The Do-it-Yourself Thread: A Home for Handymen and Artisans

[Ajacks]

[IMG]http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a345/ajackss/z2_zps02acf433.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a345/ajackss/z1_zpse565b151.jpg[/IMG]

Got it all assembled, everything fits perfectly, I couldn't be happier, now I just need some kind of feet for it, I wish I had some nice milled aluminum ones but they are ridiculously overpriced online. Now I just need to apply poly to it, and it will be so rich and nice. The grain on this particular cherry is great. The turntable itself hasn't been cleaned yet so it's still really dirty.

I had a good experience using my own filler using wood-glue and cherry sawdust from my floor. Filled all my imperfections perfectly.

Found some rubber isolating feet in my speaker parts storage from my Buttkicker setup, they work perfectly for this. Great find. I also need to get a new power cord and cables for this as well.

[woolio1]

[QUOTE=Ajacks;46692814][IMG]http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a345/ajackss/z2_zps02acf433.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a345/ajackss/z1_zpse565b151.jpg[/IMG]

Got it all assembled, everything fits perfectly, I couldn't be happier, now I just need some kind of feet for it, I wish I had some nice milled aluminum ones but they are ridiculously overpriced online. Now I just need to apply poly to it, and it will be so rich and nice. The grain on this particular cherry is great. The turntable itself hasn't been cleaned yet so it's still really dirty.

I had a good experience using my own filler using wood-glue and cherry sawdust from my floor. Filled all my imperfections perfectly.

Found some rubber isolating feet in my speaker parts storage from my Buttkicker setup, they work perfectly for this. Great find. I also need to get a new power cord and cables for this as well.[/QUOTE]

Are you telling me you don't have access to a lathe and metalworking tools?

Because I'm honestly kind of surprised by that. Turntable looks great, though.

[Ajacks]

[QUOTE=woolio1;46693907]Are you telling me you don't have access to a lathe and metalworking tools?

Because I'm honestly kind of surprised by that. Turntable looks great, though.[/QUOTE]

I've sadly never touched a piece of metal to a lathe or mill. My department at school doesn't have one. I've learned every tool that they have though. A mill and metal lathe are one of my most anticipated tools once I have the room. As far as metal working I can torch weld, mig, tig, arc, roll metal on slip wheels, use an english wheel, brakes, plasma cutters, shears, benders, all kinds of stuff but after watching tours of Adam Savages workshop and him showing off his 14x40 gunsmithing lathe, it makes my heart ache in longing.

[woolio1]

Well, I figured out my turntable thing today. I decided to just bite the bullet and buy something new so I wouldn't have to worry about buying something that didn't work or wasn't worth it. So I picked up the U-Turn Orbit, since it's apparently almost as good as the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon. That was $275, it'll be here in 4-5 weeks.

Anyway, I'm thinking of designing a cabinet for it. Something to hold my records and the rest of the audio equipment. I'm thinking something like [URL="http://indulgy.ccio.co/p1/v9/fC/2047027455329508061ssZnqNJc.jpg"]this[/URL], since I can probably do that for under $100. I'll try to take some pictures and post a buildlog here.

[Ajacks]

[QUOTE=woolio1;46700956]Well, I figured out my turntable thing today. I decided to just bite the bullet and buy something new so I wouldn't have to worry about buying something that didn't work or wasn't worth it. So I picked up the U-Turn Orbit, since it's apparently almost as good as the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon. That was $275, it'll be here in 4-5 weeks.

Anyway, I'm thinking of designing a cabinet for it. Something to hold my records and the rest of the audio equipment. I'm thinking something like [URL="http://indulgy.ccio.co/p1/v9/fC/2047027455329508061ssZnqNJc.jpg"]this[/URL], since I can probably do that for under $100. I'll try to take some pictures and post a buildlog here.[/QUOTE]

That looks like a nice turntable! Good upgradability too.

Do you want to house the record player in the cabinet as well? What about just getting an oldschool one and just modifying it? What are you using for speakers/receiver/amp?

[woolio1]

[QUOTE=Ajacks;46705924]That looks like a nice turntable! Good upgradability too.

Do you want to house the record player in the cabinet as well? What about just getting an oldschool one and just modifying it? What are you using for speakers/receiver/amp?[/QUOTE]

I'm actually looking to have the turntable and speakers on top of the cabinet. The one I got is white with the acrylic platter, so it looks too cool to keep out of sight. As for hardware, I'm thinking I'll go pretty cheap. /r/vinyl recommends the ART DJPRE-2 preamp paired with a Lepai Tripath amp, and I'm scouring Craigslist for a good set of Advent bookshelf speakers. Biggest problem with that setup is that it doesn't have a sub, so I might take a closer look at it and see if I can't find a better solution.

As for why I'm not buying a vintage cabinet, the antiques market here is hyperinflated. A good record cabinet like the one I've posted will easily run $500+, so it's a lot cheaper to just pick up some cabinet-grade plywood and build my own, or even just tear down the desk I built last year and repurpose the wood. My great uncle's got a woodshop, so I'll talk to him about using that over the holidays.

I'm wondering if you could help me with something, though. Do you have any suggestions for how to do those sliding doors? I'm thinking cutting some 1/4" grooves in the top and bottom panels, and using 1/4/1/8" plywood for the doors. Is there any better way, or is that pretty much the standard?

[Ajacks]

Which advents?

I don't think you need a sub if you've got good bookshelf speakers. Almost no one had subs until the 90's with the rise of the home theater market.

[IMG]http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a345/ajackss/subwoofer-1.jpg[/IMG]

I've got a early 1980's OHM subwoofer, one of the first standalone subwoofers. It's awesome, it needs rebuilt but it's a dual 8" sub with dual 12" passive radiators. I got it at goodwill, really nifty. Perfect pair for my ADS L400's. It's solid walnut, and a very interesting design. Currently it's a passive sub. I might make it a powered one though, I've got a spare BASH 300w plate amp. I really would like to restore it soon. The drivers are insanely heavy and overbuilt.

Cutting the channel for the doors seems like the normal way to do that. Just wax it and you shouldn't have any problems. Anything more is just overly complicated for the task I think.

The third coat of finish is on the turntable plinth, starting to get mirror-y.

I've got a set of Bookshelf advents that need rebuilt as well, and a much larger set from the same family that are floor standing ones.

[img]http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a345/ajackss/gg.jpg[/img]

[woolio1]

[QUOTE=Ajacks;46706353]Which advents?

I don't think you need a sub if you've got good bookshelf speakers. Almost no one had subs until the 90's with the rise of the home theater market.

[img]http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a345/ajackss/subwoofer-1.jpg[/img]

I've got a early 1980's OHM subwoofer, one of the first standalone subwoofers. It's awesome, it needs rebuilt but it's a dual 8" sub with dual 12" passive radiators. I got it at goodwill, really nifty. Perfect pair for my ADS L400's. It's solid walnut, and a very interesting design. Currently it's a passive sub. I might make it a powered one though, I've got a spare BASH 300w plate amp. I really would like to restore it soon. The drivers are insanely heavy and overbuilt.[/QUOTE]

I found a pair of Baby Advent II's for $40 on Craigslist, they're about three hours away. I'm going to see about getting those, but I'll also search the local thrift shops to see if I can find anything decent before I take a trip all the way to Asheville. Do you have any suggestions for anything to look out for?

[Ajacks]

[QUOTE=woolio1;46706382]I found a pair of Baby Advent II's for $40 on Craigslist, they're about three hours away. I'm going to see about getting those, but I'll also search the local thrift shops to see if I can find anything decent before I take a trip all the way to Asheville. Do you have any suggestions for anything to look out for?[/QUOTE]

I wouldn't drive three hours for advents. I gave away another set of advents I had. Not my favorite, they sound okay but not amazing.

If I were you and out and looking my favorites are ADS, EPI (Epicure), KEF, Old Polks, and BW. The EPI 100 is a freakin classic that sounds beautiful. I've got a set of EPI T/E 100's and I rebuilt them and they sound beautiful,

[img]http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a345/ajackss/null-13-1.jpg[/img]

You can't got wrong with anything EPI. In my living room I've got a pair of EPI A500's and they are some of the most beautiful sounding speakers I've heard period.

[img]http://www.humanspeakers.com/e/images/epi-a500-a.jpg[/img]

[an0nymooose]

If anyone is good with circutry, could you add me on steam please. I'm getting a bunch of parts for an arduino project and I'm a bit confused about some things.

[Ajacks]

[QUOTE=Maksim;46707074]If anyone is good with circutry, could you add me on steam please. I'm getting a bunch of parts for an arduino project and I'm a bit confused about some things.[/QUOTE]

[URL]http://facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1250138[/URL]

Electrical Engineering is most likely more helpful for you.

[editline]14th December 2014[/editline]

Also, I want to learn electrical engineering myself and really understand the subject. My woodworking professor is setting up some tutoring with his father in law for me which I'm really looking forward to. He's retired, but he was the lead electrical engineer at TRW Space & Electronics and his specialty was power supplies, and he personally designed the power supply for the Curiosity rover. Totally stoked.

[woolio1]

[QUOTE=Ajacks;46706501]I wouldn't drive three hours for advents. I gave away another set of advents I had. Not my favorite, they sound okay but not amazing.

If I were you and out and looking my favorites are ADS, EPI (Epicure), KEF, Old Polks, and BW. The EPI 100 is a freakin classic that sounds beautiful. I've got a set of EPI T/E 100's and I rebuilt them and they sound beautiful,

[img]http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a345/ajackss/null-13-1.jpg[/img]

You can't got wrong with anything EPI. In my living room I've got a pair of EPI A500's and they are some of the most beautiful sounding speakers I've heard period.

[img]http://www.humanspeakers.com/e/images/epi-a500-a.jpg[/img][/QUOTE]

I might be able to get a pair of EPI T/E 70s for $20 about an hour away. Worth it?

[an0nymooose]

[QUOTE=Ajacks;46707235][URL]http://facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1250138[/URL]

Electrical Engineering is most likely more helpful for you.

[editline]14th December 2014[/editline]

Also, I want to learn electrical engineering myself and really understand the subject. My woodworking professor is setting up some tutoring with his father in law for me which I'm really looking forward to. He's retired, but he was the lead electrical engineer at TRW Space & Electronics and his specialty was power supplies, and he personally designed the power supply for the Curiosity rover. Totally stoked.[/QUOTE]

Ah alright, thank you.

[Ajacks]

[QUOTE=woolio1;46707437]I might be able to get a pair of EPI T/E 70s for $20 about an hour away. Worth it?[/QUOTE]

For EPI/Epicure HumanSpeakers is the best place for information if your curious about specs or replacement parts.

[url]http://www.humanspeakers.com/e/epi-te70.htm[/url]

Are the surrounds bad? I'd offer $10 and say you've got to drive, with a max of $15. I'd say they'd be good speakers, they've got the same tweeter as my T/E 100's and they are good.

[woolio1]

[QUOTE=Ajacks;46707575]For EPI/Epicure HumanSpeakers is the best place for information if your curious about specs or replacement parts.

[URL]http://www.humanspeakers.com/e/epi-te70.htm[/URL]

Are the surrounds bad? I'd offer $10 and say you've got to drive, with a max of $15. I'd say they'd be good speakers, they've got the same tweeter as my T/E 100's and they are good.[/QUOTE]

Here's the email the guy sent me. Are they still worth going for?

[quote]Hi Jared,
I still have the EPIs and you're right, they are a very fine speaker maker from WAY back. I'd be happy to meet you to let you pick them up. Keep in mind the woofers are blown and need to be replaced, but replacements are common on EBay, unless you are adept in rebuilding or reconing woofers. Let me know what you think and we'll go from there.
-Andy[/quote]

EDIT: I'm thinking no, because woofers for this model are $53 a pop.

For a little bit of reference, [URL="https://knoxville.craigslist.org/ele/4772750571.html"]this is the post with pictures showing the woofers[/URL]. It looks like they just need new surrounds, it doesn't actually look like the cones are damaged. That could make this a whole lot cheaper.

[Ajacks]

That looks familiar,

[t]http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a345/ajackss/EPI.jpg[/t]

Re-surrounding a woofer is easy, I'd go for it if he could come down to $15. What kind of mileage do you get? Hell at $2.50 a gallon right now a little driving isn't as bad as it was a year ago.

[t]http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a345/ajackss/null-14-1.jpg[/t]

[woolio1]

[QUOTE=Ajacks;46707774]That looks familiar,

[t]http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a345/ajackss/EPI.jpg[/t]

Re-surrounding a woofer is easy, I'd go for it if he could come down to $15. What kind of mileage do you get? Hell at $2.50 a gallon right now a little driving isn't as bad as it was a year ago.

[t]http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a345/ajackss/null-14-1.jpg[/t][/QUOTE]

I get 30, Oak Ridge is about 45 miles by interstate. It'd be a few bucks to run out there and pick those up.

I sent him an email asking if the drivers or cones were damaged, or if they just need surrounds. If it's the latter, I'll probably go for it.

[Ajacks]

I'd be doubtful if he would know. I'd say it's a safe bet though. After looking at what else you have in the Knoxville area on CL that'd be what I would go with. A little ugly though, but without the cover they are not bad. Supposedly that's a nice tweeter on that model as well.

[woolio1]

New email.

[quote]Hi Jared,I bought these speakers with the thought that I'd have to replace the surrounds, but, sadly, they make no sound at all, which means it's more than surrounds. I'm 99.9% certain they're blown, I've hooked up power directly to the woofers and there's nothing, no buzz or any noise at all.
-Andy[/quote]

I'm thinking that means no. What about you?

[Ajacks]

Oh that doesn't sound good. I wouldn't go for them then. If they were nice solid wood cabinets then maybe and you could just replace or upgrade the drivers, but not those. I definitely think you need to buy vintage though. Go for a day of junking and see if you can dig up something.

Sounds like someone drove the speakers to hard and fused the coil. Also if you want to test for the same thing in the future you just hook a AA directly up to the leads of the speaker and see if it freely moves.

[woolio1]

[QUOTE=Ajacks;46708013]Oh that doesn't sound good. I wouldn't go for them then. If they were nice solid wood cabinets then maybe and you could just replace or upgrade the drivers, but not those. I definitely think you need to buy vintage though. Go for a day of junking and see if you can dig up something.

Sounds like someone drove the speakers to hard and fused the coil. Also if you want to test for the same thing in the future you just hook a AA directly up to the leads of the speaker and see if it freely moves.[/QUOTE]

I'll hit the thrift shops on Monday and see if I can find anything. There's a little church store down the road that usually has a lot of audio equipment. I'll let you know if I come across anything worth looking at.

[Ajacks]

Gah, I was working on the mechanics of the Gerrard turntable and popped off an e-clip I didn't notice the spring behind it and silently it shot the clip across the room and now I'm unable to find it. Luckily harbor freight has a 300 assorted pack of e-clips for $7.99 that I'll go buy later but damn if that kind of stuff isn't frustrating.

[0cke]

[img]http://i.imgur.com/JdryHOK.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i.imgur.com/o0ap8I0.jpg[/img]

I built another guitar! A tele this time. Mahogany body, maple neck, RW fretboard all finished in tru-oil.
Tonerider pickups with 2 push-pull pots to get series and out of phase options.

Sound great and plays lovely. I gave the frets alot of attention this time so they are perfectly level and crowned.

[Ajacks]

[video=youtube;QhBCN0KIzOY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhBCN0KIzOY&feature=youtu.be[/video]

Pulling that killer .01watts of pure power.

Ignore the hideous plinth and the dirty table. Took the player apart mechanically today and got every piece cleaned and oiled. It was a lot of e-clips and interlocking pieces. It move perfectly now. I also modded my tone arm to take the new Audio Technica AT92E cartridge and needle. First time hearing the player. Really happy. The quality of the audio is garbage in the video but it sounds great. Now I just need to replace the power cord, make a new headshell cover, give it a good aesthetic cleaning and get the last few coats of poly on the plinth. I'm up to 6 coats now of clear high gloss poly. Also I'm going to repaint the platter.

This is what the underside of this turntable looks like.

[t]http://i1033.photobucket.com/albums/a412/ottobot76/009.jpg[/t]

Not my image, but it's a nest of mechanical nightmares.

[Ajacks]

[IMG]http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a345/ajackss/turnt_zps2275887c.png[/IMG]

Besides painting and adding the plate back onto the head shell she's done. Might also paint the changing arm as well, not sure on that yet.

[woolio1]

[QUOTE=Ajacks;46715530][IMG]http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a345/ajackss/turnt_zps2275887c.png[/IMG]

Besides painting and adding the plate back onto the head shell she's done. Might also paint the changing arm as well, not sure on that yet.[/QUOTE]

That is a sexy, sexy turntable. How's it run? Does it keep speed relatively well?

[Ajacks]

[QUOTE=woolio1;46716249]That is a sexy, sexy turntable. How's it run? Does it keep speed relatively well?[/QUOTE]

Perfectly, I have zero complaints with it. The vibration dampening works great, I can bang on the table and even the plinth and it doesn't transfer to the stylus. I let it run through four records last night, all stacked and loaded, and it went through them all perfectly without any intervening. Keeps speed perfectly as well.

My only issue is there is no hold down for the tone arm, so to flip it over and such the tone arm just is allowed to flop about and I need to come up with a simple solution for that. Thinking possibly small leather strap or something. Not sure yet.

[woolio1]

[QUOTE=Ajacks;46718783]Perfectly, I have zero complaints with it. The vibration dampening works great, I can bang on the table and even the plinth and it doesn't transfer to the stylus. I let it run through four records last night, all stacked and loaded, and it went through them all perfectly without any intervening. Keeps speed perfectly as well.

My only issue is there is no hold down for the tone arm, so to flip it over and such the tone arm just is allowed to flop about and I need to come up with a simple solution for that. Thinking possibly small leather strap or something. Not sure yet.[/QUOTE]

You could probably get a little steel rod and stick [URL="http://www.amazon.com/Technics-Arm-Clip-Rest-1200/dp/B003DQED7E"]this[/URL] on the end of it, and have a more professional look.

[deathmog]

So I think Nixie tubes are REALLY cool. I want to do a project with them but I don't know where to start or what to make.
Any one of you immensely-more-talented guys have any suggestions or tips?

[Ajacks]

I'd make a Nixie clock myself. I'm sure there are kits or plans.