The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I have several Diamond Discs that I can't play because the center holes are a bit too small. I suspect the core has swollen over the years. I've considered drilling, but I don't have a drill bit larger than ¼" at the moment. I've also thought about wrapping sandpaper around a dowel and making a sort of reamer. Before I do anything, I'd like to know what you folks have done and how successful you were or weren't.

Thanks,
Kevin

I've used a round wood file. Not as precise as a drill bit, but works...
Andreas

A file will be Good, but you could also get a drill bit that JUST fits inside the centre of a good DD from a local hardware store, that is what I would do! But go slow with it though!

Well, I bought a small "T-handled reamer" at my local Harbor Freight Tools for $3 and it worked just fine. It's intended to slightly enlarge holes in wood and metal. I found that 1 or 2 turns on each side of the record is usually quite sufficient.

FYI, I saw a similar tool at Sears for $10!

52089 wrote:Well, I bought a small "T-handled reamer" at my local Harbor Freight Tools (snip)

I just went to my local Home Depot and picked up one of these simple metal reamers. Don't remember how much, but it was pretty cheap and works like a charm. Because they are tapered, I do one turn on each side (so that it is even) and then try it. Repeat if that is not enough. Always easy to ream a little more, but once it's gone it's gone if you get too aggressive at first.

Clay

MemoryLane wrote:Not as precise as a drill bit, but works.

Yep, and less risk of unintended damage.

Clay