VPI 16.5 clamp

I bought a second hand HW-16 that appears to have been kit upgraded to a 16.5. It has the original foam platter. I've never experience a problem with slipping, but I have had a record or two seized by the vacuum wand. The LP stood still while the platter spun under it. I need to work on the wand's adjustment it appears, but I'll deal with it when my new wand arrives. The used one looks well used.

It's hard to make a case by case determination on each and every machine, if there are those who note seizing, or the record slips, or another result of mal-adjustment of the vacuum tower assembly can be cracked vacuum tubes.

A few months back, Harry W himself described the vacuum tower adjustment on the VA forum which I mentioned earlier.

If the collar is too high upm on the vertical vacuum tube, it will then permit the entire wand to come down further than it needs to onto the record.

With the vacuum pressure to continue to draw the entire wand down past the actual height of the record, this cause excessive pressure upon the record and wand, can be a cause of cracking the wand at its junction, and can perhaps be causing too much friction between the wand, and record to cause siezing, or slippage.

Excessive pressure as well could possibly also cause premature wear of the velvet protective strips.

Thanks for the heads up about the new VPI Delrin Vacuum Wand, will have to research this some more. Mark

Hi Mark,

It's not on their website yet, but if you email them or call Mike you can get one. pending getting stock out to dealers they were doing a bit of a deal on it a month or so back. I think it's going to list around $70 range.

I cracked about a half dozen acrylic wands before finding out about the adjustment of the ring.

Cheers,

finski

While were talking about the HW-16.5, what is the thickness of the cork mat? I'm thinking of buying a neoprene sheet ala Markd51's mod. Thanks.

Hello Kgturner.

Not sure of the cork mat thickness, but I suspect it is slightly thinner than 1/16" thick. I have a quite lengthy article about the swap-mod on osageaudio's site, the maker-seller of AIVS cleaning products. The article is under the header of "RCM Museum" on the AIVS main page.

I believe I used 1/16" thick Neoprene Sheet, without a Self Adhesive backing, and used DAP Contact Cement. The first time, I bought self adhesive backed sheet from McMaster-Carr, and the surface was slightly bumpy due to poor adhesion.

It wouldn't have been a problem in use, but it didn't look good, and wasn't to my liking, so I got another sheet without the adhesive backing.

Either 1/16", or 3/32" thickness should be fine.

With Contact Cement Adhesive, the mat will then be basically permanently affixed, but IMO, it will be the last Mat you'll ever need.

Do not forget you'll need to punch holes in the Mat for the Spindle, and also the 3 access Holes for the 3 Screws that fasten the Platter to the Arbor. I used a spent .38 caliber case, with its edge sharpened with sandpaper as a makeshift inexpensive punch.

Just in case you ever have a Platter Motor go bad down the road, you will need to remove the Platter to gain access to the Motor's Mounting Plate Screws. Mark