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A new way of adjusting anti skate!

I was looking at the Wallyskater, a $250 or so contraption used to set anti skate. https://www.wallyanalog.com/wallyskater  It is reputedly the most accurate way to set anti skate. Talking about fiddly. 

The appropriate figure is 9 to 11 percent of VTF. So if you are tracking at 2 grams you want 0.2 grams of anti skate.
My Charisma tracks at 2.4 grams so I should set the anti skate for 0.24 grams..................................Bright light!.
I readjusted the Syrinx PU3 to zero so that it was floating horizontally. I set up a digital VTF gauge on it's side at the edge of the platter so that the finger lift would be in the cross hairs, activated the anti skate and was easily able to adjust it to 0.24 grams. I started at 0.18 grams and just added a little more. Whatever you measure the anti skate from it has to be at the same radius as the stylus. If you do not have a finger lift at the right location you can tack a toothpick to the head shell and measure from that. As long as you have the whole affair balanced at zero you will be fine. Added cost $0.00 as long as you have a digital VTF gauge. 

I would not buy stock in Wallyskater.
mijostyn
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn OP
8,570 posts
 

@joenies , I brought up the idea of renting the tools out. Collecting the purchase price of the tools then refunding all but 10% plus shipping on their return. It did not go anywhere. We do have woodworking clubs that fund a single workshop that everyone uses. I suppose you could form an analog club. $50 admission fee and 25 people would do it. I would get the Wally Skater, the Wally Reference and a Smartractor. 

lewm
14,697 posts
 

Nah! But MC, your avatar Einstein said something to the effect that one should first choose the simplest hypothesis to explain an observation, but not one that is “too simple”. We both agree that there is a skating force and that we need a little anti-skate. It would be too simple to ignore it. I just refuse to be bothered to measure it.

chayro
3,092 posts
 

I personally set up my arm using the AJ Conti method of the "moving more slowly towards the label" method.  But I find it somewhat odd that so many of you, who I would wager have a minimum of 5-10k+ invested in an analog rig, draw the line at this $250 accessory.  Especially when it actually works and seems easy enough to use.  How many people here bought that 1/4 oz of contact fluid for $300?  It's supposedly very good. 

joenies's avatar
joenies
279 posts
 

The OP has a good way of setting anti skate. I will try the OP method in the coming days. Suggest everyone try it. You have nothing to lose and maybe you can get some improvement.

 I agree with “chayro” some people won’t purchase a $250+ tool , but if you are spending $5K+ on a cartridge and do your own setup, these type of tools are worth it.

Have a great holiday season.

joe nies

dover
2,503 posts
 

Cant believe all the negative Nancy's on this thread.

The OP provided an interesting methodology to measure antiskate force.

The methodology can be used for whatever you believe antiskate should be 10%, 20% or whatever. 

Van den hul specifies a recommended antiskate value for his cartridges.

Furthermore one of the most positive aspects of this methodology is that you can use it to verify how accurate your antiskate mechanism is on your tonearm.

From my discussions years ago with the like of Van Den Hul and John Garrott of the Garrott Bros, uneven stylus wear from incorrect level of antiskate is a common problem. 

Any suggestions on how to get it right should be a positive.

 

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