The Secret Society of Lathe Trolls

Quick followup SAFETY note to my post above. DO NOT USE A LASER to engrave or cut grooves in PVC! I should have realized that the PVC would give off chlorine gas when hit with the laser but I didn't think it through. Fortunately I stopped soon enough to avoid damaging either my laser system or my lu...

I have a Snapmaker 2 multifunction 3D Printer/CNC/Laser Engraver and have now used it successfully to cut records playable on my 1924 Victrola using 3 techniques: the CNC approach, a spring-loaded diamond engraver (in place of the CNC cutting tool), and more recently the laser engraver to cut groove...

Hi All! Been ages since I posted any thing here, but this thread caught my attention. I've managed to make some good progress in my goals to create new records that are playable on old Victrola's, so a number of the things I've used might be able to help in the OP's quest. First a couple of links to...

All fixed.

Just tried to contribute via PayPal but there was an error message. Not sure which side it came from.

SteveT

A sincere thanks for all the helpful suggestions so far! Being able to take advantage of the vast experience on this forum is the only reason I even CONSIDERED trying this project! Having no easy access to cactus thorns, I tried playing one of my shellac records using a simple wooden toothpick last ...

Oh, and did I read in an article about you somewhere that you used to live in Olympia? Because that's where I grew up!

I'm surprised that embossing can produce a "Victrolable" record! Good to know! I assumed that an actual "cut" track would be necessary. I will most definitely try that approach out! As I noted, my ultimate goal is to try to identify a polymer that can can have two different levels of hardness depend...

Hi Everyone! My name is Steve (not THAT Steve) and I've just plunged head first into the hobby of record cutting. As an introduction, I am a PhD research physicist at 3M Company in Minnesota, and have recently become obsessed with the physics behind making and playing records (especially on my old m...

Howdy folks! My name is Steve Theiss, currently in Woodbury, MN, USA. I am an R&D physicist at 3M Company and recently purchased a 1924 Victor Victrola. I have been entranced by listening to the magic sounds coming from my Audio Time Machine and have become slightly obsessed with the idea of being a...