stylus cleaners

PhilNYC · « **on:** 13 Jun 2005, 06:53 pm »

Anyone up on the latest/greatest in stylus cleaners? Was recently told about some gel-polymer cleaners that you just lower the stylus into...any thoughts?

PhilNYC · « **Reply #1 on:** 13 Jun 2005, 07:34 pm »

btw - in particular, anyone have any experience with this:

http://www.extremephono.com/Stylus_Cleaner.htm

mcrespo71 · « **Reply #2 on:** 13 Jun 2005, 08:10 pm »

Why are you asking, Phil? Finally jumping into the realm where the crazy audiophiles live (i.e., analog)?

BTW, I use the disc doctor stylus cleaner. Best thing is to have clean records to begin with, which mandates some sort of record cleaning solution/machine.

Michael

PhilNYC · « **Reply #3 on:** 13 Jun 2005, 08:21 pm »

Mike...I've been continually trying to decide on whether to jump in to the world of vinyl or not. Have a couple of brands in mind, and I will certainly speak with you before I jump...!

But I'm asking this question for a friend who took his turntable out of storage and is trying to clean it up for use...

mgalusha · « **Reply #4 on:** 13 Jun 2005, 09:28 pm »

I have the Extreme Phono Stylus cleaner and it's great, don't know how I ever lived without it. The best feature is that I don't have to use a brush on the stylus any longer and thus don't have to worry about slipping and nuking my cartridge.

Mike

nature boy · « **Reply #5 on:** 13 Jun 2005, 11:24 pm »

Phil,

I use the Extreme Phono stylus cleaner and it performs as advertised. It's really good at getting that accumulated gunk that the stylus tends to pick up, even with a a good carbon brush swiped record. Go figure.

I use the stylus cleaner in combination with a carbon fiber brush and run the Cardas frequency sweep record every couple of weeks. I am not sure how the Cardas album works, but records play a lot cleaner especially at the frequency extremes.

NB

PhilNYC · « **Reply #6 on:** 13 Jun 2005, 11:43 pm »

Mike and NB...thanks for the input.

Anyone have any negatives about it?

mcrespo71 · « **Reply #7 on:** 14 Jun 2005, 12:41 am »

I concur with the Cardas frequency sweep record.

Michael

nature boy · « **Reply #8 on:** 14 Jun 2005, 03:42 pm »

One slight negative - the gunk sometimes leaks out the sides of the clear plastic container, especially if you don't put it right side up. It cleans off of my rack ok, but don't put it on anything with a fragile surface (like an expensively finished wood turntable plinth).

NB

Tabascosauce · « **Reply #9 on:** 15 Jun 2005, 12:37 am »

The guys over at AA have been recommending as a cheap method buying some magic eraser. You can get the stuff at most supermarkets. Make sure you use the white stuff.

Just dunk your stylus onto it a few times, and then brush it to remove any particles.

I've been using it for a few months now with great success.

BobM · « **Reply #10 on:** 15 Jun 2005, 03:57 pm »

I've been using the LAST stylus cleaner for years. Works great.

Enjoy,
Bob

woodsyi · « **Reply #11 on:** 15 Jun 2005, 06:08 pm »

I use LP#9 cleaner from Record Research Lab.
http://www.needledoctor.com/s.nl/sc.2/category.499/it.A/id.810/.f
It's recommended for my carts and works great on them. I don't see why it wouldn't work for other styli as well.

nathanm · « **Reply #12 on:** 15 Jun 2005, 06:24 pm »

the Onzow Zerodust is the most practical stylus cleaner. It is probably the most overpriced thing I ever bought, though. 70 dollars for a piece of sorbothane the size of a quarter!?

. Oh well, it does the trick. Look around the house for a similar dust-attracting bit of soft rubber first. The sorbothane samples you can order from McMaster might be a good choice, but technically speaking the Zerodust's material is softer.

woodsyi · « **Reply #13 on:** 15 Jun 2005, 06:55 pm »

Quote from: nathanm

the Onzow Zerodust is the most practical stylus cleaner. It is probably the most overpriced thing I ever bought, though. 70 dollars for a piece of sorbothane the size of a quarter!? . Oh well, it does the trick. Look around the house for a similar dust-attracting bit of soft rubber first. The sorbothane samples you can order from McMaster might be a good choice, but technically speaking the Zerodust's material is softer.

Nathan,

I got pieces of Sorbothane that used to be a matt -- I tried to peel it off one too many time. It's pretty soft. Do you just press against the stylus, or what?

nathanm · « **Reply #14 on:** 15 Jun 2005, 07:17 pm »

Yeah, just dab it gently against there and the dust sticks to it. But I would be careful since the durometer\hardness is a little stiffer and obviously you don't want to damage the tip. The zerodust is also molded in a bubble shape and there's an air pocket beneath which has additional 'give' to it. When the sorbothane gets too dusty you just rinse it off, let it dry and then it's tacky again.

I also use a small sheet of soft sorbothane to clean the dust off the bristles of my record brush after sweeping the record. Attracts dust like mad and then you just wash it off. A sample pack is like 6 bucks or something at McMaster. The softer it is the stickier it gets.

nathanm · « **Reply #15 on:** 15 Jun 2005, 07:22 pm »

I know - go to your local department store and find those cheesy vending machines for kids. Get one of those sticky hand toy things. That will also do the trick I betcha...and for only a quarter!

woodsyi · « **Reply #16 on:** 15 Jun 2005, 09:08 pm »

Quote from: nathanm

I also use a small sheet of soft sorbothane to clean the dust off the bristles of my record brush after sweep ...

That is a good idea.

I will probably stick to liquid cleaner on the styli. My heavy hand might "distress" the cantilever over time, you know. Trying to save a few bucks might lead to much more in repair bill.

andyr · « **Reply #17 on:** 24 Jun 2005, 12:24 pm »

Quote from: nathanm

the Onzow Zerodust is the most practical stylus cleaner. It is probably the most overpriced thing I ever bought, though. 70 dollars for a piece of sorbothane the size of a quarter!? . Oh well, it does the trick. Look around the house for a similar dust-attracting bit of soft rubber first. The sorbothane samples you can order from McMaster might be a good choice, but technically speaking the Zerodust's material is softer.

Nathan,

I too have a Zerodust ... although I didn't pay 70 bucks! I reckon it's great ... but I cannot believe it is Sorbothane.

I have several sheets of Sorbothane at home which I bought to put under things like power transformers, PCBs and rack shelves, and it is a completely different consistency to the Zerodust gel.

You may have a good idea, though, because if the "Magic Eraser" which various VA inmates rave about is only gum rubber, then a piece of Sorbothane might do just as good a job.

However, coz I've got a Zerodust, I couldn't be bothered trying it!

Regards,

Andy