The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

It's difficult to get a good edge on turntables with a rounded edge. Here's a method that gets good results:
#1 - I like to glue the felt with Elmer's white glue. It's easy to remove the trimmed pieces along the edge.
#2 - Use a drill bit that is larger than the spindle hole. You can turn by hand and it will trim the felt covering the hole.
#3 - Purchase a piece of aluminum stock and cut a piece about 6" long. At one end cut a hole just big enough to fit over the spindle.
#4 - Place it over the spindle and mark along the edge where you'd like the felt to end. At the mark cut a slot big enough to fit a box cutter blade.
#5 - With the box cutter blade in the slot, swing it around with pressure to cut a nice circle near the edge of the turntable.
#6 - Remove the excess edge.

I have also had very good results trimming the outside by, after gluing down the felt (I like 3M spray glue), holding a fresh new single edge razor blade at an about 45 degree angle against the edge. Slowly turn the turntable by hand feeding the felt into the edge of the blade. If it starts to drag, change to a new blade. I've never had to use more than 2.

I like the idea of using a drill bit for the spindle hole. The razor blade has not worked for me so well there as the hole is too small.

Clay

What even works better is a leather punch-you can get the correct one through Tandy Leather craft or you can by a set at Horror Freight.
Abe

I've always used the razor blade technique making sure to do the cuttin on the down stroke into the felt. It has never let me down.

As far as the hole, I heat a carpenters nail set red hot with a torch (well maybe not red hot but pretty darn hot) and it goes through like butter.

Make sure you hold it with something other than your fingers. You'll only make that mistake once but you won't have any trouble cracking a safe after that... LOL.

blizz