tungs tone needles usable?

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johnnybgoode1959
Victor Jr
Posts: 15
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:00 pm

tungs tone needles usable?

Post by johnnybgoode1959 »

I found some tungs tone needles. are they safe to use?

JerryVan
Victor Monarch Special
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Location: Southeast MI

Re: tungs tone needles usable?

Post by JerryVan »

They last a very long time.... which means your records won't. I believe most people use them as decoration.

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Indestructible
Victor I
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Personal Text: Going through life at 160 RPM
Location: Illinois

Re: tungs tone needles usable?

Post by Indestructible »

If you are sure they are new I would use them a few times. If you are not sure then maybe not.
Like Jerry said 'decoration' . I think they look cool displayed with your phonograph or records .

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PeterF
Victor IV
Posts: 1913
Joined: Sun Jul 08, 2012 1:06 pm

Re: tungs tone needles usable?

Post by PeterF »

I use em.

estott
Victor Monarch
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Re: tungs tone needles usable?

Post by estott »

If they still have visible wire and aren't bent they are usable. I've found that on good clean records they behave well, on old and worn discs, not so good.

Save them for playing multi-disc classical sets

zenith82
Victor II
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Location: Baltimore, MD

Re: tungs tone needles usable?

Post by zenith82 »

Just to be safe, I never use any needles I find in a machine. I love my records too much!

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PeterF
Victor IV
Posts: 1913
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Re: tungs tone needles usable?

Post by PeterF »

Steel needles found in unsealed packets/tins or loose, yeah, probably a bad bet. You can test them if no known good ones are around and you need a needle, by rotating the needle between thumb and index finger while looking at the tip under strong bright light. A used needle will flash from the tip - the worn facet reflecting the light momentarily.

Tungstones are a totally different situation. As long as you see a protruding tip of wire coming out of the tip, it’s usable and safe. Best place to find em is mixed in with used regular needles, in fact.

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Wolfe
Victor V
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Re: tungs tone needles usable?

Post by Wolfe »

Tungstone needles have about 7 mil radius at the tip when new. Tungsten wire doesn't wear as fast as steel either, so the question is moot. If you want to wear out your records, play them with Tungstone needles.

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PeterF
Victor IV
Posts: 1913
Joined: Sun Jul 08, 2012 1:06 pm

Re: tungs tone needles usable?

Post by PeterF »

Since all my 78s are new old unplayed dealer stock, maybe I’ll think again.

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Skihawx
Victor III
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Location: New Hampshire

Re: tungs tone needles usable?

Post by Skihawx »

It is the only thing to use on Victor Automatic Electrolas. All records from a dealer stock stash?
I am sure there is going to be some small amount of wear. But I still want to play my automatics.

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