Not quite OT: Does anyone know where to buy a turntable spindle bearing?

[spasticteapot]

A friend wants to try building a turntable, and was wondering if anyone knows the best way to go about finding the bearing that holds up the platter. I've seen $300 "audiophile upgrade" bearings, but considering that most turntables aren't eleventy billion dollars, it stands to reason that a cheaper model should be available.

[bmaupin]

Goodwill - $5 gets you entire turntable for parts.

[kornphlake]

I'd try some type of Teflon bushing. McGuire bearing or Kaman bearing should be able to find something in one of their catalogs, if that fails you can order just about anything from www.mcmaster.com

[john trials]

Make your friend post a build thread!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm a mechanical designer with an electrical engineering degree, and often thought that making an over-the-top turntable would be a fun project. I'd probably go overboard with a super-accurate control system for the rotational speed.

[Chris Roemer]

Make your friend post a build thread!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm a mechanical designer with an electrical engineering degree, and often thought that making an over-the-top turntable would be a fun project. I'd probably go overboard with a super-accurate control system for the rotational speed.

My old, trusty AR (now retired), simply used 1 steel ball down a hole with a drop of oil. The spindle sat on top. A small AC synchronous motor set the speed (as well as the utility could maintain 60 Hz), "geared" to 33-1/3 rpm (and 45 as well) by a rubber band (I mean, belt) wrapped around the platter drum and either of the small properly proportioned pullies on the motor shaft. The whole shebang (along with the tone arm "up" shaft) is mounted to an aluminium chassis which is triple sprung. Microacoustics cartridge. Loved that thing. (Tear.)

Chris

[Frank]

Goodwill - $5 gets you entire turntable for parts.

Sure can. Got a Technics SL-230 for that much about 15 years ago, maybe more. Still works.

[tom_s]

A friend wants to try building a turntable, and was wondering if anyone knows the best way to go about finding the bearing that holds up the platter. I've seen $300 "audiophile upgrade" bearings, but considering that most turntables aren't eleventy billion dollars, it stands to reason that a cheaper model should be available.

Have I got a deal for you! I have most of the parts from one of these -



No arm or dustcover...and it needs work on the electronics, but the basic parts are there. Nice heavy platter and a smooth, tight bearing. It's an AR on performance enhancing drugs!

PM me if your friend is interested.

Tom

[r-carpenter]

http://www.bearingsdirect.com/
http://alpinebearing.reachlocal.com/...reachlocal.net
http://www.locateballbearings.com/?g...FUWC5QodVkKYLA

just google it man.

[mike s]

http://www.smallparts.com/

[spasticteapot]

The problem with most of these bearings is that they're not designed to take loads through the axis of rotation. Turntable spindle bearings are generally of the ball-bearing-in-a-tube variety because they can take a lot more weight and still spin, and because they spin smoothly enough that they don't introduce vibrations into the record.

Does anyone know how hard it might be to fabricate one of these? I saw one made out of a Harley-Davidson valve assembly, but at about $115, it seems an awfully expensive way to do it...

[Æ]

Your best bet is like someone else said, go to a Thrift Store and get a used table for $5 - $10. Plenty to choose from. All you need is the spindle/bearing, right?

I've kind of been trying to make my own turntable, but it isn't exactly easy. The problem is that I could really use a mill and a lathe.
I have a salvaged bearing, platter and dust cover from an early REGA.

[billagee]

About a quarter way down the page.

http://www.altmann.haan.de/turntable/

Bill