NOTE: For anyone concerned about this, I spoke to VPI and they confirmed there is no lacquer finish of any kind on this platter. It is raw polished metal. There is no harm to the platter or your records by polishing the platter properly. The company uses a similar polish on the platters before they are assembled. A thorough buffing of the top will leave a safe metal surface for your records to be clamped to. All these concerns were thoroughly investigated by the designer of the table, Harry Weisfeld.
You have your platter shinning like a new nickel! Thanks for the video, Scott. Hope your AC comes back on. The humidity here in central FL is terrible.
Looks beautiful, nice job! The only thing I would do after polishing is take a q-tip with alcohol and run it in the grooves to make sure there is no compound remaining, just rotate the platter and hold the q-tip in the grooves. I would do it until the q-tips stop turning black. It might take several q-tips.
Excellent suggestion! Of course it important that the grooves are super clean with nothing remaining, and a q-tip could accomplish that effectively. Thanks for watching!
Great video! One bit of a conundrum that I foresee, is the process of handling and putting back into position the platter after it has been polished. I can only assume that if you aren’t able to do it with cotton gloves on, you’re going to leave a series of new finger prints / smears on whatever part of the platter is touched and handled while putting it back. Is there a particular method that you use to mitigate that problem?
Yes, I have a pair of simple white cotton gloves from the hardware store. You really need a pair to get a good grip without leaving a mark on the platter. I should have included a segment of me placing it back on the table.
Ha, seen this before. With my Transrotor TT Aluminium platter which weighs abt. 22 lb it is a similar strenuous exercise. Since the top surface usually is covered with a separate special mat, called the Däd!Mat, the challenge comes especially with side facing. The manufacturer advises machine polishing only due to unwanted shades and reflections caused by hand polishing, and that’s what I am experiencing all the time. Occasionally my fingers slightly touch the sides e.g. when turning records and leave a mark. Then I am seeing the platter when rotating with shades and reflections. So hard to get an even hand polish and a machine polish is out of reach for me. Or maybe I am just to meticulous about it. Many thanks for sharing.
Very good observations, I'm surprised I have it as even as I do, because the side is where the challenge lies. You want it consistent when spinning. I may try a felt wheel on a drill just to see if I can get it truly flawless, but it's very good now. I sometimes turn the heavy platter at startup, but I use the clamp to do it rather than touching the side of the platter, so that may help to keep it free from fingerprints.
Lucky you! Ha, of course, I already tried the felt wheel on a drill method which gave it a better even finish but still way off I want it to look like when reflecting under/in light. Maybe I need to check out professional cleaning and machine polishing options again in my local area to know for sure what‘s still possible or not. Love your music, love your records, love your turntable :-)
I don't understand why VPI would make an expensive turntable like that, then polish the aluminum platter and leave it raw. I would have expected either a clear or silver anodized finish to protect it. People don't realize what a nasty metal aluminum is and it will oxidize repeatedly if not coated.
When you anodize it it becomes harder and nonconductive and won't drain off the static as well. We have tried it all... anodize, powder coat, and even automotive finish. Raw aluminum ended up having the best results for us and closes sonically to the master tape. 👍👊
They tell you never to polish off the clear lacquer off a LINN other platter because it's almost impossible to keep the shine even. Also, when the platter turns after its polished, it always looks uneven.
Yes this is not recommended for a platter with a finish coating! This is only my experience with this platter. It now looks consistent as it spins and shines perfectly. I have heard of people using a light coat of high quality wax to protect the appearance over time. I'm not recommending that, bare metal is what is intended by the designer. If it needs a spruce up in a year, it's literally a 15m procedure.
Ouch Scott, what’s in that polishing compound? Do we want our clean lps resting on that film of mysterious toxicity? White vinegar sodium bicarbonate followed by distilled water rinse to remove any remnants sounds safer to me. I want my lps to be cleaner than the cosmetic appearance of my platter. Final buff I believe does not remove the layer of compound on the platter. Sorry but I hope I’m wrong and your sexy polished platter does no harm to your precious collection.
@@ThePressingMattersnot going to be easy to remove that film Scott. Liquinox followed by citranox should be able to remove followed by distilled water rinses. But that will undo all of the polishing effort
The method got the nod of approval from VPI, but I'll ask your question. With a proper buff off, it should not be a concern. It should be bare metal. I may use a buffing wheel on a drill for a final pass.
NOTE: For anyone concerned about this, I spoke to VPI and they confirmed there is no lacquer finish of any kind on this platter. It is raw polished metal. There is no harm to the platter or your records by polishing the platter properly. The company uses a similar polish on the platters before they are assembled. A thorough buffing of the top will leave a safe metal surface for your records to be clamped to.
All these concerns were thoroughly investigated by the designer of the table, Harry Weisfeld.
Fantastic looking platter..very helpful. I like the fact that you followed up with the manufacturer, etc. to find out the correct way to do it....
You have your platter shinning like a new nickel! Thanks for the video, Scott. Hope your AC comes back on. The humidity here in central FL is terrible.
Yes it came back on and the platter looks amazing!
I have a vpi classic in my bedroom rig
I am going to order some of that polish and clean the platter!!!! Ty sir
You're welcome! You can get two for a great price through my Amazon link.:
amzn.to/3Y8MkqW
Looks beautiful, nice job! The only thing I would do after polishing is take a q-tip with alcohol and run it in the grooves to make sure there is no compound remaining, just rotate the platter and hold the q-tip in the grooves. I would do it until the q-tips stop turning black. It might take several q-tips.
Excellent suggestion! Of course it important that the grooves are super clean with nothing remaining, and a q-tip could accomplish that effectively.
Thanks for watching!
Great video! One bit of a conundrum that I foresee, is the process of handling and putting back into position the platter after it has been polished. I can only assume that if you aren’t able to do it with cotton gloves on, you’re going to leave a series of new finger prints / smears on whatever part of the platter is touched and handled while putting it back. Is there a particular method that you use to mitigate that problem?
Yes, I have a pair of simple white cotton gloves from the hardware store. You really need a pair to get a good grip without leaving a mark on the platter.
I should have included a segment of me placing it back on the table.
A great opportunity to put a dab of SuperLube Multi-purpose synthetic grease on that bearing as recommended by VPI yearly too! 😁
Absolutely! We did it two months ago when I first got the table. Thanks for reminding everyone! I should have mentioned that.
Ha, seen this before. With my Transrotor TT Aluminium platter which weighs abt. 22 lb it is a similar strenuous exercise. Since the top surface usually is covered with a separate special mat, called the Däd!Mat, the challenge comes especially with side facing. The manufacturer advises machine polishing only due to unwanted shades and reflections caused by hand polishing, and that’s what I am experiencing all the time. Occasionally my fingers slightly touch the sides e.g. when turning records and leave a mark. Then I am seeing the platter when rotating with shades and reflections. So hard to get an even hand polish and a machine polish is out of reach for me. Or maybe I am just to meticulous about it. Many thanks for sharing.
Very good observations, I'm surprised I have it as even as I do, because the side is where the challenge lies. You want it consistent when spinning. I may try a felt wheel on a drill just to see if I can get it truly flawless, but it's very good now. I sometimes turn the heavy platter at startup, but I use the clamp to do it rather than touching the side of the platter, so that may help to keep it free from fingerprints.
Lucky you! Ha, of course, I already tried the felt wheel on a drill method which gave it a better even finish but still way off I want it to look like when reflecting under/in light. Maybe I need to check out professional cleaning and machine polishing options again in my local area to know for sure what‘s still possible or not. Love your music, love your records, love your turntable :-)
@@thomashertl3037 Perhaps an auto body shop could do it professionally.
Great idea! Many thanks! There is one nearby which specializes in luxury car cosmetics.
@thomashertl3037 I may look into that as well!
Little bit of elbow grease makes a big difference! Enjoy it! Hopefully, with a cold cocktail.. you deserve it! 🍹
Thanks! It was fun and the result is so satisfying. I appreciate your taking the time to watch it!
yeah whats more classic than polishing with Mothers Polish.
It has 1,001 uses!
Sir, that borders on obsessive-compulsive disorder!
🤓👍
I've always loved polishing things! Sanding too!
@@ThePressingMatters 😎
I don't understand why VPI would make an expensive turntable like that, then polish the aluminum platter and leave it raw. I would have expected either a clear or silver anodized finish to protect it. People don't realize what a nasty metal aluminum is and it will oxidize repeatedly if not coated.
You might be surprised at the answer... because it sounds better. I'll leave that for you to ponder. Believe me it surprised me too.
@@ThePressingMatters
Oh boy, here we go, lol. 😉
🍿Get your popcorn!
Please read the pinned comment and the note at the top of the description.
When you anodize it it becomes harder and nonconductive and won't drain off the static as well. We have tried it all... anodize, powder coat, and even automotive finish. Raw aluminum ended up having the best results for us and closes sonically to the master tape. 👍👊
They tell you never to polish off the clear lacquer off a LINN other platter because it's almost impossible to keep the shine even.
Also, when the platter turns after its polished, it always looks uneven.
Yes this is not recommended for a platter with a finish coating! This is only my experience with this platter. It now looks consistent as it spins and shines perfectly. I have heard of people using a light coat of high quality wax to protect the appearance over time. I'm not recommending that, bare metal is what is intended by the designer. If it needs a spruce up in a year, it's literally a 15m procedure.
Ouch Scott, what’s in that polishing compound? Do we want our clean lps resting on that film of mysterious toxicity? White vinegar sodium bicarbonate followed by distilled water rinse to remove any remnants sounds safer to me. I want my lps to be cleaner than the cosmetic appearance of my platter. Final buff I believe does not remove the layer of compound on the platter. Sorry but I hope I’m wrong and your sexy polished platter does no harm to your precious collection.
No worries, you make a good point and I do mention it all must be removed. The final buff was shortened for the video of course.
@@ThePressingMattersnot going to be easy to remove that film Scott. Liquinox followed by citranox should be able to remove followed by distilled water rinses. But that will undo all of the polishing effort
The method got the nod of approval from VPI, but I'll ask your question. With a proper buff off, it should not be a concern. It should be bare metal. I may use a buffing wheel on a drill for a final pass.