looking table.
Be careful with simple green, I have had less than desireable results with aluminum when it sat on there too long. It almost kind of oxidized it.
Also your lettering dilemma...
If someone has one of those tables that is totally dissassembled and the top plate could be scanned, my buddy could likely make up either stickers, or paint mask to perfectly match. Wouldn't be too costly.
Or you could have someone lazer etch it into the metal and fill it with paint. Now that would be sweet.
Evan
clydeselsor
Lunatic Member
Really nice Nate!
treserious
Post Punk Junkie
Damn Nate, That thing cleaned up real nice!
That howards stuff is in-friggin-credible.
I told ya it spins for EVER!
Looks like you are enjoying that table dude.
That howards stuff is in-friggin-credible.
I told ya it spins for EVER!
Looks like you are enjoying that table dude.
Redboy
a few good watts
Yes indeedy! I'm finding that I much prefer to renovate/ overhaul/ upgrade an old tank-table than to buy something off the shelf and just listen to it. This feeds my need to putz, fiddle, tinker. Can't leave well enough alone...Damn Nate, That thing cleaned up real nice!
That howards stuff is in-friggin-credible.
I told ya it spins for EVER!
Looks like you are enjoying that table dude.
Here's another shot:
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treserious
Post Punk Junkie
ya know, thinking about it, how hard would it be to do your own silkscreening?
assuming you have a quality screen, the correct photosensitive paint, and whatnot.
assuming you have a quality screen, the correct photosensitive paint, and whatnot.
Arkay
Lunatic Member
Wow! A good Empire is way up on my short list of "I want one!" turntables (just below a Thorens Reference or Prestige). Yours has cleaned up quite nicely. Well done! :thmbsp: That idea about laser-engraving the name is a good one, too, if it can be done well. Adds a bit of "class" that would seem to fit an Empire.
There is a shop here that used to have one with the big case that has the wood-frame glass-paned top. They sold the turntable itself, but still have the case just sitting there, with some lesser TT now sitting in it.
That's the closest I've come to finding one of those around here. Like Jorge says is the case in Europe, there aren't many here (Hong Kong). Maybe one day I'll get lucky and find one, though, since it seems we get everything else! [Except Marantz 2130 tuners, which I also haven't found yet, either!
]
...and speakers (JBL, Advent, KLH, early Infinity...)
...and components (Soundcraftsmen, Dynaco, Scott, Fisher, McIntosh...)
...and home/kitchen appliances (anything from the 1950s like MixMasters, VitaMix, etc...)
Yes, they used to make very good things, in America! :yes: :thmbsp:
Sad to say, Americans today seem to be better at making debts and enemies than products... :sigh:
There is a shop here that used to have one with the big case that has the wood-frame glass-paned top. They sold the turntable itself, but still have the case just sitting there, with some lesser TT now sitting in it.
That's the closest I've come to finding one of those around here. Like Jorge says is the case in Europe, there aren't many here (Hong Kong). Maybe one day I'll get lucky and find one, though, since it seems we get everything else! [Except Marantz 2130 tuners, which I also haven't found yet, either!
]...and speakers (JBL, Advent, KLH, early Infinity...)
...and components (Soundcraftsmen, Dynaco, Scott, Fisher, McIntosh...)
...and home/kitchen appliances (anything from the 1950s like MixMasters, VitaMix, etc...)
Yes, they used to make very good things, in America! :yes: :thmbsp:
Sad to say, Americans today seem to be better at making debts and enemies than products... :sigh: