Say it aint so--- Teres quality question

I see it got a little carried away here when I went off to work on my TT (BTW, new pics will be up Here). Give me a little time to get them up this morning.

Couple of points. But first, like everyone else, I have no affiliation or financial interest in any manufacturer save myself. If I stand to gain or lose anything it will be because I plan on trying to make a table of my own design using the Teres bearing & motor. I have absolutely no intention of bashing Teres and am nothing but a very satisfied customer.

Focusedfx:

Surely you want to give it some thought. This is not a small purchase. But there are a couple of things you need to think about. Why is everybody so happy with this turntable? There has to be a reason. Personally, I would not let the two, that’s right, only two, issues that have been raised here to dissuade me from buying it. Think of those of us who have dealt with Teres and are very satisfied. I heard he has something like 300 tables out there. Two problems is less than 1%. I don’t think that’s too shabby. If that was a car, it would lead the JD Power list forever. That’s my OPINION.

Patrick:
My Acrylic platter is flat, I would say well less that 1/64" deviation. I was going to put it on a surface plate and use a dial indicator, but that seemed to be a little ridiculous. I also have an answer for the arm board problem. Will email offline.

David:
Wood platters holding up over time. Well, I have given this one a lot of thought, and since I plan to make one soon, here's what I think. The Teres cocobolo platter SEEMS to be made of blocks, infused with west systems epoxy, then drilled for lead. I personally feel due to my experiences with wood, boats, and west systems products that this system SHOULD be able to stand the test of time. A long time. The only problem I would worry about is stress cracks during the machining process. With material the material differences, machining it using standard woodworking methods is probably not a good idea if you want to keep it true. But trying to find a more precision metal lathe that will swing 13" is a problem I worry about when I get there.

Psychic:
Wood can be machined to very high tolerances. It's all a matter of having the right tools and knowing how to use them. The problems that arise when trying to maintain precision are caused by the wide variations in hardness between epoxies and wood. This could be where metal working machinery gives an edge.

Doug:
I agree, there must be something to it if everyone prefers the wood platter. This has got to be something due to resonant properties and density. Denser is better. No brainer. If there is an even better material, I’ll find it. Been doing sh**loads of research on this.

Tom:
I was gonna see if I could drive over and listen to your TT, but, um, maybe in the spring! Seriously though, your situation is probably the most extreme real world test of any wood product. There is the potential to bring out the worst in the platter, and it sounds like there is no worst. This seems to lend credence to a west systems type manufacturing of the platter. This epoxy will lend stability that would otherwise be unattainable using conventional glues especially under these extreme circumstances.

I've said it before, but my experiences with Teres quality is limited to the bearing, motor, acrylic platter et al. I actually have all of these parts sitting in front of me at this moment, as I write. There IS NOT ONE PIECE that I am not impressed with. All of it is the very highest quality. Right down to the cool mylar belt. Nice!

So while I have the ability, I decided to save a few thousand dollars and get the finish I want. If I want to do a little Intarsia to dress it up, cool (do you know what I mean, David?). Although having Ramond's book far from makles me an expert on the process! So I cannot comment on the fit & finish of the finished Teres models. This thread started because of someone's review of the wood platter, and the concerns it raised. Fair enough, for this kind of money it should be damn good.

Thanks for the nice comments. But I think it may be best for me to just stay out of this now. I'm sure you all can come to your own conclusions just fine.

Pat, I agree that it is in everyone's best interest for an audio manufacturer to have good QC and customer service.

Tom, apology accepted, both here and via e-mail. Perhaps I should have only e-mailed you but I felt I was being mentioned as having some vendetta against Teres, which is not the case, and I wanted others to know that. I feel that perhaps this was a case of someone having a bone to pick with what one individual says and being too PC to call them out individually.

It goes without saying that you have been a great help to many on this board and your recommendation of the Teres is not unfounded or unappreciated, nor was such even so much as alluded to in this thread by anyone. That was certainly not my point at all. My only point was that those who call it (or any product) into question do not necessarily have sinister motives. If one does, and another knows that, I think it is their duty to call them out specifically. Since I was the ONLY one to take issue with ANYTHING you said here, something as melodramatic as leaving the thread is clearly unwarranted, as others have said.

I will also add my apologies to the other posters here for wasting there time. No acrimony on my part, just trying to clear my reputation (with need or not).

Joe, Intarsia for the Teres! Hmmm. I recall doing a lot of that at one time including a project for a woman who wanted clusters of grapes, vines, and leaves to spread out over the back stretcher of a rocking chair and then spill down the sides and out onto the arms. A toughy.

What are your plans for your wood table? Just on the base, or maybe musical notes round the platter! :-) One thought is that if you're going to use coco, SHARPEN those tools! :-)

I still have a great affinity for marquetry, though, and can think of any number of inlay patterns that would be absolutely stunning on an all-wood table.

Okay, Teres owners please take out a ruler and tell me how tall your armboards are. I'm getting conflicting information as to the height. Chris states in an email to me that 27 mm (1.06") is the right height and that sounds good based on my problems. The one supplied was over 41 mm (1.60") and another owner is under the impression that is the correct height. The only thing I can think of that would make both these two dimensions work is if the platter height had changed at some point.