[orthobiz]

I have finally hooked up ChairGuyJohn's HW-19 (guess it's orthobiz's now!).

I need a mat. I've been to the Herbie's site but I seem to remember John talking about a mat that had removable dots and I didn't see it. Right now I'm using an old Linn felt mat and already the static cling is coming as summer fades.

So what are your faves? I'm guessing I'm not supposed to play LP's with no mat at all, right?

Paul

[twitch54]

I'm guessing I'm not supposed to play LP's with no mat at all, right?

Paul

it is dependent on your platter (I'm using the VPI 'Super Platter'..no mat)

[orthobiz]

I have the original MkIII platter, thick composite with a cork bottom. Apparently made out of acrylic later. It's black...do I even need a mat?

Paul

[guest48077]

I made a mat out of cork, it cost me about 2 bucks. Turned out pretty good

[TheChairGuy]

So what are your faves? I'm guessing I'm not supposed to play LP's with no mat at all, right

Harry Weisfeld likes no mat at all (on The Classic, too)....I just added the Herbie's mat.  I'm not sure I ever used the table without one.

Enjoy!  John

[Mariusz]

Ringmat over acrylic platter works on one of my tables.
But DIY cork mat might work well too. It might be worth a try before plunging your money on sometimes pricey commercial offerings.

Mariusz

[Wayner]

I made a DIY mat out of this stuff that you can get all over the place. It's kind of like rubber and perforated. Easy to cut to shape. I think it's made by Rubbermaid, meant to be used as shelf liner. I also have this stuff lining the bottom of my toolboxes.



Don't forget to change your VTA if you add the mat.

Wayner

[orthobiz]

I like the DIY thing, mainly because I like to think I can do handy things and secondarily because it's inexpensive.

But do you use a protractor to make a perfect circle?
Do you trace and cut?
Is there some kind of expensive circular cutting tool I can buy and justify the purchase by saying "look at all the money I'm saving on turntable mats!"

Paul

[Miney]

I used a circle ruler to cut a cork mat - ~$2.00  @ the arts supply store.  Put the exacto knife in the right hole and around I went.  Took 2 tries, but the materials are pretty cheap. 

Not sure how well this method would work with the Rubbermaid material since that stuff is a bit sticky...  suppose you could put a sheet of wax paper or something between the ruler and mat.  I like the look of that one Wayner... might have to give it a try.

[BobM]

I also have the black MK III platter. Wayner sent me one of his mats, along with a standard felt one, to try out. This platter is just much better without a mat IMO.  I think a mat may make sense if you're not using the clamp, but with the clamp it just sings better.

Now I can't say that it wouldn't help the acrylic platter or new Classic platter though.

[orthobiz]

I also have the black MK III platter. Wayner sent me one of his mats, along with a standard felt one, to try out. This platter is just much better without a mat IMO.  I think a mat may make sense if you're not using the clamp, but with the clamp it just sings better.

Now I can't say that it wouldn't help the acrylic platter or new Classic platter though.

I have the clamp and a periphery ring. I'll try it "bare." At least when the cold static weather comes, the record won't lift the PLATTER!

Paul

[Wayner]

I happen to have an extra AR-XA platter and outer ring. I cut out four squares with my Exacto knife in the center of the sheet for the spindle, then put the sheet onto the platter. I then turned it all up side down and took off the inner platter and used and Exacto knife to cut the round shape of the outer platter. I could go into production.....

Wayner

[TheChairGuy]

I like the DIY thing, mainly because I like to think I can do handy things and secondarily because it's inexpensive.

But do you use a protractor to make a perfect circle?
Do you trace and cut?
Is there some kind of expensive circular cutting tool I can buy and justify the purchase by saying "look at all the money I'm saving on turntable mats!"

Paul

Those GripLiner mats that Wayner mentions work pretty well, actually....not quite as good as Herbie's in my opinion, but for 1/12 the price, really high value.

http://www.organize.com/12x5black.html

Rubbermaid's version is called Gripliner and it's OEM'ed by a company in Georgia called Griptex.  You can find Griptex in carpet stores (that's their balliwick)....tho they don't have pretty colors (just natural...which is kinda' jute-colored)

Paul/miney has come up with the most exact method to cut them...which I am alarming unsurprised at

John

[vinylphilemag]

I'm firmly in the "no mat on your platter" camp, unless the TT is comes with one.  I wouldn't dream of putting a mat on my Forsell Air Reference!

[Wayner]

Of course, you could make my design DIY I call No-Mat. It's a series of silicone dots spaced at 30 degrees (so you'll need 12). The end result is very quiet, almost like listening to CDs.



Wayner  aa

[Sonny]

Wayner,

That's a good possibility, only thing is, make sure you adjust your VTA!
Won't work for those that don't have VTA Adjustments.

Tuan

[Sonny]

I made a DIY mat out of this stuff that you can get all over the place. It's kind of like rubber and perforated. Easy to cut to shape. I think it's made by Rubbermaid, meant to be used as shelf liner. I also have this stuff lining the bottom of my toolboxes.
Wayner

Problem with this, as I did this years ago, is that the mat/rubber maid stuff, leaves a residue on your lps.

[Wayner]

Adjust your VTA. On my ARMod, the difference in thickness is marginal.

On the Rubbermaid stuff, wash the material with soap and water to remove the residue.

Wayner