The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Estott:

Great page, lots of info. However all should be warned under NO circumstances should anyone fool around with Potassium dichromate EVER!!! Highly toxic and carcinogenic.

George

Being a fan of fibre needles (I use them almost exclusive for playing classical records), I'll share my two bits, which pretty much echos what Sean said. I've found that on even what appear to be unworn records, it takes some "training" to playing fibre needles. It takes a few plays for the fibre needles to clean out all the gunk (bits of steel and shellac) that build up in the grooves from using steel needles (even if changed after every play). This build-up of gunk will wear the point of the fibre needle. The more you use a fibre needle on a particular record, the better the needle will hold up on that record. On my records that only get played with fibre needles, I can usually get about three plays of a 12" record (3 plays of a single side that is) without repointing the needle. I've never stored my needles in anything but their original containers (whether it be tin, paper, or cardboard) or a pastic baggie if I found them loose, nor have I ever treated them with anything.

Oh, I'll also add that I've found that different sharpening tools also make a difference. My personal favorite is the "Wade" which looks like a hole punch with a funky contraption on the end. Columbia made one that looks just like it, but I'm less pleased with the one I have. I also have the Victor needle sharpener you see in their instruction manuals. While it certainly looks the coolest, I'd say I'm least satisfied with the quality of point it produces.

Zeppy, it's funny you mention the Victor cutters, I got one with it's original box and manual and while it's cool looking, it doesn't give a nice point and mine was new, so I know the blade isn't the issue. The L-door project I got over the summer has a Wade in it and a few new boxes of Victor needles, I thought after I got it running it would be appropriate to try a Victor fiber from the box and try out the Wade, which probably hadn't been taken out of the box more than a couple of times, if ever, honestly. Perfect point. L&H cutters are the ones I use most, though, great points and they hardly shave anything off the end of the needle.

Sean

Fibres are great . I've posted this before but here it is again: it's the instructions from a pack of BH Fibres. This is the company that Victor bought shortly after this was printed.It was " the oily matter in which it is prepared" that stained the instructions. Some of the British collectors in the 30's used graphite to lubricate the part of record which broke down the point.

Jim

Some collectors will use a little wax on a record before playing, some kind of crayon

I must make a correction here - Graphite in powder form is messy but WON'T harmt he records - EMG specifically produced it to REDUCE wear on records

I prefer to use wax candels as recommended by "The Gramophone " magazine in the 1920's to "Help" fibre needles

It is however VITAL that the needles are dry and hard when used. I have used "New" fibre needles i made form Bamboo on good condition records and they played right through but wouldn't use them on worn records without wax.

I have yet to get a needle cutter, I have always made fibre needles out of bamboo skewers (like the hot dog kind). I just carve the skewer down to a good width then put a sheet of sand paper on my VV-VI turntable and sharpen it to a point similar to a steel needle. They usually work pretty well.

deghi wrote:I have yet to get a needle cutter, I have always made fibre needles out of bamboo skewers (like the hot dog kind). I just carve the skewer down to a good width then put a sheet of sand paper on my VV-VI turntable and sharpen it to a point similar to a steel needle. They usually work pretty well.

That is one way, it's rather like the cactus needle method. One reason for using split bamboo needles is that you get continuous fibers from the tip, and also that the hard outside surface of the bamboo is in the groove.

Thanks to everyone for posting all the great information in this thread. I ended up purchasing a bottle of Minwax High-Performance Wood Hardener from Home Depot. I put my fiber needles in the solution for around 4 hours. Then, I took the needles out of the liquid and dried them with a hair dryer. After using the hardener, needle wear is considerably less. For the most part, I can play just about any record that is in decent condition. Of course, worn records eat right through the coating.



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