Butter Rug D.I.Y.

If I remember correctly some guy posted this on the old Scratchcon boards. A couple of years ago they went offline but I kept this, it is a description on how to make your own Butter Rugs. I have never tried it, but if you fancy a little arts & crafts, have a go.

Prototype of the Butter Rug (quoted)

“Here is the information for the original design.
The original name for these were belated scratchmats (maybe a little un-b-boy hip but that’s what best describes).
The idea is to build up the middle area so that it’s a little lower than the outside silver ring on the edge of the platter, – 0.010 – 0.012 inch. This will distribute some of the weight towards the centre making it easier to turn more torque. These mats should last you a lifetime, mine have lasted me 2 years and the spindle area is still tight.

Go to the fabric store. Buy:

  • nylon organdy at about $3 for a square yard
  • some of their lightest weight ‘felt interlacing’, black or white, you should be able to see through it
  • some spray glue
  • a rotary razor-blade
  • clear postal regulated packaging tape (make sure the roll is clean and has no bumps)

Cut two pieces of tape, 6 inch long each. Cut the nylon and felt into square-foot pieces. Assemble the pieces of tape into a cross pattern onto the felt interlacing. Be sure to be gentle and don’t stretch the tape. Bow a strip of the tape and line it up with the centre of your square-foot piece of felt, then carefully press and lay-out its ends. Do the same with the other strip of tape but cross the two. Make sure you get most of the big air bubbles out from the overlapped area.

The ends of the cross keep the mat from flapping over when removing records. The centre of the cross is double up for spindle strength.

Next you want to build up the centre of the cross a little more. Cut a circle about the size of a quarter and place it in the middle of the cross (you can even put two pieces if you like). This will make the centre a little higher than that bump of a ring around the outside of the inner record label. It should be a little lower than the ring on the outside of your platter though. Whether your record’s label area is flat or has that ring, more weight will be distributed in the middle (easier to turn more torque, more level record, less skipping).

Put a quick, light passing of spray glue over your work. No more than two passing, just make sure it’s a little sticky. Lay the nylon on top of your work and press it with your hands, or use a dough-roller. Find a record with an outside-diameter of 11 ¾ inch, no more than that (it will be hard to find a record, or something else, of this size but it’s worth the look). Make it so it stays inside the silver ring on the technics platter. If it’s any bigger you will end up pinching the mat between the edge of the record when removing a record off the platter.

Go around your 11 ¾ record (or other object) with the rotary blade for a clean cut.

Find UHMV for the mat to ride instead of the platter, it helps covering the holes on the platter too. UHMV is the same material used on the bottom of ski’s/snowboards. 3 mil. Antistic black seems to be the best. If you want a very slick mat try it or at least get your nuts on some UHMV…

The inside diameter is ¼ inch. Us the inside hole of the metal 45-filler from the technics or go the hardware store and get a spacer of that size. Heat a nail very hot (wedge it between a stove’s top grill). The nail works but it needs to be very hot, it’s way easier to use a soldering iron. Be patient if you are using the nail. Centre the ring in the centre of the mat and use the soldering iron or the nail to burn out a hole (the 45-filler is the perfect size and is wide enough so you won’t burn yourself). This should stay nice and snug around the spindle for a very long time

— that butter rug idiot”

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