Maple Platform Question


I ordered a unfinished 2" thick maple platform from Mapleshade. It is already sanded and sealed and ready for painting. I will be painting it a semi gloss black as per Mapleshades instructions over the weekend. My audio rack is 42 inches tall and the platform will be on the top shelf making it 44 inches tall. My VPI Scout will sit on top of this platform.

I didn't order the isoblocks from Mapleshade to put under the platform, as they are too tall and would add to the height of the turntable. You can see where I am going with this as I am not very tall, too much additional height would make it hard for me to access the turntable.

I want to sit the platform on something and I was thinking either some felt dots or some hard pliable plastic feet which I can buy from the local Lowes. So, my first question is, will this degrade the sound? Second, I use brass cups under the VPI cone feet, and should I continue to do that or let the cone feet rest directly on the maple platform?

Lastly, I only paid 95.00 including the shipping for the platform unpainted, as opposed to 350.00 for it factory painted. Even if my paint job doesn't come out perfect, I still saved a lot of money.
128x128stereo5

Showing 4 responses by stereo5

They recommend a spray can of 4 coats of semi gloss black lacquer paint non oil based. They said an oil based paint would degrade the sound. I am also wondering if I should put a coat of sealer after I paint it?
They said that maple has certain sound qualities and by using an oil based paint, it seals up some of the natural something or other and degrades the sound. When Mapleshade makes a semi gloss black shelf, it is given 4 coats of black lacquer and then hand buffed. That is what I intend to do although at my age, the hand isn't quite as steady at spray painting. I will do light even coats so the paint doesn't run. The lacquer paint is supposed to give the smoothest finish of all the types of paints.
http://www.audioasylum.com/audio/vinyl/messages/105/1059508.htmlosted pics of the finished platform over at AA Here is the address:
http://www.audioasylum.com/audio/vinyl/messages/105/1059508.html