Making your own Orthophonic Back Rubber Flange with Silicone

[Victrolaman]

I have heard of a few Repair guys and suppliers making their own Back rubber flanges out of Silicone. I hear it sounds better and is more soft than the hard rubber type they have now adays. My question is how do you make them and also what type of Silicone do you use?
I would imagine you would have to buy a new back rubber flange for a Orthophonic, cut or remove the Rubber and Center the Brass Bushing in the Reproducer and then add the Silicone.
Has anyone tried this and if so How did it sound compared to the new rubber ones? I would imagine the Bass responce would be better and it would be a more tight fit to the arm?
Anyone have any pics they can attach of one done with a Silicone made flange and how you did it? Id like to experiment and make one for one of my Orthophonic reproducers im restoring now

[gramophone78]

Victrolaman, you might want to look in the "Tips, Tricks & Technical Info" section of this forum. I think there are a few threads regarding this issue already there. Hope that helps.

[Victrolaman]

I will check and see. I couldnt find much though the last i looked there?

[gramophone78]

Well, I could be wrong. However, I would post this inquiry under that section of the forum regardless. Then, it will easily found by others looking into this Technical area of discussion. Instead of being lost in the general "machine" section .

[MicaMonster]

I've been doing this for nearly 20 years, and everyone forgets that I even exist!

Here are the instructions for rebuilding the Orthophonic, and making a silicone flange:

http://www.lagparty.org/~wyatt/rebuild-orthophonic.html

[Victrolaman]

Mica,
Thanks thats exacly what i was looking for thank you. Send me a personal message if you can with your contact info. Id like to consult with you by phone incase i cannot do this
Thanks so much.
Whats your opinion on the Silicone as opposed to the rubber?

[MicaMonster]

Silicone gel is more similar to the soft gum rubber that was originally used, in my opinion. Even if the original duro hardness was higher than silicone, it still offers a great technical advantage over the use of rubber or neoprene.

[need4art]

Wyatt did my #2 reproducer and I have found that it sounds great even with records from the 40's with no hissing or rattling sounds. A rebuilt Ortho reproducer by him must sound awesome!
Abe

[Victrolaman]

Yes i have heard many good things of his work. I will try this and see how it works but if i can seem to do it i will send it off to him and have it done right the first time

[Rexophone]

I just finished an Orthophonic flange. I was planning to use MicaMonster's technique, but chickened out for fear of leaking silicon onto the diaphragm. I used soft rubber o-rings and a lesser amount GE silicon to seal the entire contraption. It worked pretty well. When I get some more experience on a "practice" reproducer, I may try the all silicon route on my "good" reproducer.

Steve