A-ha! I read post #130 now. Thank you.
OK, so what is your personal cleaning procedure and products?
Ah, the things I do for Ron. thanks.
Products
- Small LED flashlight with a flat bottom. I stand this beneath stylus/cartridge. I use this one..
- 10X-30X loupe/triplet. I use 20X. I use this one. **
- Magniying glass. I use this one. ~3X
- 00 artist brush. I use Joe Miller Signature, half sable and half nylon fiber.
- Mr. Clean Magic Eraser - white. A singleton will last a long time. Small stick/dowel to hold ME.
Relevant product Pictures on WBF
Post #14 Loupe on a stand
Post #35 - Magnifying glass, ME tool, artist brush, etc.
Procedure/Technique
With phono stage or preamp on MUTE:
1. Using strong lighting, Inspect stylus with a 20X loupe before each record side. Once you get used to doing this quickly, inspection simply becomes part of playing a record.
1.a 60% of the time the stylus is clean. Unmute. Play Record. Otherwise go to step 2.
2. If stylus shows dust or small bits picked up from previous play: use magnifying glass to guide a stiff-but-pliable 00 artist brush and lightly brush stylus. Typically I see the bits fly into the air. Check with loupe. If stylus is clean, Play Record - typically 25-30% of time.
2.a If stylus still shows dust/small bits, redo step 2. If stylus shows something adhered to it, or caught on it, another light brushing often works (~5%) but if not, go to step 3.
3. Use Magic Eraser (ME) to clean stylus - maybe 5% or less. I keep and use a small cube of white ME on a stick - very light weight. My technique is: looking at stylus/cartridge with magnifying glass, I hold the ME by its 'handle' so that top of ME is parallel with tabletop. Gently raise ME so that stylus alone penetrates ME foam, then lower ME. Repeat 2-3X. Inspect with loupe. Stylus/diamond should be clear and bright. Again with magnifying glass, gently brush stylus to insure no ME flakes on stylus. Play record.
3.a I usually inspect stylus with loupe after final LP side of my listening session
You should be done. This approach is predicated on keeping your records clean and checking your stylus before each side. As an option, after final LP of session, inspect stylus with loupe.
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** The picture at ToolUSA shows loupe pointing down. I can adjust mine to any direction so turn it sideways. The base is quite heavy and it is hard to tip over. The beauty of this setup is to adjust it for the height you need to see your stylus. I keep mine on a small mousepad by the tonearm which makes it quick and simple to swivel in and out of place for stylus inspection. The outer case of the loupe can touch the cartridge, but not the stylus, so it is possible to get very close yet focus with safety. In fact, when in place on my rack next to the tonearm, this device prevents my hand from wandering close to the stylus/cartridge. Been using this technique 15+ years. I bought the loupe+ at A'zon but it is no longer available and for a while I thought the product was extinct. I searched when writing this note and was pleased to have found the linked site - don't know how long they will have it. I bought an extra.
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