Needle Sharpening

[carguyzm10]

I just received my first acoustic machine today, and I've quickly realized that I am going to burn thorough a lot of needles with this thing. Is there any way to sharpen the old needles so they can be reused, rather than constantly buying new needles?

[schweg]

I don't think anyone will recommend trying to sharpen Steel needles. Maybe you could try some bamboo needles that can be sharpened and re-used. I remember one of the members who used bamboo cooking skewers and shaved them down to use as needles. I've not tried this, I prefer to skewer shrimp with them and go with some shish-ka-bob instead.....

Steve

Steve

[barnettrp21122]

Here is the link to an earlier discussion about bamboo needles.

victrolagramophones.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=music&action=display&thread=18&page=1

I contributed some info regarding using skewers. I use bamboo almost exclusively, and enjoy making them. You end up with some "duds" but occasionally get a great needle that rivals steel with its clarity and volume!
Bob

[gramophone]

Steel needles when new have a conical point.When you play a record the point is shaped by the material in the record to form to the grooves better.If you use that needle again,it will start to incise the record causing abnormal wear to the record.I would ask a local botanist about a thorned bush.If
you find the right one and let the thorns dry,you can get good use and sound from them and no wear to your records.As for bamboo skewers......I'm with Steve.BBQ time!!!!.Bamboo is too soft and I find you will be lucky to finish one record before you have to cut it again.Cactus thorns are another great substitute as well.

[barnettrp21122]

I will agree that bamboo won't work well with worn records. The groove is already rough and will chew up the point quickly. I use steel needles on those, since the wear has already been done. Bamboo doesn't perform well on lots of 40's-era discs either, but I feel they treat pristine records a lot more kindly than any other acoustic methods. The least wear, of course, comes with using correct modern equipment, but the fun for me is in playing the old machines!

Bob

[Moooperator]

www.78rpm.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=NRC&Category_Code=112


You can order 5 packs of 100 needles for $17.50 from Knuck's website $1.50 shipping. you can mix soft and loud packets.

At phono shows you can buy them $3 a pack.

[carguyzm10]

Alright, well I guess needle sharpening is out. Also, we don't have any real "thorny" plants in this area, besides sticker bushes. So, I guess I will most likely stick with steel needles. Seems like such a waste of steel though. Oh well.

[AZ]

I buy my needles in bulk by the thousands. In those quantities, the price per needle is often around 2 cents each.

The quality of new needles varies a lot. I've heard good reports about the needles that Kurt Nauck and Walt Sommers sell, but I've never used them.

For quite a few years, I've been using needles I've purchased from Mike Child in Bedford, England. He sells on ebay under the name "soundgen." He also has a webpage:

gramophoneneedles.blogspot.com/

[old-phonographs]

I have ordered needles from APSCO in the past and they are very high quality. I ordered a huge amount a few years ago and still have not run out. It's definitely best to order in quantity if possible. HEre is a link to their site.

www.antiquephono.com/

Dan