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What The Puck?

Bluespower

Bluespower

Active Member
Just wanted to say thanks to that great un-named hero who suggested using a hockey puck as a record stabilizer/clamp.

Puck_1.jpg


The puck weighs about 6oz, has a knurled circumference for good grip, and if you drill it correctly, a nice friction fit on the spindle (probably on-par with the KAB clamp). I found the center point with a dividing head and drilled a 3/32" pilot hole through the puck (to allow air to escape). A 17/64 (.265) drill gives a nice interference fit that lets you "walk" the puck down the spindle and clamp the record to the platter.

Puck_2.jpg


You can buy these plain or printed with the name of your local team. I don't live anywhere near Saint Louis, but how could I pass on a Blues record clamp :D
 
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I came upon a box of these pucks. New never used. A box of 20 of them for $20.00. Thought about them but did'nt buy them. They were at the local junk store. I did find 5 mint playing records though. Am thinking of going back and getting the pucks.
 
I would think that the diameter and height of a hockey puck would interfere with the arm/cart at the end of the record. I use a plastic jar lid (upside down) with a hole in the center and an office binder type clip to hold it in place. I used a larger diameter at first, about the size of a puck, and my arm/cart would bump into it at the end of the record, so I went to a smaller diameter lid.
 
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The puck gets close to my headshells at the end of a record, but never close enough to bump into one.
 
classic carl said:
I would think that the diameter and height of a hockey puck would interfere with the arm/cart and the end of the record. I use a plastic jar lid (updise down) with a hole in the center and an office binder type clip to hold it in place. I used a larger diameter at first, about the size of a puck, and my arm/cart would bump into it at the end of the record, so I went to a smaller diameter lid.
Click to expand...

I was thinking kind of the same and made me a C4 (Clearaudio Clever Clamp Clone) from a plastic jar lid.
Don't even need a binder in this one ;)

This is the original;
Clearaudio_Clever_Clamp.jpg


Sorry for going offtopic a bit. :)
 
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voltcontrol

The tool is generally referred to as a dividing head. It's normally sold as part of a set when you buy a combination square. I was a machinist most of my adult life.

Puck_3.jpg


classic carl

You may be right with some set-ups. My HK works very well with the puck. I'm even considering doing the "longhorn" mod on my Grado. There's just about the right amount of clearance.


Puck_4.jpg


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Other than the fact that it's a Blues puck.... I think it's a great idea. I will have to give that a shot (no pun intended). With a more appropriate puck though.
 
I'm still a little new to the art of playing records so can someone explain to me what using a puck is supposed to do?
 
"...can someone explain to me what using a puck is supposed to do?"


IMO, add undue wear to the bearing of the table by pushing it on and pulling it off. For no detectable sound improvement.
 
LCDeuce said:
I'm still a little new to the art of playing records so can someone explain to me what using a puck is supposed to do?
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It is supposed to couple the record to the platter more. "Seat" it inplace with no "slippage". Some believe it is smoke and mirrors, snake oil, call it what you will. Others believe that it really tightens up the bass and helps with the the proper tracking of the LP and others, as Rybeam so eloquently pointed out, think it destroys the bearing assembly in a deck. The puck is a cheap way for you to decide yourself.
 
Clamps and/or weights help to flatten records that may be mildly warped. I have two other decks that use threaded clamps that screw down to achieve the effect. Some folks use weights (probably best for un-suspended DD tables). The puck lets you work it down the spindle to flatten the record and uses friction to stay in place. The deck I have the puck on is a Harman Kardon T40 (belt drive). Some claim other great cosmic benefits from using clamps/weights. I just like the flattening aspect.

Sidenote: It makes a GREAT clamp for your RCM.
 
Rybeam said:
"...can someone explain to me what using a puck is supposed to do?"


IMO, add undue wear to the bearing of the table by pushing it on and pulling it off. For no detectable sound improvement.
Click to expand...

I think it's important to note here the difference between a clamp and a weight. I thought the same thing about the puck and decided to use an abrasives container from an old sand blaster here at my dental office. Made of brass and actually looks pretty neat spinning around. It's the perfect diameter and weighs just shy of a pound.

The improvement is very noticeable IMO. With the weight off, tapping on the plinth would cause a loud booming noise through the speakers. With the weight on, the tapping produced a much quieter noise. While actually playing the record, the sound is a lot tighter and more vibrant.

Just my $0.02
 
Thanks for the post, Bluespower :thmbsp:
Recently did this with pucks I found at local GW and I am convinced they help flatten mild record warps. Regretfully I didn't have a "dividing head" so I printed a paper template and attached to the puck to center the hole. Got lucky and the holes were perfectly centered. Although the headshells on my turntables come close . . . they don't bump the puck.

Roger

Edit: I'm not a hockey fan. Anyone have a suggestion for painting the puck a solid color?
 
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I did try the puck thing some years ago, and liked it, and then tried one puck with a circular weight for a golf club glued on top. I kind of like the sound a little better with the weight on it.. I picked up the round club weight at walmart for a couple of bucks. I am not sure I can describe the sound accurately but the bass seemed a little less muddy. Norm
 
Mine will have to be a Hurricanes puck. Even though they are out of the playoffs. Ha, they did not even make the playoffs. I do have my child hood team, The Wings, to fall back on. Go Wings...

I am also looking to do this on an HK T40. A puck is actually on the light side for what I heard the one supplied weighed. Somewhere in the 17oz range?
 
I'm in south central PA so our "local" hockey team is the Hershey Bears.

FYI - There's a guy on the Audio Circle board that had an HK weight for sale a few weeks ago.
 
Rybeam said:
"...can someone explain to me what using a puck is supposed to do?"


IMO, add undue wear to the bearing of the table by pushing it on and pulling it off. For no detectable sound improvement.
Click to expand...

I agree with you on the "sound improvement" but I use a puck on warped records and it helps.
 
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