Cactus needles

[Tpapp54321]

Hey I was wondering how do you use cactus needles to play records and how much are they and how do you sharpen them

[HisMastersVoice]

You use them just like any other needle, except you can use them multiple times before needing to be re-pointed. No harm will be done to a record by playing it with a dull cactus needle, it just sounds terrible. There are special sharpeners that were made to re-point the needles, or you can file them down with an emory board (I think Decca cactus needles come with one, in fact.) They can cost between $10-$40 per package of 12, depending on the brand, condition of the packet, and who is bidding on them.

[Tpapp54321]

Thank you now I'm probably going to get some

[Player-Tone]

Can fresh cactus needles be used? I may buy an indoor cactus so I can grow my own needles.

[HisMastersVoice]

Can fresh cactus needles be used? I may buy an indoor cactus so I can grow my own needles.

No, they are cured and chemically treated to harden them I believe.

[Retrograde]

Can fresh cactus needles be used? I may buy an indoor cactus so I can grow my own needles.

Well, I think the answer is "it depends". I have some that are homemade and they do work, although not as well as originals.

[estott]

I've made needles from Prickly Pear spines. They are very thin & need to be cut to length and then pointed- it takes a while and I'd advise spinning them in a drill chuck against an emery stone. They make fine soft tone needles and on very good records can last 4 or 5 sides. The old ones like Peter Grey needles were made from Giant Saguaro spines which are now unobtainable. They were treated with a hardening solution.

[Henry]

You asked about cactus, with which I have no experience. There are other plants with large thorns that are, or might be, suitable for use as phonograph needles. Around here (s.e.PA) the honey locust tree (Gleditsia triacanthos L.) grows large thorns abundantly in clumps all along the trunk. I have used these experimentally, trimmed to length but otherwise untreated, to play 78 "shellac," with mixed results. They sound OK, but are not as durable as steel, barely lasting through one 10" record side. I wouldn't favor them over the soft-tone steel that I normally use. As always, YRMV! I've never had access to cactus, so I can't venture an opinion about that.

[estott]

I've tried honey locust too - if you let they get thoroughly dry they'll play through a record but the tone isn't good - I don't think they transmit sound very well.

[Retrograde]

A thread titled "understanding Cactus Needles better" on another phonograph board has a lot of info and comments about cactus needles. I also recall someone using Minwax Wood Hardener to improve the performance.

(Admin, if it's against the rules to post links to other boards, feel free to remove the link, but leave the text)