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How to cut sorbothane?

I recently read a glowing review of Herbie's Big Fat Discs, which are 5/16" thick by 1 5/16" diameter sorbothane discs. So, I did some research and I found a huge variety of sorbothane sheets available at McMaster-Carr. I bought a 12"x12" by 1/4" sheet of 40 durometer sorbothane for $29.

Does anyone have a clever and easy method for cutting discs out of this sheet other than scissors? I was thinking of a sharpened cookie cutter type thing as a tool which could be hammered down on the sorbothane, effectively cuttting a disc...

BTW, I can get 8 discs out of this $29 12"x12" sheet (with useful scrap left over), and 8 Herbie's Big Fat Discs would cost just under $90.
tvad
stilljd
151 posts
 
Tvad,

Your welcome. I didn't mean to dis anyones' product. It is just a matter of playing with formulations and doing the testing to prove effectiveness. The testing can be set up up prove anything (sound audiophilish?). One isolation products site compares the product results against various common rubber compounds. Guess what has a ton of rebound (relatively speaking), common rubber compounds. When modified they would be less so.

Point is - your getting at least 95% of the isolation benefit buying and cutting the sheet for 50% of the cost. Yeh, that works. That's what I want in my gear and that is why I read this forum.

And I still am a wanna-be audiophool. I went to my local dealer today and they just started carrying McIntosh. The first question out of my mouth was how do those 501's sound with Magnepan 3.6s'. I am going back when the 3.6's are in place!

God help us.

Jim S.
newbee
4,093 posts
 
Tvad, I know you know this but just in case..........

Sorbothane can destroy furniture finishes. Unfortunately I can prove it! :-(

Best to put some waxed paper between the wood and the sorbothane.
tvad OP
9,467 posts
 
Thanks for the tip, Newbee. I did not know that. It won't be an issue on the loudspeakers, but it would be an issue if I tried it on a component.
stilljd
151 posts
 
Oh my gosh. I forgot to add what Newbee pointed out. A lot of thermoset polyurethanes outgas forever and will leach out oils and plasticizers. They also react with a certain classes of thermoplastics in a very unpleasent way (melt the thermoplastic). They can also stain your carpet. Cut a polyethylene (ziplock) bag in a slightly larger diameter to place underneath the pucks. Shouldn't be any reaction. Sorry!
tvad OP
9,467 posts
 
Well, I received the 40 durometer sorbothane and looked again at my
VR4 cabinets...and voila...the top cabinet is essentially supported by four
small sorbothane footers. I had remembered them as being harder
rubber. Since the sorbothane I purchased is the same height as the VR4
footers, I'm going to bag that idea unless I decide to return what I
purchased for a thicker piece. In the meantime, I'm using the
12"x12" sorbothane sheet under my Paradisea DAC.

As for cutting the sorbothane, I've been watching arch punches on E-Bay
for nearly three weeks. I've lost a couple of auctions. At this point, I
believe I can likely cut the 5/16" thick sorbothane with a pair of
scissors.
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