Can you cut your own glass diaphragms?
After a bit of tinkering, I'm happy to report yes you can!
It's a fairly simple process and doesn't require expensive kit, but will require practice to get the feel of it and a ton of patience (be prepared for a few failed attempts before you get it)
Ingredients:
1- Glass sheets; cheapo phone screen protectors work beautifully. They're between 0.2-0.3mm thick (4 for £1 on eBay)
2- Scribing tool (also cheapo off eBay)
3- Compass and paper
4- 250 grit sandpaper
Method:
1- Make a template of the diaphragm size you need on paper using the compass. Cut it out.
2- Stick the template on top of the glass (I use PVA glue so I can remove with water later)
3- With the scribing tool trace around the template. Don't apply too much pressure or it will crack.
4- Very gently apply pressure around the edge of the circle to snap off the glass. It helps to etch the glass around your circle into quadrants, so you're snapping off one quadrant at a time as you're working to free the diaphragm (imagine a sun rays sort of pattern)
5- If needed, you can use wet sandpaper to tidy up the edges or of it's a fraction of a mm too big (do wear a mask though as I've learned the hard way; lungs apparently don't like glass dust!).
6- et voila! Your glass diaphragm is ready!
Picture of the tools and finished product attached
The Pathé reproducer was the reason I wanted to try this, but I've also made one for an exhibition soundbox. This was attached to the needle bar with super glue which I've been able to undo easily using acetone.
Also made one to try on an Astra Electric soundbox (64mm diameter), but the stupid thing snapped as I was installing it. Will have a go at this one again when I have some time
Hope someone finds this helpful!
DIY glass diaphragms on a budget
- Ahmed
- Victor I
- Posts: 180
- Joined: Wed Nov 07, 2018 5:02 pm
- Location: Essex, England
- Contact:
DIY glass diaphragms on a budget
Last edited by Ahmed on Fri Mar 26, 2021 5:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- poodling around
- Victor V
- Posts: 2140
- Joined: Tue Feb 20, 2018 11:52 am
Re: DIY glass diaphragms on a budget
Absolutely marvelous !Ahmed wrote: ↑Fri Mar 26, 2021 5:35 pm Can you cut your own glass diaphragms?
After a bit of tinkering, I'm happy to report yes you can!
It's a fairly simple process and doesn't require expensive kit, but will require a practice to get the feel of it and a ton of patience (be prepared for a few failed attempts before you get it)
Ingredients:
1- Glass sheets; cheapo phone screen protectors work beautifully. They're between 0.2-0.3mm thick (4 for £1 on eBay)
2- Scribing tool (also cheapo off eBay)
3- Compass and paper
4- 250 grit sandpaper
Method:
1- Make a template of the diaphragm size you need on paper using the compass. Cut it out.
2- Stick the template on top of the glass (I use PVA glue so I can remove with water later)
3- With the scribing tool trace around the template. Don't apply too much pressure or it will crack.
4- Very gently apply pressure around the edge of the circle to snap off the glass. It helps to etch the glass around your circle into quadrants, so you're snapping off one quadrant at a time as you're working to free the diaphragm (imagine a sun rays sort of pattern)
5- If needed, you can use wet sandpaper to tidy up the edges or of it's a fraction of a mm too big (do wear a mask though as I've learned the hard way; lungs apparently don't like glass dust!).
6- et voila! Your glass diaphragm is ready!
Picture of the tools and finished product attached
The Pathé reproducer was the reason I wanted to try this, but I've also made one for an exhibition soundbox. This was attached to the needle bar with super glue which I've been able to undo easily using acetone.
Also made one to try on an Astra Electric soundbox (64mm diameter), but the stupid thing snapped as I was installing it. Will have a go at this one again when I have some time
Hope someone finds this helpful!
Can you please just confirm what you mean by 'Glass sheets; cheapo phone screen protectors work beautifully' - I thought phone screen protectors were thin, floppy, sticky plastic, not glass ?
- Ahmed
- Victor I
- Posts: 180
- Joined: Wed Nov 07, 2018 5:02 pm
- Location: Essex, England
- Contact:
Re: DIY glass diaphragms on a budget
@poodling around: Thank you
Screen protectors come in two varieties: thin plastic film or glass sheet. It's the latter I've been playing around with. They're often advertised as tampered glass, but the cheap ones are simply a standard piece of glass with a thin sheet of plastic to hold it together when/if it shatters
Screen protectors come in two varieties: thin plastic film or glass sheet. It's the latter I've been playing around with. They're often advertised as tampered glass, but the cheap ones are simply a standard piece of glass with a thin sheet of plastic to hold it together when/if it shatters
- poodling around
- Victor V
- Posts: 2140
- Joined: Tue Feb 20, 2018 11:52 am
Re: DIY glass diaphragms on a budget
Thank you for explaining Ahmed. I only visit the 21st century very occasionally !Ahmed wrote: ↑Fri Mar 26, 2021 5:48 pm @poodling around: Thank you
Screen protectors come in two varieties: thin plastic film or glass sheet. It's the latter I've been playing around with. They're often advertised as tampered glass, but the cheap ones are simply a standard piece of glass with a thin sheet of plastic to hold it together when/if it shatters
I usually use aluminium sheets but I will have a go with this glass next time. Great stuff !
- Inigo
- Victor VI
- Posts: 3753
- Joined: Mon Dec 18, 2017 1:51 am
- Personal Text: Keep'em well oiled
- Location: Madrid, Spain
- Contact:
Re: DIY glass diaphragms on a budget
Thanks for this lesson! But I don't know the tool you use for cutting the glass circle...
Inigo
- Curt A
- Victor Monarch Special
- Posts: 6412
- Joined: Fri Jul 09, 2010 8:32 pm
- Personal Text: Needle Tins are Addictive
- Location: Belmont, North Carolina
Re: DIY glass diaphragms on a budget
Thanks for the idea... I need one.
"The phonograph is not of any commercial value."
Thomas Alva Edison - Comment to his assistant, Samuel Insull.
"No one needs a Victrola XX, a Perfected Graphophone Type G, or whatever you call those noisy things."
My Wife
Thomas Alva Edison - Comment to his assistant, Samuel Insull.
"No one needs a Victrola XX, a Perfected Graphophone Type G, or whatever you call those noisy things."
My Wife
- Ahmed
- Victor I
- Posts: 180
- Joined: Wed Nov 07, 2018 5:02 pm
- Location: Essex, England
- Contact:
Re: DIY glass diaphragms on a budget
It's a scribing tool with a carbide tip; the metal pen looking thing in the picture
- Inigo
- Victor VI
- Posts: 3753
- Joined: Mon Dec 18, 2017 1:51 am
- Personal Text: Keep'em well oiled
- Location: Madrid, Spain
- Contact:
Re: DIY glass diaphragms on a budget
Ah, OK. So you draw the circle perimeter, then the sun rays to help breaking the glass pieces around et voilá
Inigo
- Ahmed
- Victor I
- Posts: 180
- Joined: Wed Nov 07, 2018 5:02 pm
- Location: Essex, England
- Contact:
Re: DIY glass diaphragms on a budget
Exactly yeah. A tiny bit of pressure on the glass is all you need to snap off the excess pieces and release the circle
- jamiegramo
- Victor III
- Posts: 619
- Joined: Tue Sep 21, 2010 5:52 am
- Location: St. Albans, UK
Re: DIY glass diaphragms on a budget
A good tip, thanks Ahmed. Some of the glass diaphragms I ordered from Germany got broken. So I will give it ago especially at the price.
I also have a small glass circle cutter I can try.
I found 4 x 0.2mm sheets at £1.49 ‘including’ postage. Here’s the link for anyone else in Britain, unless you found cheaper?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/0-2MM-4x-Gen ... 2749.l2649
I also have a small glass circle cutter I can try.
I found 4 x 0.2mm sheets at £1.49 ‘including’ postage. Here’s the link for anyone else in Britain, unless you found cheaper?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/0-2MM-4x-Gen ... 2749.l2649