@lewm, absolutely. It has always been arbitrary. I suppose that is why I like the spec of 9 to 11% of VTF. I know for certain what I am setting it to which is psychologically comforting. Certainly, skating is basically proportional to VTF. I think we all agree on that. Intervening factors such as modulation, geometry and a tiny degree speed move it one way or the other. I am not sure where the 9 to 11% figure comes from. I'll try to look into that. This all started with an Analog Planter review of the WallySkater which measures the anti skating force as a percentage of VTF. It is a flimsy plastic contraption (A nicely made one) that could be made in China for $10.00 but is sold for almost $300. So I set out to make a device with $45.00 worth of parts that would be easier to use and based it on the 9 to 10% figure Wally Tools uses. I'll get back.
@stringreen, I hate to tell you this but trying to put anti skating on that arm is like wrestling an alligator in a bathtub. You should trade it in for VPI's Gimbal Fat Boy tonearm. You will not hear much difference with or without anti skating until the right channel starts miss tracking on heavily modulated passages. You can overcome this by increasing VTF and thereby compound the problem of groove and record wear. Stare at the cantilever from the front of the tonearm. Line it up perfectly with the middle of the cartridge by adjusting your line of sight then lower the stylus onto the record with the lift. As the stylus contacts the record (this is with anti skate defeated) the cantilever will immediately appear to drift to the outside relative to the cartridge as it leans on the inside left channel groove wall. Does this seem like a good thing to you?
@stringreen, I hate to tell you this but trying to put anti skating on that arm is like wrestling an alligator in a bathtub. You should trade it in for VPI's Gimbal Fat Boy tonearm. You will not hear much difference with or without anti skating until the right channel starts miss tracking on heavily modulated passages. You can overcome this by increasing VTF and thereby compound the problem of groove and record wear. Stare at the cantilever from the front of the tonearm. Line it up perfectly with the middle of the cartridge by adjusting your line of sight then lower the stylus onto the record with the lift. As the stylus contacts the record (this is with anti skate defeated) the cantilever will immediately appear to drift to the outside relative to the cartridge as it leans on the inside left channel groove wall. Does this seem like a good thing to you?