DIY tonearm

This is my DIY tonearm. I made it from a carbon arrow shaft, computer hard drive bearing, gimbal from a Garrard GT-25 and a couple of bearings I bought from McMaster Carr.
Final design can be found here; • DIY Schick/SME tone arm
and here: • Garrard LAB 80 Custom

[@jdsalinger73]

I'm no expert, but this DIY arm is so fun to listen to. Not bragging in any way. I have read up on a lot of tonearm design theory and DIY projects. It is crazy how good this guy sounds! I don't have the ear of some experts, but to me, it is the gold standard. I'm in the process of designing a unipivot tonearm, but this arm will stay in place until I determine a better design.

[@Poppinwheeeeellllllieeeeez]

I used a crossbow bolt that is large enough in od diameter to drill out with a 5/16" bit and lightly sanding the id until the headshell adaptir will slide in with moderate pressure. Great idea. I also used tge bearing from a technics parts table. Im hunting a ground loop currently. It plays, but the noise is killing me.

[@jdsalinger73]

Didn't mean any disrespect to the original tone arm by calling it cheap. This is 5 years ago and since, have increased respect for the LAB 80.

[@Nihil1st1347]

Pls next time make a uni pivot tonearm. thank you.

[@Renegadeproject]

This is an interesting DIY tonearm

[@user-ht6qt6zv1c]

I would have placed a snug exterior brass sleeve over the carbon shaft where the horizontal pivot occurs (in the gimbal). Very well thought out design.

[@jasonjackson3114]

Brilliant. Great job.

[@steveducell2158]

I have wanted to build a tonearm using the bearings from a computer hard drive. Figured they would be fairly decent

[@jdsalinger73]

Actually, it did, but there isn't a great method to attach the gimbal to the bearing. I ended up scrapping this bearing and designing a clone of the Schick bearing. I used high quality ball bearings from McMaster Carr. Worked out just fine. quiet and smooth. I'll upload a video of it this weekend as a follow up to this one.

[@steveducell2158]

thx for the answer can t wait to see good luck

[@jdsalinger73]

I added a couple links in the comment section and I added a card to this video. Have fun!

[@chazlabreck]

Old post but i saw another where you used a different bearing and said you had not been happy with the HDD bearing and i'm curious to know why as i'm trying to design stuff around old hard drives..and what kind of drive had the motor bearing that has the flange?

[@Rheasound]

what is the effective mass?

[@martinda7446]

It's G as in 'gulp' or 'garage' Garrard not gerrard.

[@jdsalinger73]

Noted. Thanks

[@martinda7446]

Oh my goodness, now I feel terrible. It sounds very bad how I wrote that, It's a lovely looking tonearm. Good job.

[@jdsalinger73]

No offense taken. Thanks for the compliment.

[@keithcoltron3171]

It's a good job I looked, just what I was going to say, maybe it's because English isn't the first language in America/Canada?

[@madmeister407]

It's not Geeeerrard it's Gaaaa rrrrrarrrrd.

[@Marian1983.2D]

Any tonearm needs antiskating, bruh.....