Turntable Leveling, Again


I may have asked this here before, but...I'm in the proces of moving my music room and am having a HUGE amount of trouble getting my Technics SL-1800 level. I have it on a homemade wall shelf constructed of pine and metal braces. The shelf is as level as I can get it. The strange thing is, using a cheap see-it-both-planes level from Lowe's, at the center of the platter I'm way out, but if I move the level to the edges I'm in. This would mean to me that my platter's not flat...is that the case with the SL-1800, or do I have a big problem? I have another turntable sitting beside it I use for 78s, and it leveled up in about a minute, so I'm not sure what part of this is throwing me off. I have a circular level as well; would I be happier (and less frustrated) with a metal torpedo level, do you think?

Much appreciated,

John Sellards
vanmeter

Showing 3 responses by aceto

I think it is more imporant to get good readings at the edge. I have also noticed the error factor of cheap levels starts really bad then is better over a modest space and then goes bad again over a long run. The marin of error between the not great table and the crumby level may miss the mark altogether. If I have a problem it starts with the base and so a torpedo can at least verify that flatness before moving to the platter and then to the cartridge.
Just seconding the wise above and even my own that levels are accurate only to their rating.
Fatparrot, ok I have a bull's eye. But where do you put it? I know i'm being dense again but the spindle is where I would want to put it.