It's been a bit of an R&D project to get this custom base a.k.a. "plinth" for a Thorens TD 124 to come together, but it's coming together nicely. The guy I'm building it for is out of town for a couple of weeks so we have to back burner completing it until we can meet and decide on the finish. Oh the waiting! Until then, here are a few photos documenting the process. And if you know a vintage audiophile with a Thorens turntable, send them my way and I'll make them a plinth too. Gotta capitalize on the efforts I put into creating the template.
Gluing up prototype V1. Ultimately I didn't like how I structured the framework and decided to scrap it, but still ended up being useful to test routing before tackling the final version.
The beveled corners sure were pretty though.
Frame version 2: more solid, more simple. I definitely had over-engineered version 1.
The rounded corners were cut on the band saw to get it close to the finished size so routing would be mostly for clean up rather than heavy wood removal.
I created a routing template from masonite and attached it to the frame blank. At 3-1/2 inches thick shaping this piece would take several shallow passes with the router to avoid tear out.
A final pass with the router from the bottom side with a flush trim bit. As luck would have it, the V1 frame ended up making a handy platform to keep the router stable as I shaped the outer perimeter of V2.
Shaping finished, hands tingling from router vibration.
Next up was test fitting the turntable to the new plinth. The client wants a nice thin border between the turntable and the edge of the base, which I'm pleased to say I've accomplished.
The plinth sanded and outfitted with special feet that come to a sharp point, minimizing contact with the tabletop surface and transference of vibrations. Not to mention they look kinda badass.