[78-L] 78-L Digest, Vol 45, Issue 35

[Doug Pomeroy]

Bob,

Interesting thought.  I don't know the zincating process you
describe, but producing an aluminum  disc with smoother walls,
by whatever means, would surely reduce the surface noise
(however, those in pristine condition are surprisingly quiet).

Still I don't believe plating would reduce the noises cause by
grooves which have been eaten away by corrosion.

Another possible avenue: those remarkable compounds which
dentists now use for making dental impressions might be used
to make a new negative - pulled from an old aluminum disc -
which could be plated and played like a stamper with a bi-point
stylus.  (I can dream, can't I?)

Doug

> Message: 2
> Date: Mon, 25 Jun 2012 17:07:10 -0400
> From: "Robert J. Lang" <bobhope at ieee.org>
> Subject: Re: [78-L] Cleaning bare aluminum discs?
> To: 78-l at klickitat.78online.com
> Message-ID: <0M6600627YNP6PQ0 at mta3.srv.hcvlny.cv.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed
>
> Bryan,
>
> Make sure that you don't use any type of cleaner that is strongly
> acidic or basic, since these will attack the aluminum.  The mild
> soapy solution sounds like a good idea.
>
> One thing I've always wanted to try is to send an aluminum disc to a
> plating shop and have them treat it with a zincating process,
> followed by a very thin electroless nickel plate.  The zincating
> process removes the aluminum oxide and replaces it with a thin zinc
> coating that prevents further oxidation.  The electroless nickel
> process replaces the zinc with nickel, which has a low coefficient of
> friction.  That which would make the stylus slide easily over it's
> surface, possibly reducing the background noise.  I wouldn't try this
> on a good disc, but it would be an interesting experiment on a damged
> recording.
>
> Bob L