A Story about a Defective Signature Platinum

@terry9 I recall when the individual who first presented on Forums, Panzerholz as a materials with attractive properties, the response from certain types was contempt prior to investigation, the product was New, pretty much unknown/unused in Audio and was shot down. 10-12 Years on the discussion on it as a material is mainstream. It is a topic on all forums across the Globe and Manufacturers of Audio Devices in a selection of Countries are using it as Panzerholz, or using it with a 'in house' name given for the same material.

Evidence is common to show Organic Origin Materials combined with Synthetics produce materials that are ideal to function in a particular role where mechanical /structural properties are required.

https://www.racefans.net/2022/12/13/super-formula-confirms-introduction-of-new-bio-composite-chassis-for-2023/#:~:text=Dubbed%20the%20'SF23'%2C%20the,as%20hemp%2Dderived%20materials%2C%E2%80%9D

My investigations show you are not the only one investigating the properties of Pampas Grass.

The Link shows it is being identified for its suitability to be a sustainable constituent in the make up of a composite. I think that idea should ring a bell.

Another White Paper I discovered has been impregnating the Stem in a solution diluted using Alcohol as 50% of the mixture. There is additionally a description of a usage of a Vacuum Chamber and a 12 Hour Dry Time of 80 Celsius. 

When I was looking into a Cactus Needle Armature, I discovered a White Paper, that I had a friend investigate. The outcome being they were convinced that the Properties of the Cactus Needle would be satisfactory to function as a Cantilever.

I have a donor Cart' on standby to receive a Cactus Needle and the technicians own design for a form of a Styli.

If I were to attempt to experience a alternative Cantilever from a Brand, where the option is Cactus Needle or Bamboo, The cost will be between £3K - £7K. I am much more settled with the quote I have received for the work to be undertaken.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/338440494_Characterization_of_Natural_Fibers_from_Cortaderia_Selloana_Grass_Pampas_as_Reinforcement_Material_for_the_Production_of_the_Composites

I will take a wild punt and suggest a Composite with a Organic Origin such as Pampas Grass, which is extremely easy to grow (energy efficient) in multiple environments. Will become a constituent in a product, where Lives are dependent on the products  reliability.

It will not be a surprise to learn it is being used in the mainstream industries before 2030. Going Carbon Neutral is demanding this type of research and producing alternatives to full synthetics products. 

Let the naysayers, who are with little foresight than the seeing of the Spectacles on their noses, spue out their protests to such ventures of ingenuity. 

@terry9 

I would taper it like your other wands drilling out the inside so the is almost a constant wall thickness making it a little thicker at the back. I would put a Schroeder like head shell arrangement at the front. What are you doing at the back end of the arm, bearings and such?

@pindac  Ah yes, Panzerholz. It's the best commercially available material that I know of. See, for example, the Reed website. Researchers in Europe, (Netherlands? Germany?) like GLARE, an acronym for Glass Laminate Aluminum Reinforced Epoxy, which is also interesting. But I suspected that biology might have solved the problem of stiffness without resonance a few million yearrs ago - and then I noticed pampas grass in the front yard. Hmmn ...

Thanks for the links.

@mijostyn Unfortunately, there's not much room to shape the wand. Evolution shaped these stalks and constructed them in a way which is pretty much optimal for the task. Boring out the middle would eliminate the mechanical integrity, as would shaving down one end. The only alternative is to put a spacer inside the prism at one end, but this eliminates the strength and rigidity of the closely coupled triple.

I don't like to compromise performance, so I don't use head shells. Besides that, my Mayajima Zero mono lacks the ultimate refinement of the Koetsu, so I don't use it much, and now that I have the Epoch, won't be using the Koetsu so much.

The bearing end of the tonearm is a plate of Panzerholz, which is attached to the air bushing plate (2024 alloy aluminum) with 4 machine screws. The bushing plate is attached to the air bushing (20mm NewWay) with a copious amount of elastomeric glue (M1). Counterweight is silver on a #10 steel machine screw.

@pindac  Looked up the links, thank you. The researchers used pampas grass fibres, interestingly. These seem to have been harvested from the stalks, much denser than what I used, The stalks are about 15% the density of a fibre bundle, and more rigid than balsa of the same density - I was going to try balsa next, after the pampas grass experiment failed - except that it didn't. That's evolution for you.

So I use pampas grass in the same way that nature intended: as a longitudinal whole - the same reason that premium Japanese walking sticks are made from biologicals which have been forced to grow in a certain shape - say a walking stick. Or so I have read.

Wonder why no-one is using elastomerics inside a pampas grass matrix? Well, we are.

The Reed Statement that the P'holz is a near perfect material for a Tonearm Wand is one that I have not seen before.

Interesting that the Company refer to it as Tankwood, as this is the name that Kaiser Speakers have adopted for it in their literature. I have not seen it referred to as this name in other places. (Panzer in German is Armoured in English).

I made it known before I encouraged a Wood Wand user to try out a P'holz Wand and they have not looked back.

I also have been demo'd a Tonearm where P'holz was being used to produce the parts usually that have a metal to perform a function. The P'holz version was noticeably improved and notable for the noise that seemingly had disappeared.

Metal on Metal interfaces do have a audible signature when used at the critical places in a Analogue Source, maybe even the metal body of a Cart' coupled to a Metal Headshell is also a contribution. I have seen AT and others have models with a embedded damping/dissipation material on a earlier model Headshell to transform energies and later models have the Diamond Hard Coating (Technihard) to transform energies.