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Turntable Belt Care—talc or corn starch?

While servicing my belt driven turntable recently I discovered my 15 year old container of unscented talcum powder had disappeared. While shopping for more, I found that drug store talcum powder isn’t really talcum powder anymore. Because of cancer concerns, the talc has been replaced with corn starch. For our needs, both can be considered a lubricant.

VPI said using corn starch on the belt is okay, just make sure to wipe any grease off of the belt, pulley and platter rim before you powder and install the belt.

In the past some manufacturers put talc in the bag with the belt. Anthrax fears ended that.

I was able to find real talcum powder online and some dive/surf shops have it (to ease donning wetsuits).

If you’ve forgotten how to powder the belt, put some powder in a baggie with the belt and shake, take the belt out, shake off the excess powder and reinstall.

Why do this? The powder allows the belt to slip slightly on start-up acting like a clutch, reducing/eliminating belt noise and extending belt life.

Maybe it’s just me, but I prefer using talc (a mineral) over cornstarch (a food). Perhaps it’s that talc isn’t water soluble so it’s unaffected by humidity or moisture like corn starch? Is that really a concern? Or that manufacturers have recommended using talc in the past and not the more common corn starch?

Either way, now you’re aware. If even you care.

And if you have a direct, magnetic or idler arm turntable, no belt, no worries—you can stay out of your wife’s kitchen domain looking for corn starch. I recommend that like I recommend talc.

128x128bslon
oldhvymec
5,101 posts
 

Absorbs is the issue in talcum. I’ve never seen anyone use cornstarch. I would’t use it.. I don’t keep my belts in a bag with powder.

 

I clean the belts with warm soapy water. I rinse them in hot tap water and turn them inside out and put them on the right size jar. I let them dry and spray them with silicone spray and let them dry a second time. I remove them from the jar and flip them the correct direction and in a dry new bag they go.. NO POWDER!!

Before I install a treated belt I put it in a talkum dust bag. I powder it. Take it out of the bag with your (powdered) nitril gloves on and drop it on a paper towel a couple of times. Drop it on the narrow side of the belt a couple of times..

 

It’s ready to install. DON’T breath the powder or any powder for that matter.

 

Clean all the pully surfaces with alcohol. Clean and service the platter bearing at the same time.. Same with the motor. Clean, oil and reclean as needed.

 

101 TT maintenance.. Enjoy..

 

Regards

bslon's avatar
bslon OP
2,187 posts
 

@oldhvymec  

Yep, all good. You have flat belts, mine's a single O-ring. I've never used silicone, just talc. My spare is in a dry bag, like you said no need to store them in talc. My maintenance includes all your suggestions along with checking the cartridge mounting screws and VTF since I'm going to all the trouble. Although it's not really trouble is it? It's all in the fun of owning a turntable.

millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 

Why do this? The powder allows the belt to slip slightly on start-up acting like a clutch, reducing/eliminating belt noise and extending belt life.

And then what? Magically knows to stop slipping when playing music? Why on Earth would anyone want slipping???!

Wipe the belt, platter rim and motor spindle with a clean lint free cloth and alcohol. Put the corn starch back where it belongs in the kitchen cupboard.

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