[neobop]

These threads disappear after awhile and this is a reminder where to find bargains on stuff you might need.

A good source for silicone damping fluid and quite a few other things:
http://www.turntablebasics.com/silicone.html

Quite awhile ago Wayner found a digital stylus force gauge.  I'm pretty sure this is the same one:
http://dx.com/p/digital-precision-scale-with-leather-case-5g-max-0-01g-resolution-16269

A few months back I posted a link at the same place for a laser tachometer:
http://dx.com/p/2-2-lcd-laser-photo-digital-tachometer-dark-gray-orange-41842

If you know of good deals on anything for vinyl, please post it.  Sometimes good deals crop up on just about anything.  Let us know.
neo

[Photon46]

Be aware that the digital stylus force gauge you linked to is not resistant to the effects of magnetism, so the magnet in your cartridge will interact with the gauge. It's not a significant factor, but it does alter the reading a little. ( I did order the gauge after Wayner posted the link, it is a great deal.) After consulting with a dealer who specialized in digital scales, I realized how rare it is to find a scale that is suited for this function which is also constructed from stainless steel and isn't affected by magnetism. Guess that helps explain why a specialized accurate digital stylus force scale costs what it does.

[Wayner]

The scale "paddle" on the DX scale is non-magnetic. How do I know? I just put a magnet to it and there is zero attraction. So some salesman is not knowing.

Wayner

[Photon46]

What the scale business owner actually said was (after consulting his manufacturer's reps) was that the manufacturers he represented won't guarantee any of their scale's accuracy in presence of magnetism. Now how much of that is equivocating in the interest of avoiding a legal dispute is anyone's guess.

The way to actually see if a given scale is affected by magnetism is to put a wight on the scale in the absence of a magnetic field and then approach the scale with a magnet to see if the indicated weight varies. There are parts of a scale that are affected by magnetism other than the weighing platform.

[Wayner]

No offense to you Phroton, but how big do you think the magnets are in a typical MM cartridge? They are tiny. The magnetic field about them is tiny. The distance to the scale electronics (load cell in particular) is vast in comparison to the magnetic field generated by the tiny magnets in a typical MM cartridge.

I believe we have some salesman stories here, trying to justify a $200 scale, compared to a $13 dollar scale.

I crossed checked the scale(s) when I got it, comparing it to the Shure SFG-2, and for all practile purposed, pose no detectable differences at all.

Wayner

[Russtafarian]

Read post.  Spent money.

I hate it when that happens...

[Photon46]

Wayner, I reluctantly respond one more time. Not because I'm trying to get into a P*ssing match over who has the high ground here, but because the scale I got did not agree with the readings I got with the same Shure balance scale you're using and another more expensive digital scale that was designed for cartridge stylus force use. We each ordered the same scale but something is different between yours and mine. As to how much magnetism a cartridge generates, I don't know, but the Grado Master 1 I own obviously affects the scale to the tune of about .12 gram vs. what I estimate the reading on the Shure is and the reading on the other digital scale. I'm happy for you that your scale does the job accurately.

[Wayner]

Grados are a moving iron cartridge, and their magnets are somewhat stronger. So you may have a minor argument there. The Shure SFG-2 is a very "unscientific" scale, in the ballpark, but certainly not accurate to .01 grams or even .1 grams. There is no need to be "reluctant", as "we" are trying to get to the bottom of things. While some folks think that .1 grams is fairly accurate, I do not, and that accuracy could be interpreted as + or - .1 grams, which is a variance of .2 grams.

The Deal Extreme scale now comes with a calibration weight, that is suppose to weigh 5 grams. I don't recall my first scale having anything other then the scale and the case, but my second one came with the calibration weight. This may explain the differences between your digital scale and the Shure. The Shure being calibrated to a lesser tolerance, and the digital scale, being out of tolerance.

This, not magnetism, could explain the differences.

I've recommended this scale to lots of people and if there is a problem with it, I surely want to know, so this is not a pissing contest, rather an exploration of 2 people having different results with the same tool. I want to know why. The more we exchange ideas, the father down the road we get to finding out the problem. It's my nature to solve problems.

Wayner

[neobop]

Hmmm, I didn't buy one of the scales because I use my trusty Shure balance.  It's accurate enough for my purposes.  I normally set the VTF near max and adjust it by ear, so it really doesn't matter if it calibrated to 0.01g.  It stays wherever it tracks and sounds best.
BTW, a few years back there was a batch of Shure scales that were made out of plain steel (apparently) and were affected by cart magnets.  I don't know how many are in circulation.

Turntable Basics also has a couple of other items that look like decent deals.  Bubble level - $5.  Carbon fiber brush - $12.  They also have internal tonearm wire for $15.  I can't vouch for these items, I haven't tried them.  The arm wire seems to good to be true for high quality wire.  I've read about people using PC mouse wire for this - free if you have a dead mouse.  My cat supplies one of these every now and then.  She doesn't know they're the wrong kind of mouse.

Need some help with alignment?  Rather than take a hammer to your kid's table, you could try an arc protractor - free with Conrad Hoffman's generator.
http://conradhoffman.com/chsw.htm

Note: These are for arms mounted at exact distance (factory).  If you have a DIY mounting, conventional protractors can be downloaded free at Vinyl Engine.
neo   

 

[neobop]

So, I was looking around at Deals Extreme and look what I found:
http://dx.com/p/s02-25-500x-usb-digital-photography-microscope-magnifier-w-8-led-white-light-black-189472

Here's another one I haven't tried, but it looks strong enough for stylus wear inspection.  Even if you can't get 500X, it should get the job done.  For wear inspection you'll need a high intensity light on either side of the stylus.  They have a bunch of other scopes and magnifiers.  A hand held (30 to 50X) is good for general inspection.  Much more than that is hard to use with a hand held.  To magnify an alignment protractor the auction site used to sell Linen Magnifiers.  These are low power (what you want for this), and stand up at an angle so you can set it on the platter and view the target.
neo

[neobop]

A note about microscopes:  Someone on Audiogon forum bought a 200X USB scope.  He could only get approximately 100X out of it, good for beauty shots and general inspection only.  Maybe the other 100X is supposed to be supplied by the software.  In order to check for wear, I think you would need at least 200 to 300X through the lens.  You're looking for the light reflected off the contact area of the stylus.  That's why you need the lights shining on the tip from the sides.  It also might necessitate defeating the overhead light in the USB scope.

My experience is with a conventional scope - an Audio Technica that had 100, 300, and 500X.  There were 2 different models of the Shure scopes.  The earlier one had 100X, and the later, 200X.  200X is adequate for most tips, but a little hard to see.  Some of the micro tips like the microridge from Namiki, are so small 200X is inadequate.  If half the magnification of these USB scopes comes from the software, I think 900X would be more appropriate. 

Sorry I can't be more definitive, but I've never used a USB scope.  I think, rather than switching lens, the magnification function through the lens is completely zoom, so increased power should only facilitate function in this regard.  If anyone has experience with these please chime in.
neo