The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hello All,

I received an Edison Record today and the center spindle hole is so small I can't get it over the spindle. I don't want to wreck the record but from other regular 78s I have had trouble with I know that its not easy to get them reamed out a bit without damaging the records or getting them wobbly.. Any one have a tip on how to take a hair off the spindle hole safely.

Larry

Larry, I would use a good machining reamer by hand. You might be able to use a new sharp drill bit, but it could catch and delaminate the top surface if you don't use it very carefully.

Best,
Fran

Some of the better hardware stores carry a much wider variety of drill bit sizes than just the usual fractional sizes that you buy at Home Depot in an assortment pack. Those special drills can be bought individually. Besides drills measured in 32ths and 64ths, there are also lettered "wire drills". If you have all of those sizes to choose from, you will find something to enlarge the hole only a smidgen. Take a record to the hardware store and find the smallest size drill bit that does not quite fit into the spindle hole. It should enlarge the hole by only a few thousandths inch. If you also have a drill press, that would help you drill the hole straight and true.

I bought a very inexpensive hand reamer at my local Harbor Freight Tools. I generally do about 2-3 turns on each side of the record with minimal pressure and that does the trick.

I use this inexpensive hand reamer bought at Home Depot. Works like a charm and just takes seconds. Just go gently until you get used to the process and work it a little at the time until it fits easily on the spindle.

When looking for one in the store, note that it is two pieces. The "handle" piece just slides in and out of the shaft.

Clay

Thanks for all the tips. I did end up taking a junker edison to the farm supply store near me and they had a case with a large variety of drill bits. I had also taken a drill bit size chart, the kind with the holes in it. I had pretty much figured the size but when I got there I found that my eye wasn't near accurate comparing the spindle hole. The size I would have bought turned out to be loose in the hole. I tired two more sizes before I found one that fit snugly without side movement. I brought it home and put the record in a vice holding it up on end. I put a piece of cardboard on both sides to protect the record. With the new drill bit in an electric variable drill I simply started the drill and it moved easily though the hole. I really thought that was way too easy, but when I bought it home it slid right over the spindle with no movement at all to the side. I will set that bit aside as I know I have a few more records that will go on but tend to stick when trying to lift them off the table.

Larry

If you use the reamer, you don't have to worry about exact size, as it is tapered. Also you would not have to bother with the cardboard and you are much less likely to damage the record than with a rapidly spinning drill.

Clay

FloridaClay wrote:If you use the reamer, you don't have to worry about exact size, as it is tapered. Also you would not have to bother with the cardboard and you are much less likely to damage the record than with a rapidly spinning drill.

Clay

I couldn't agree more. I was a precision machinist for 12 years before my disability and I know first hand what a sharp drill will do when the cutting points grab ahold of soft material. It will rip and tear before it starts cutting, especially if one uses high RPM's and feeds it into the material too slowly.

I personally think that Clay's idea is the best option for maintaining control and being successful.

Best,
Fran

I would never use a drill bit or a reamer. Get a round rat tail file and GENTLY file around the spindle hole. Take a little bit of material at a time. It may be slow, but the repair will be neat and no chance of damaging the record.
Harvey Kravitz

The reamer will also only take a little at the time, unless you really lean into it.

Clay