Transco Lacquers and Styli

[Phinster]

Anyone notice how streaky Transco's are nowadays? They're quiet and the sound is ok, but they look like hell under
the scope!

Some of the styli are leaving swarf fragments on the groove edges. This disappears once they are processed though.

The styli also seem to leave tram lines right out of the box as well. Have tried MDC's, Audio's, they all streak.

And the prices are going up 5% on April 1st! Fun times! I've read here that Adamants are a bit better, but I prefer
the sound of the Transco (micropoint) stylus.

[jjgolden]

Yes, It's exhibited with transcos, apollos, MDC, Micropoint and adamant.
It's totally random and totally annoying. We've mentioned it to apollo many times, sent photos etc.
My only hypothesis at this point is either quality control of the stylus's or an incompatibility issue with the
stylus material and lacquer chemical compound reacting together... or both. Maybe someone with a bit more free time and an electron microscope
can investigate and get some more info to work with.

[Maistrow]

Do you think this problem is only to a select group that may have received
A specific batch of lacquers and cutting styli?
I wonder if this issue is starting to show up in other cutting rooms.
Maistrow

[jjgolden]

Maybe, but it's been happening for a few years now.

[dietrich10]

I have had my share of issues recently as well. Apollo communications and customer support have been solid throughout.

I started on a new box of 14" Transco today that were replacements for some iffy Apollo 14"..however something is also amiss with these as they will not 'lockdown' via vacuum hold down... I tried top few in box and all the same issue...
Popped open the next box and 100% good to go.
Was pulling my hair looking for lathe issue and issue went away with the newer box...

I wonder if Apollo will give me credit for the one I smashed on the concrete floor out of frustration...

[concretecowboy71]

When we have issues, we should post lot numbers also.

I switched to Adamant last summer. The Transco styli were a real pain to work with.

I did get a bad Adamant stylus yesterday. Center line off center, sounded awful. They will not credit me until it gets sent to Japan for analysis. That bums me out a bit. I have never asked for a credit on a stylus until now...

Bum stylus was marked NS 13 7 on the box.

[opcode66]

So, Adamants are imported from Japan.... Hmmm

[dietrich10]

Transco t14009

11 of 15 so far not good. not flat and whooshing sounds in unmodulated silent grooves...

[Phinster]

Installed a 320 number A3386, poorly finished, noisy, very streaky with Transco's.

Discovered an older 320, which I had hidden for occasions like this , number A2395 .Perfect!

Clean and quiet, so it seems the recent batch aren't really up to it. Lets hope they address this problem sooner rather than later!

[Phinster]

So it ain't the lacquers after all. Initially, it's hard to know....

[Maistrow]

What is 320 number and A3386
Also Transco t14009 and A2395.
Please clarify.
Thanks

[Infrasonic Sound]

We've had issues with Adamant styli as well. Streaky and undefined cuts under the scope. I'm also having issues with heat. Seems like the wire is not wrapped around the gem properly before gluing and they stylus is not getting hot. It's happening with 2/5 stylus. Having said that they seem to be better than the Transco. Those are a real mess right now. Bad glue, gems mounted wrong, etc...

I've had 4 boxes of bad 14's (Apollo and Transco). Uneven lacquer distribution. Dietrich, that may by why you're having vacuum issues.

Apollo has been great and is working on the issue and crediting for the bad lacquers.

[concretecowboy71]

What is 320 number and A3386
Also Transco t14009 and A2395.
Please clarify.
Thanks

Lot numbers. A discussion like this is more fruitful if we know what box a person is working from.

[dietrich10]

Cutting on new box of Apollo 14 today.

Close to end of the blank I go from a 4mil groove to barely a 1mil!!
coating issue i think

[jjgolden]

Hey Dietrich,

Do you use an overhead lamps reflection to check flatness before you cut?

JJG

[dietrich10]

Hey Dietrich,

Do you use an overhead lamps reflection to check flatness before you cut?

JJG

Yes JJ I do but these are so close to being flat. The last 1/4 of usable land was the issue today. The next blank in the box was perfect

[chenry57]

Got a box of transco 14" disks T-14010. The top 6 a lacquers on the box are all ruined with the same problem. I'm assuming the rest are bad as well. The lacquer seems to be uneven all over the place. When I cut on them my grooves get much deeper in weird splotchy places on the disk. Kinda looks like a fucked up soccer ball when a whole side is cut. Guess I'll have to send the whole box back & waste time this morning checking the other 3 boxes I have from this batch.

[chenry57]

When we have issues, we should post lot numbers also.

I switched to Adamant last summer. The Transco styli were a real pain to work with.

I did get a bad Adamant stylus yesterday. Center line off center, sounded awful. They will not credit me until it gets sent to Japan for analysis. That bums me out a bit. I have never asked for a credit on a stylus until now...

Bum stylus was marked NS 13 7 on the box.

Yeah, I was on Adamants for awhile until I had issues and them learned that id have to wait until the Japanese company who makes them could evaluate. I don't have time to wait for that, so I've switched back to Apollo. At least when I get bad styli from them I can get it taken care of with one phone call.

[dietrich10]

I just went through a box of Apollo 14" and only hiccup was thanks to my own error on one...

[chenry57]

They are replacing my boxes of transcos with a different batch number. If these aren't any better I may have to switch. About 6 months ago I moved to transcos because of problems with apollos. So it goes.