Cutting a record with a 1936 Presto K8 portable record lathe

[@onomatopoeidia]

Perfect for that style Of music. I’m cutting vinyl again too and cassette tapes. Young musicians have never been able to make a physical product so they are loving having something real. Records require you to sit there with it so totally different experience. Love it and all the best to you!

[@milesobrian5808]

Doing your own music on a 78 in 2019 is so cool.

[@IBuyOldRecords]

I love it

[@HuwDouglasEvans]

There's nothing I don't love about this. Lo-fi rockabilly is the greatest sound in the world.

[@IBuyOldRecords]

Yes it is!

[@SarahRWilson]

There is a particular sound from these grooves that is "that sound". I just heard it here. Thanks for sharing this with us!

[@IBuyOldRecords]

That's exactly it!

[@thebosh7801]

Hi Mack, I'm a rockabilly dj from tbe uk. Found your channel while looming into options for cutting vinyl records. Love your music... You got a new subscriber...

[@thebosh7801]

Ps... I got the same t-shirt you are wearing there... Lol

[@doomservice]

That is one gorgeous Califone.

[@IBuyOldRecords]

I do love it so.

[@engjds]

Awesome, came here looking for record cutter videos, wondered what they used in the 1960's/70's to make the records.

[@davidcarson4421]

This is not an example of a disc recording lathe, which were used by major record companies. Scully was a popular manufacturer of high-quality recording lathes. Presto also manufactured lathes, but this machine is not one of them. This model was primarily marketed to amateur, educational, and radio station markets.

[@engjds]

@@davidcarson4421 Thanks, thats interesting, who would have thought, the drill company Presto making them!

[@davidcarson4421]

@@engjds Different company, as far as I know. Presto was located in Paramus, NJ.

[@lecliche8849]

Your enthusiasm is contagious!

[@chrisreese7142]

How fun! Rockabilly was made to sound like this. I DIG this!

[@Monolith-r3g]

Great Vid. love these old wartime Prestos.

[@Sage_Noko]

I just can't believe that kind of music was recorded nearby where I am, also loved the song, you guys are pretty good!

[@dannysvinylrainbow4852]

I really enjoyed the whole process of home made records and those tunes!!👌 I’d love to have a record cutting machine Vestax made one a few years ago, but they stopped making it.

[@IBuyOldRecords]

Yes, want one meself!

[@YoungLPLovers]

Love that! Keep on rockin’ hombre.

[@MrDuncl]

That sounded far better than I was expecting. My only experience of cutting a record was when I was about six years old, in a recording booth at Temple Meads railway station.

[@IBuyOldRecords]

Thanks, finally getting the formula refined.

[@TheFallmen]

So darn cool!

[@oldradiosnphonographs]

I own something similar made by Meissner in 1947. (Model 1065) but mine has a built in AM radio. It also needs big time restoration, caps, crystal cartridges need rebuilt ect...)

[@PurpleHounding]

Same status, 1946. Plan to get restored. This same machine is on display upstairs at Sun Studio tour.

[@joshmalcom89]

Thru a. Low fi speaker it rocks.. Im about get s new turntable this week im stoked yall dont even know lol

[@lookoutleo]

Super interesting to watch you emboss a record , maybe I could get one of yours sent to Scotland . Would love to visit and watch you create one. Thanks for sharing

[@AdamBHarrisHarpist]

Good one Max

[@EverythingRetro1]

I have had great noise reducing results by using Zoom Spout oil and a Sapphire cutting needle. When I use the oil i spread it evenly and keep it wet when recording then I use Dish soap & water and a sponge to clean off the oil. the only thing is it is harder to collect the swarf from the record so I use a paint brush and my fingers to grab clusters of the thread build up. I even got these pvc blanks to work on a wind up phonograph using ether a fiber needle or a cactus needle.

[@IBuyOldRecords]

I will try that out! Have an older NOS sapphire somewhere

[@ronalddaub5049]

Cactus? Great I have some of that

[@Glendoras]

Brilliant!!

[@rogerarrysheldon8394]

This is encouraging, I have a solid ep maybe lp that's been in progress for over 15 years... this is very much the sound I wanted. I need someone that knows these things ... I would

[@raymondoreilly959]

Really enjoyed that the hiss ! Down to the lighter fluid but you know that .Greetings from Ireland

[@99boardwalk]

This is amazing !

[@papacore73]

Awesome, what a great idea to have at home!!!!

[@IBuyOldRecords]

It's FUN!!!

[@Super8Rescue]

i love the Caliphone

[@khmerrecordarchives5626]

That doesnt sound lo fi at all! It sounds amazing! How did you restore this machine?

[@IBuyOldRecords]

My friend Alberto Telo in Austin did it, he's a wizard

[@uglyaudio9161]

very cool video

[@bismarkwilliamson8117]

Sounds great

[@robfriedrich2822]

In the 1940's there were PVC blanks, they were called Decelith.

[@haroldfarthington7492]

Love 78s. Very interesting you were able to find something like this. Would love to do what you do. Haha.

[@IBuyOldRecords]

It's addictive!

[@JackOfAllTrades2022]

Hi , where do you get cutting needles, I’ve been using embossing needles, works good but not a deep cut.

[@erikb835]

Great music , love it greetings from the netherlands 👍

[@TheGreenDoggoOfWisdom]

Very interesting and cool! Also nice transition there! Lol

[@johnhrzn1501]

How do i go about getting my own disc made? Great gift idea.

[@sugiartoelektro4481]

Excelkent, Pal....

[@DAVIDGREGORYKERR]

Was there a Montgomery Airline Turntable with Record cutter arm?

[@erikmolnar6585]

I would NEVER PLAY MY... just kidding. So the vacuum doesn't effect the cutting with transient vibrations or anything? That's really cool

[@greatadventures7378]

I passed up one of these at Goodwill for $80. I’ll live with the regrets

[@TweezerBleezer123]

A cool guy! 😊

[@koont666]

F*CK me that's most authentic sounding new rockabilly I've ever heard 👍🏼

[@IBuyOldRecords]

Thanks!! A copy can be yours, have some in the UK, or order from me

[@koont666]

@@IBuyOldRecords are they all 78's?

[@HD7100]

I watched this video several times. I have a Meissner record/recorder that I have been restoring. It is not up to the level of your Presto machine but it was the best that I could find and afford. I hope to be able to at least make a few recordings on it and will follow your method of preparing the vinyl blanks. What kind of stylus do you have in your Califone record player? Gary

[@gregoryirwin263]

So damn cool

[@culturefan]

Very interesting, but most modern turntables don't play 78 records, sadly.

[@SarahRWilson]

And the ones that do only have the 33/45 needle.

[@ThePhillydog1971]

my numark played 78,s i had it acouple of years ago

[@outlander-x]

you could speed up the track that you want to put on it, to match 78, and then, play the finished record at 45 or 33, and probably get a decent record. (maybe not for every type of music,, but i bet it would work for some ambient instrumental stuff.)

[@Pluralofvinylisvinyls]

Any turntable worth a damn plays 78s

[@JackOfAllTrades2022]

There’s plenty of turntables that play 78 rpm

[@Atheistic007]

"A little off there, who cares" LOL love it.

[@JackOfAllTrades2022]

Did I hear you say you use a steel needle to cut these records or maybe it was on pvc records?

[@ksteiger]

No lock groove?

[@Pluralofvinylisvinyls]

Too cool.

[@ronalddaub5049]

Sounds good

[@icollectstuff-vinylcommuni7294]

You can cut the song Uncle F****r from the South Park movie on 78 RPM! :D

[@jukeboxmaster6159]

How to you have that music coming through so clear

[@IBuyOldRecords]

Trial and lots of error!

[@jukeboxmaster6159]

@@IBuyOldRecords I have a presto. I am using pvc and tungsten steel needles and they should like crap. Got any pointers?

[@zacharykeener2985]

Do you utilize the onboard amp of the K-8 or an external one? Also, do you equalize the recording prior to cutting (inverse RIAA or otherwise)? The quality is really amazing

[@IBuyOldRecords]

I use the onboard amp, some times I do have to equalize, can't too bassy

[@Super8Rescue]

great fun making your own records, if you can make records with a bit of old tape and a mono recording, even better.

[@zonabike1y2]

Hi Max ! Nice video ! In this machine (presto k-8)- how made space inter tracks - like a another models with lever (presto 6n ) ?? Thanks !

[@davidanderson8500]

Where do you get the blank discs? I have 20 audiodisc acetates, but hate to "waste" them for experimenting. We have a Presto fitted with a Rec-o-cut lathe. Enjoyed the video VERY much. I like the idea of putting things on 78 that never would have been on 78.

[@IBuyOldRecords]

Using PVC blanks from recordblanks.com

[@DAVIDGREGORYKERR]

There is only one other guy who Records 78RPM Records sometimes the owner of Third Man Records an example of this is the LAZARETTO album

[@outlander-x]

i really like it! i tried building a record lathe because i have yet to find one that works that i could afford. it wasn't as good as yours, but i was able to do a cd that would play as a cd, and the unused part had a 33 rpm bonus track. would i be able to have a run of music done? i am looking for someone to do some records (just short run of a few at a time) for me, but most people who have this service are too expensive.

[@ronalddaub5049]

I have a nice audio industries one similar to that with am radio . Where can i get a blank?

[@Rottiezucco1]

Ronald Daub try myshank.com

[@robertpeak5502]

You can also get blanks at recordblanks.com or Ebay

[@zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzxxxxxxxx]

What if you recorded your source material playing at 33 and cut at 78

[@jukeboxmaster6159]

Where do you get your blanks?

[@teamsleepnine]

can you use normal turntables and needle on lathe cut record?

[@IBuyOldRecords]

Depends on the stylus used to cut with, mine play back better with a 78 stylus.

[@GLPmedia]

This post is old, so I do not know if anyone can respond, but I have acquired a huge box of these records that were recorded by my father and uncle in the 40's and 50's, I would love to try and digitize them but have no idea what the best turntable or needle would be. Any inpurt would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much

[@garyandleslied]

Where do you find the pvc blanks and cutting needles? I have an old Wilcox gay recordio I would love to do this with. I do have a few pieces of Plexiglas I'm gonna try. Mine is 33 and 78. I managed to get a little sound on a old CD but the grooves were very fine and hard to track. Made a video of it and stuck it in my channel. It would be a blast to cut some. Also the cutting needle is probably wide like 78 aren't they?

[@IBuyOldRecords]

I get my blanks from an ebay vendor, seems the last bug batch is a little different, less easy to cut, and the needles from a UK supplier, gotta find his info, but I buy his tungsten styli. Those Wilcox Gay cutters are crude and hard to get any fidelity with, but they are fun. The stylus I use seems to be a bit wider than for 45s, and was a happy error it seems

[@garyandleslied]

@@IBuyOldRecords thank you so much for the info. I know what you mean by not much fidelity from wilcox. Everytime i found homemade records from the past they never did sound the best from that. Still quite the machine. Keep your movies coming. Fun seeing your record adventures.

[@bismarkwilliamson8117]

Yeah I wouldn’t play my Son House records on that either but it’s super cool

[@ronturner5560]

sounds like you got a hit record there.

[@litoboy5]

Cool

[@LuizjorgeOfficial]

Do you recorded this disc with tungsten needle or with sapphire needle?

[@IBuyOldRecords]

Tungsten. I have an $$ sapphire, but it does not do well.

[@LuizjorgeOfficial]

@@IBuyOldRecords Thank for your attention

[@DAVIDGREGORYKERR]

You get more bandwidth cut at 78RPM.

[@michaelwilliams9278]

Sir may I ask what does the lighter fluid do

[@IBuyOldRecords]

it softens the plastic, also removes any adhesive from the covering it comes in

[@michaelwilliams9278]

I Buy Old Records sir. I’ve watched this video like 6 times so far. Very interesting. I’m cooking and watching thanks again Sit

[@VagueRANT100]

Rockin"!!!

[@LifeJourney-qp2bc]

Wow amazing Hey can I pay you to cut some of my old recordings onto vinyl?

[@nicolajhardbass1608]

I need some Deathmetal on 78 records. Because we repair old Grammophones and we want to demonstrate our customers, how the Grammophone sounds 😂

[@Rottiezucco1]

Are you using a long shank needle or short shank in the 5C cutting head? I just picked one up to restore, but no needle came with it.

[@IBuyOldRecords]

short, I believe. I get mine from a guy in the UK, made of tungsten and reasonably priced

[@evildrome]

I made the needle. Its tungsten carbide. Very hard and takes a good edge. Needles come in 3/4", 5/8" and 1/2" lengths. Mack's are IIRC 3/4". I only make other lengths to order and its not a common request so I tend to remember who takes non-standard lengths. www.dragengraving.com/recording.htm

[@Resurgam1901]

Hi Max, would you be able to cut me a 78? I did a couple of tunes for a Movie with my Vintage Jazz Band and would love a 78. I also collect 78's. No problem with expenses. how can I get in touch with you? Regards Peter

[@davetrahan6496]

Howdy max I would like to buy this record from you F177A/F177B please advise me on how to.sincerely appreciate Dave

[@IBuyOldRecords]

Which one is that? The Freedonia 78? Write me on facebook, best way

[@davetrahan6496]

Ok will do

[@jeremyironheart1653]

Guitar sounds like early Sonny Fisher

[@IBuyOldRecords]

Yes!!!!

[@kulwantsingh3116]

Sir Mr.Mack nice vedio I need a cheep cutting machine would you help me thanks

[@IBuyOldRecords]

They are rare things, I am also looking for a machine to cut 45 and 33 rpm, hi fi

[@markmarkofkane8167]

Interesting!! I love the 2nd song better.

[@kennyzee3221]

Whats it like in 45rpm? Lol can it cut 45rpm lol silly me

[@patrickplummer9166]

checkout PO-80

[@fredbissnette3104]

Sounds great

[@JackOfAllTrades2022]

Hi , where do you get cutting needles, I’ve been using embossing needles, works good but not a deep cut.