Square Fibre Needles??

[Zeppy]

I've seen these before on ebay, and have always wondered what they are. I've never seen a needle bar that takes a square needle, and they don't look like bamboo. They don't even look like they have enough of a point to fit in a record groove...anyone have a clue what they are really used for (perhaps killing really, really small vampires?)?





http://cgi.ebay.com/310-BAMBOO-FIBRE-PH ... dZViewItem

[richardh]

These look like some "needles" I purchased on ebay about three years ago. However when they arrived they wouldn't fit into my soundbox even though it had the triangular hole for fibre needles. They were far too big and also the "points" were far from sharp enough to play a record. I didn't pay very much for them and I think at the time I just chalked it up to experience and chucked them away.

Unless anyone else has a better experience of these then my advice would be to avoid these.

RJ

[Steve]

The answer's in the question - these are very probably home-made needles which have no use at all in the world of acoustic sound reproduction.

[JohnM]

Actually, those are wooden shoe-making nails. That may not be the correct technical term for them, but that is what they are for.

John M

[B.B.B]

They are, as stated before, wooden nails.
Great for their intended purpose.

Either the seller has no clue or are just trying to scam a few bucks of a innocent bystander

[operabass78s]

On the topic; where is a good place to get fibre needles? I had a batch; and I have a sharpener but they've all lived out their lives and now i need more.

[Zeppy]

On the topic; where is a good place to get fibre needles? I had a batch; and I have a sharpener but they've all lived out their lives and now i need more.

I don't think I've ever found a "reliable" source for them. It's always been a matter of luck and vigilence. Many times I've picked them up pretty much for free in either the cabinet of a machine I've purchased, the needles boxes, or just grab bags of random phono stuff that most people missed. I've found generally, ebay auctions specifically for the needles tend to have insane prices (I refuse to pay upwards for $1 a needles for a bamboo needle!!). I pretty much bid on them any time I see them, just in case one slips throught he cracks, and no one else bids on it. I get lucky once in a while (so why am I telling you to compete with me? Either I must be stupid or too nice for my own good).

I know there was someone on ebay who regularly sold them, but they may have been from the same souce that RJ had. They were too large to fit in the needles chuck, although they would hold a point (I just scrapped the sides until they fit in the needle chuck...a pain, needless to day).

[OrthoFan]

On the topic; where is a good place to get fibre needles? I had a batch; and I have a sharpener but they've all lived out their lives and now i need more.

After a little googling, I managed to find one UK based supplier -- http://www.camcentre.co.uk/shop/index.p ... ductId=144

The price is £3.50 or about $5 per pack of ten, which doesn't seem too out of line.

I don't know if this would be of use, but here are some simple instructions for making your own:

http://www.angelfire.com/nc3/talkingmac ... eedle.html

I heard that someone was trying to make a triangle shaped cutter--basically three cut down razor blades joined together to form a triangle shape--through which one could simply simply draw the strips of bamboo through. It seems, though, that with a little practice, you could trim regular bamboo BBQ skewers to about the right dimensions.

[Roaring20s]

I added a few photos to go along with making your own...

I have been reading and learning from this and other sources over the last year. I think it was Dan's forum that had a great “needle exchange” going on. I any case the Bamboo Needle article was mentioned at the beginning of this topic is what gave me the motivation to get that extra fiber into my diet. I’ll admit I kind of pass on the paraffin step. (Explained later.)

Over the years I had seen these needles and the old timers I met always had a few on their turntable. I just was not interested then to listen to them or be bothered cutting my own. Since I picked up a Vic III it is mostly what I use. (Youth is wasted on the young.)

It was mentioned that it took off the edginess of the sound and that is a great bonus. I like the softer sound. You can adjust the volume way down low when others in the house want peace. Just cut a thinner needle. That thinner needle works better on Othophonic records too. The older records can handle a thicker cut.

All this and less groove deterioration makes it a must.

Training the record groove is true. It can take many plays on some records before the bamboo will last the side. Eventually the bamboo cleans it and coats it, I guess.

On records that have had a lot of use, and sounds it, I have lightly rubbed an old candle over the surface and burnished it in to lessen the drag and wear. (That step falls into the category of, they are your records and you can do what you want to them.)

Badly scratch record will eat them up no matter what you do. Then its back to steel.

I thought about getting a needle cutter. Maybe someday I will. I had in a drawer the biggest unused cutter I would never use. A toe nail cutter with a flat blade edge. It works just fine!

I have added a few photos that may be of use anyone wanting to try making a needle. Do review Dan’s article too. The first image shows the round skewer split into the triangle. The second has been cut to a standard length and has received the angled clip. The third is ready to entertain.

It does not make sense to me to use an abrasive emery board to keep the edge sharp. Why add grit to the groove. The razor cuts quick and smooth. Like needles, a razor must be sharp.

http://victrolagramophones.proboards.co ... =18&page=2

James.

[Steve]

Those needles from Camera Centre are not particularly great, I have to say but some time ago I paid a "ridiculous" price for a batch of used needles - a mix of thorns and fibres.

I probably bought about 200 in all and the needles were approx. ½ to ⅔ of their original lengths. By playing only non worn records and keeping them in an airtight container with silica gel crystals, they have lasted me very well. I haven't by any means exhausted the supply yet and I guesstimate that at the current level, they should last me another 10-15 years. You have to question just how many new steel needles I could get through in this time (say 20 years)and at what cost? So were they "ridiculously expensive"? On reflection, I think not; they were a "bargain". Consider also that I can get up to 12 plays before needing to retip each time.

And for the record purists amongts you, consider also that I have done no audible damage to my records either. What price is THAT worth alone?

The moral of my little tale, is just buy them whenever you can and forget the price!