Spikes on Wood Flooring
Posted by: Edwin on 02 November 2000
Has anyone tried out Linn's Skeet feet or Michell tendercups?
I have wood flooring in my listening room and obviously spikes and wood floors don't mix. The question of the affect that these feet/cups have on sound quality arises. Does anyone have any experiences with these or any other products?
Posted on: 02 November 2000 by Edwin
James,
If any stiletto wearing unit were to enter my humble abode, I think it would be curtains for yours truly. Nice thought though!
I currently do have coins under the spikes, but am looking for a more aesthetically and sonically satisfactory solution. Holes in the floor are not a spousally approved solution, and holes there certainly would be since the Sara's with stands are heavy .
Posted on: 02 November 2000 by Edwin
Thanks for the info. If Greg no longer needs them, I wonder if they will fit my Sara stands? Do you still have them? Would you be willing to part with them?
Posted on: 02 November 2000 by Top Cat
...in my experience, even without 'pushing down' on the speakers/racks/etc., spikes leave considerable marks on my wooden floorboards. Perhaps laminate flooring would fare better.
Oh, I can't recall if the poster was talking about exposed wooden floorboards, or a carpeted floor (through which spikes would mate with the floorboard, but through which spike-holes wouldn't be so obvious).
John (who has a serious problem with the old holy floorboards following a recent bout of speaker placement heebie-jeebies... 
)
Posted on: 02 November 2000 by Edwin
Is the stuff for the feet available at any hardware store? eg: Home Depot (most specifically the ball bearings)
Posted on: 02 November 2000 by Steve Shochet
This is a solution my dealer told me about. If the spikes are a standard diameter, you can replace them with carriage bolts. These look like large round-headed screws, but have no groove/notch for a screw-driver. Maybe a simpler solution to Vuk's design, and I would guess similar results (minimal contact to floor.) You can get them at your local hardware store.
Steve
Posted on: 02 November 2000 by Edwin
I should have checked the Forum. This topic is well covered. Thanks anyway.
Posted on: 03 November 2000 by matthewr
>> Are there no fastener shops anywhere outside of London, Ontario? <<
In the UK they are known as hardware shops.
I am always suprised at your surprise at this fact. Most people can tell you where every pub and decent restaraunt is within a couple of square miles of where they live but generally struggle on the location of hardware shops and tend not to have detailed knowledge of what they stock. I cant think of anyone I know who would have the first idea where to buy carriage bolts and mixtures of epoxy and metal dust or even know what they are (Apart from my weird uncle who owns a lathe and lives in a shed).
Matthew
"You asked me if I wanted to see the Rocky Horror Picture Show,
So I murdered your family.
Cos I hate the Rocky Horror Picture Show.
I'd rather go browsing round hardware shops"
Posted on: 03 November 2000 by Rico
quote:
>> Are there no fastener shops anywhere outside of London, Ontario? <<
In the UK they are known as hardware shops.
Oh but Matthew, a fastener shop is much more specialised than your average hardware shop! And besides, you are discussing a nation that repeatedly descibes itself in general terms as being nothing less than 'DIY-Challenged' 
Hmmm, think I might now be fitting the profile of the song lyric above.... think I'll just slip out that side door past the battery drills and chisels... 
Rico - musichead
Posted on: 03 November 2000 by John Schmidt
quote:
You might like to persuade she-who-must-be-obeyed-but-doesn't-wear-stilettos that the musical benefits far outweight the cosmetic blemish
Just a wild guess on my part, but I'd say James isn't married.....
Cheers,
John Schmidt
"95% of everything is crud" - Theodore Sturgeon
Posted on: 04 November 2000 by Top Cat
quote:
Well, actually I'm in a long-term relationship with a wonderful woman who loves music and appreciates all the tweaks I have done, including holes in the floor. Heck, she even thinks my Mana stands look cool
Lucky you; Tahra (my girlfriend) is very much into music, but can't see what all the fuss is about re: hifi and stands (and, particularly "that Mana stuff"
She's using some old Technics kit with a pair of ancient Pioneer speakers, both sitting (shock!) directly on the floor, and (gasp!) one of which is on its side!!!! The blasphemy!
She does like the sound, though, particularly the LP12...
John
Posted on: 17 January 2001 by Edwin
FYI I bought a set of skeets recently. They made my Kans sound awful. Absolutely unlistenable. The resulting sound was thin, edgy and sounded like singing in the bathroom. I put the one cent coins back and preferred the sound. I will be returning the Skeets ASAP.
Posted on: 18 January 2001 by Edwin
James,
I recently bought a pair of mint used teak finish Kan 2's to go with my Sara 9's (so the Saras haven't miraculously transformed themselves into Kans!.) I used to have a pair of Kan 1's and still missed their sound. So when the opportunity to pick up a pair of mint teak Kans came up, I couldn't resist. I suppose I should decide which I really prefer and sell one or the other to reduce the amount of "hifi clutter" around our apartment. Could also help finance my next upgrade (which I am currently agonizing over)
Posted on: 18 January 2001 by Matthew T
Screws in the floor surely leave more of mark then spikes. And if you want to move them you may as well pack your bags!
I position them on a board of mdf or with spikes out and then when you done put them on the floor fully spiked and promise to never move them! (nothing that a gentle rub down and a touch of vanish, polish... can't fix anyway)
Screws through carpet underneath your spikes, that makes some sense, especially if you've got thick underlay!
Matthew
