Need something to keep you busy this weekend? Look no further. The Weekend Workshop is our weekly column where we showcase a badass DIY project that you can complete with minimal skills and expertise. We’ve dug through all the online tutorials on the web, and gone the extra mile to pinpoint projects that are equal parts easy, affordable, and fun. So put on your work pants, grab your tool belt, and head to the garage — it’s time to start building!
As any baby boomer or beard-growing, plaid shirt-wearing hipster might tell you, vinyl records are the only way to listen to music. Be it for the (disputed) fact that vinyl records sound better or the simple desire to physically own an album as opposed to booting up a streaming service, vinyl has seen its popularity dramatically increase over the last several years. It’s not hard to see the allure, either. Having the ability to sift through a crate of music while searching for those perfect Saturday morning tunes is far better than clicking the magnifying glass in Apple Music — for some folks, anyway.
Considering the fact this appeal has spread like wildfire, simply buying a record player (used or new) doesn’t offer much in the way of expressing your individuality. But what if you made your own? This is exactly what Instructables user Mikeshorr117 did and the finished product is gorgeous. With a little bit of plywood, a few 9V batteries, and a small set of speakers, this savvy DIYer created a completely original vinyl turntable that not even the trendiest music lover could own.
To help you get started on building your own unique DIY record player, we’ve sifted through Mikeshorr117’s build list to piece together an exact index of what’s needed for the project. Though this build opted for a plain exterior box design, Mikeshor117 does say any alterations or additions are up to the builder. Just make sure you have enough space in the box for the speakers, motor, and amplifier, otherwise the rest of the walkthrough will be difficult to pull off. Here’s what you’ll need to get started:
Tools:
- Circular saw
- Clamps (4 or 5)
- Power drill
Materials:
- Wood glue
- Plywood
- Small electric motor (9V battery-powered)
- 9V batteries
- Wiring
- Small amplifier
- Speaker set
- Wooden rods
- Ring magnets
- Potentiometer
- Phono-cartridge (needle)
- Circular disk
With the necessary batch of materials gathered and at the ready, it’s now time to start piecing together this incredibly easy DIY record player. Simply follow Mikeshorr117’s comprehensive walkthrough and in no time, you’ll be just a few White Stripes records shy of being the hippest person on your block. Happy building!
The complete step-by-step process for building this DIY record player can be found here.
