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Thorens TD-150 project part two

ZebraBlvd said:
I have no idea how I miss your rebuild projects DD, very nice looking table. I really like the lines and simplicity of this one. Shows to go ya that less is more most times, again nice looking table. :thmbsp:
Click to expand...

Thanks ZB, I've been living with this one on the main system for awhile now, I am starting to think that the plywood plinth with the open bottom might be the ticket, even with the lesser arm this table has the most “lively” sound that I have heard from a Thorens table, I have been toying with building another for a 145 or 160 just to see if it retains the sound.
 
This is an amazing thread.

I picked up a TD150MKII today for 50 euro. It's in working condition but obviously needs work as it hasn't been used for many years. This thread is not only an inspiration, but a great guide.

Once I got it home, I hooked it up and tested it and it sounded as bad as it did in the seller's house ;) but the stylus is decades old I suspect.

I've now totally stripped it down ready for cleaning, oiling, re-capping etc. I can't wait to rebuild it and try it with a new stylus... and then... who knows!

Thanks again Divotdog!
 
Yes interesting thank you for the tour.
My bought new 150 II remains in 'as new' condition, so it appears to me that it may not need restoring.
Not keen on 'fixin' what ain't broke. Improvements however are another matter.
Although My hearing, like Any male over 30 is hi frequency constrained.. Average 60 yr old can't really hear very many highs at all :-)
I harbor few delusions in that direction.
What I might like is a Record clamp... a few old recordings are not as flat as they could be .
How do these work Screw thread clamp or .. Gravity? and does one buy one or build one?
Also does a heavy clamp mess the Table's suspension ?
Newbie questions :-).
 
Mel,

Very handsome work!

You showed your top plate support back in post #1. Did you adhere that only to the perimeter of the plinth so that you could remove the bottom plate at some point in the future? Did you join that support to the plinth with glue, or only with screws? (Thinking about vibrations here.)

Also, any opinions or experiences using solid wood vs veneer plywood for arm boards? If solid wood, how do you prevent it from warping? Or do you use Very Old Wood?

Thanks,

Bruce
 
Bruce, I used screws to hold the top plate on with a layer of Dynamat between the top plate and the supports, if I was doing it again I would use cork between the top plate and supports as the Dynamat tends to squish out and make the top plate hard to remove.

I have used solid wood for tonearm boards and have found that warpage can become a problem, I tried MDF covered with veneer and I did not like the sound I found it to be rather dull and lifeless (I will add that I found the same thing with MDF bottom plates) I have since been using Baltic Birch plywood for both and I am very pleased with the sound.
 
Divotdog,
Once again knocked me out with your mods. I am getting up the nerve and money to re-build my plinth. Same TT as this, nowhere near the same skill set.

Great job.

Sir B
 
Okay Mel,

I have finally begun my plinth rebuild. I am attempting the modification you did to the TD-145. The sand filled plinth. I am going to use both of your modification threads to see how far I can push this.

I am intending to build the inner plinth support that you have created on this TD-150. By any chance did you make a drawing of your dimensions? If not I will just guess and re-cut until it works out. Plywood is in supply and I already have dynamatted my arm support. I have used the blu-tak putty to so success as well.

Have not had much luck finding lead shot or golf course sand so I will probably use playground sand. Used to be able to go to any hardware store to get lead shot. In my area of the USA ( the USSR of Maryland ). The anti gun lobby has made it impossible to locate shot.

Anyway I digress. I am looking into some paper backed veneer for the finish. I have not done this before so it will be a learning experience. I am planning on using the original top plate, so that may get a polish too. All the lettering is gone anyway. I want to thank you for supplying so much detail to your progress.

I am knee deep in it now. Wish me luck.

Sir Bakerman

P.S. I will get some snapshots if I can locate my camera.
 
Good luck sir! :thmbsp: I did not make any notes of the measurements, but it shouldn't be too tough to figure out, any type of sand that does not pack should work fine, I would think that playground sand would work quite well.
 
Stupid question but I glued my inner plinth together and it is appoximately 1/64" too tight on the interior. Do you think routing out the 1/64" inner lip would suffice or should I scrap it and cut another? If I can I will dremel off the edge. I know it won't show but still surprised it's too tight.
 
I would just rout it out, remember that a project like this is just a series of mistakes that cover other mistakes. :D
 
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