VPI Delrin and Stainless Steel Record Clamp

Stainless Steel Over a Delrin Base, So Two Materials Damp Each Other

The VPI Delrin and Stainless Steel Record Clamp is sold each, one per turntable. The upper body is stainless steel, the base that meets the record is Delrin, and the coupling mechanism that threads onto a VPI spindle is stainless. It draws the record onto the platter as you turn it down.

Any single material has a resonant character of its own. Bolting two dissimilar ones together breaks that up — steel and Delrin do not ring at the same frequencies, so each damps the other. That is the reason for the sandwich, and it is why this clamp is not simply a heavier version of the plain Delrin one.

Two Materials, a Threaded Coupling, and Delrin on the Label

Fit, Load and Materials

Stainless steel forms the top half and adds mass; Delrin forms the base, so what touches the record label is the softer of the two. The threaded coupling mechanism is stainless steel, which is the part that takes the wear over years of use.

VPI does not publish a weight. A clamp of this size in steel and acetal adds under 1 pound to the platter bearing, and most of the holding force comes from the thread rather than the mass, so the drive motor sees very little of it.

It fits every VPI turntable with a threaded platter spindle. VPI states that it is not compatible with the VPI Traveler, which uses a weight instead of a screw clamp.

Who Is the Delrin and Stainless Steel Clamp Best For?

• You own a VPI turntable with a threaded spindle — VPI builds this clamp for its own decks and the thread is the fitment
• You want two materials rather than one — steel and Delrin ring at different frequencies, so neither is left to resonate freely
• You want mass and clamping force together — the steel adds weight, the thread adds the force that mass alone cannot
• You want Delrin against the label — the base that meets the record is the softer material, not the steel
• You own a Rega, a VPI Traveler, or any other non-VPI deck — a Rega spindle is too short for a clamp at all, and the others need a smooth spindle where this needs a thread; all are served from record clamps and weights

How Do You Use It?

Set the record down and let it settle on the mat. Thread the clamp onto the spindle and turn it by hand until the record draws onto the platter. Tap the run-out area near the label with a fingernail to check: a dull tap means it is coupled, a ring means it is not. Hand-tight is the whole range. Unwind it before lifting the record.

Pairs Well With

What most VPI clamp owners shop next.

• Turntable mats — the clamp pulls the record onto whatever is underneath it
• Record cleaning machines — the biggest single change available to a used collection
• Cartridge alignment tools — geometry first; no clamp fixes a misaligned cartridge
• Stylus force gauges — the other measurement worth getting exactly right

Frequently Asked Questions

How many do I need?

One. The clamp is sold each and a turntable takes a single clamp.

Will it fit my turntable?

It fits all VPI turntables with a threaded platter spindle. VPI says it is not compatible with the VPI Traveler. Another maker's deck has no thread for it, and a Rega is doubly out — its spindle is too short for any clamp to grip.

Why two different materials?

Each has its own resonant character, and bolting them together stops either from ringing freely. VPI puts the steel on top for mass and the Delrin at the base, where it meets the record label.

How tight should I turn it?

Hand-tight, until the record settles and the run-out area taps dull rather than ringing. Beyond that the extra torque only loads the bearing and the motor.

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