The Best Way To Keep Vinyl Records Alive? Make Them Yourself

..and how exactly does one go about getting a 'standard record cutter'? A preliminary google search brings up a lot of albums with the word cutter in it, but no tools for creating lps.

Here's some possible ways you could make your own LP's.

CUSTOM RECORDS VINYL MASTERING this place does one-off pressings.
www.customrecords.com/

VESTAX VRX 2000 Vinyl Recorder-This is basically an LP recording machine, makes single copies of your music on vinyl.
www.roadogz.com/stories/downunder/vrx.htm

Also try googling "How to pirate a vinyl record".

RTV silicone, the type you mix with a catalyst, not the hardware store type in a tube, can be used to make a mold from a record.

For best results on the mold, use the thinnest silicone you can get, then add a little silicone fluid - also known as fuser oil. That was used in some older photocopiers and laser printers. Silicone brake fluid will also work. It's just silicone fluid with a purple dye added.

To make copies, use a hard urethane resin like the ones sold by Smooth-On. They have one that's thin as water and cures in 90 seconds after you begin mixing. Takes a few minutes to cool down and become fully rigid.

I've seen a demo where a mold made from Dragon Skin (TM) silicone was used with that fast cure resin. The demonstrator said the mold had been used to make a couple hundred castings, never used any mold release.

I like this idea, but I'd rather use real vinyl records as a canvas for DIY ideas. www.recordpressing.com has a section on their blog with different ideas for DIY vinyl projects that I've enjoyed.

- Monique