How do you clean your stylus?

[bazelio]

I also use the Magic Eraser, but I very gently rub the stylus sides from back to front once or twice and occasionally dip the stylus before each play. I follow this with a dip into the Onzow to remove any residue or white dust from the ME. Stylus looks brand new and I've never had a problem. I sometimes brush the bottom side of the cartridge with a small, long haired paint brush to remove dust on the cantilever and rubber covering where the cantilever enters the cartridge body.

This sounds like a good technique. I've read many of DougD's posts elsewhere, and think highly of his techniques and opinions. I assume you've cut the ME into smaller strips and don't have any concern about snagging the stylus as you swipe from back to front. That's my only concern when I think about trying this.

Incidentally, the ST-50 that someone posted earlier looks like a nice Onzow alternative, albeit an expensive one.

 

[DaveyF]

Unfortunately, ( and I also own one of these) the AT ultrasonic, like all ultrasonics- has a small cleaning pad that consists of a brush that can snag the cantilever...and potentially do damage. ( apparently the brush has tiny loops as part of the design)
I think the concern that Bazelio has is quite warranted with the ME. Snag the cantilever..and possibly buy a new cartridge!

@jfrech, I use the SPT treatment, it is good, but won't remove the accumulated gunk that occasionally gets burnt on. What do you use for that?

 

[DaveyF]

I use a trimmed brush for the stylus Davey, cut at an angle so stiffer at the shorter part and softer at the back, and when neccessary, I use a drop of this Zeiss lens cleaner on the brush. I decant into a tiny plastic dropper bottle and use that. This cleaner leaves no residue, and is safe for stylus adhesives. Cost is good too..

Thanks Paul. I would question whether this product would end up drying up the suspension, as it must have some form of alcohol or similar in it.

 

[PeterA]

Peter, which ME do you use? Aren't the pads pretty large?

I cut down the large rectangular white pads into very small triangular wedges that are very thin at the end. Then I stick a toothpick into the thick end. They work great.

 

[DaveyF]

I cut down the large rectangular white pads into very small triangular wedges that are very thin at the end. Then I stick a toothpick into the thick end. They work great.

Peter, can you post a picture?

 

[PeterA]

Davey, the ME "brush" is about 1.5" long. I bought the box of ME about five years ago. I use one device for about two months. Crazy cheap and incredibly effective. Look up ME threads on Audiogon by Dougdeacon.

 

[DaveyF]

Thanks, Peter.
Do you wet the brush before use, I understand that you need to do this in order for the ME to work. ( needs to be damp).

 

[NorthStar]

 

[NorthStar]

* New discovery: 5 videos per post max (used to be 10)
_____

I clean my stylus after each playing side, about you?

How long your stylus lasts, your cartridge?
The cleaner your albums (best record cleaning machines) the more life your stylus and cartridge?
One playing hour a day, stylus replacement after about two years?

 

[PeterA]

Thanks, Peter.
Do you wet the brush before use, I understand that you need to do this in order for the ME to work. ( needs to be damp).

I think it probably depends on what you are trying to clean. Pots and pans, yes, wet might be great. I do not get my ME wet or damp. It is a dry rubbing process from back to front, with long, smooth strokes. Think of it like sand paper, but more gentle and it allows one to dip the tip in and out or rotate it as was suggested up thread. One must be careful and gentle, but I find it to be extremely effective.

For liability reasons, I am not giving you advice about how to use it. Please read the threads on Audiogon and elsewhere about the ME and how to use it.

 

[TooCool4]

I clean the stylus after every side with DS Audio ST-50 and after every listening session I use the Flux HiFi sonic cleaner.
The records are clean with my Loricraft PRC3 .

These method works well for me.

 

[jeff1225]

Unfortunately, ( and I also own one of these) the AT ultrasonic, like all ultrasonics- has a small cleaning pad that consists of a brush that can snag the cantilever...and potentially do damage. ( apparently the brush has tiny loops as part of the design)
I think the concern that Bazelio has is quite warranted with the ME. Snag the cantilever..and possibly buy a new cartridge!

@jfrech, I use the SPT treatment, it is good, but won't remove the accumulated gunk that occasionally gets burnt on. What do you use for that?

I've read extensively about this cleaner, nowhere have i seen anything about the brush having "loops." It's not Velcro.

 

[DaveyF]

I've read extensively about this cleaner, nowhere have i seen anything about the brush having "loops." It's not Velcro.

Dealer tells me that the brush is made up of very small loops. I don't think it looks that way, but he is certain.

 

[NorthStar]

Forgive me, this is humor:

Looking @ few alternatives on how to clean our stylus...brushes, erasers, lubricants, etc., and other turntable's and cartidge's maintenance and adjustment tools...mini screwdrivers, various lubricants for different parts, precision tools and levels and microscopes (magnifying glass), ...we need a garage for all the precision tools required, oil changes, filter removals, mini harnesses, jumper cables, diaphrams, diagrams, rubbers (belts), stroboscope lights, ion guns, demagnetizer guns, screws, washers, set of various drivers ... hexnut, Philips, Allen keys, ...

The Art of rotating albums on a properly set and oiled and clean lubricated TT does indeed require a romantic garage nearby for all the tools, and it's a dedication to maintain that art like it is to maintain a car, a home, a relationship, a ship.

Analog people are better lovers...romance & Romeo and Juliet.

Keep them stylus clean for every play (per side) and don't let gum residues (never) to accumulate or the cleaning job won't be so easy anymore. Anyone who bought second-hand albums know best. You might get lucky and they are pretty clean, or look quite clean until you play them.

But then, even brand new they will let residues on your stylus. And it's impossible to live in a dust-free environment unless in a hospital quarantine room with a state-of-the-art air filtration system.

That's all, it made me think that TT maintenance (stylus, cartridge, speed, all the important small adjusts and tools and liquids ...) is a true art form in this magnificent hobby ... vinyl music spinning and listening.

Some people transfer all their LPs to music servers; I cannot blame them, particularly in the retirement age when time is in short supply and travelling the world is getting more and more open and safer. You still have to do some research, as not all corners come recommended.

* How many hours per week do you spend on spinning albums and related around your turntable (garage tools and all that stylus style jazz)? It's also very good for the physical exercise...feet, hands and fingers...every 22 minutes or so.
And nothing else in the world can take that away from all the love that is in it ... rotational album (analog vinyl) music listening, and the garage of precise tools that comes with it.
Try to be that romantic with digital streaming and spinning. No way, it is antiseptic, it smells Javex to clean hospital's green walls and floors and toilet rooms. ...Mental hospitals.

Like I said, forgive me for the humor.

 

[tima]

Can you post a picture of the ME setup you use?

I raise the ME to just touch the stylus. Usually I see the stylus tip dissapear a teeny bit into the foam. Different from Peter, I do not rub or pull on the ME in any direction - just dip. My 'fear' is the stylus will catch or be grabbed in the ME - different folks have different technique; just saying what works for me. You can see a high magnification picture of the ME foam in my earlier message.

Wrt to other msgs. I would not / do not wet the ME.

Magic Eraser has been on the market for a while now. There is/was a version that had white material on one side and a thinner blue material on the other. The blue was slightly different - not the same material - it is rougher and used for more aggressive scrubbing. I think the general consensus is use white only.

Ultimately the key for me with stylus cleaning is examining the stylus w/ a magnifier.



I think 10X is the minimum I'd use. You need to get close, but the high magnification insures no dirt goes unnoticed. You also get to see your stylus mounting on the cantilever and usually you can see it's type - how it is cut (if it is cut.)

 

[Ron Resnick]

I showed Tinka this thread, and she said “God, you guys are so neurotic!”

True, but we can’t be happy with the system unless everything is perfect!

 

[tima]

I showed Tinka this thread, and she said “God, you guys are so neurotic!”

True, but we can’t be happy with the system unless everything is perfect!

Happy stylus = happy record = happy sound = happy lady. Tell Tinka it's all for her.

 

[mulveling]

I like how vinyl gives me an OCD I can relate to in the physical world, however small. I can’t imagine the obsessions over digital jitter and rubidium/etc clocks; I would die before 40 for sure.

 

[NorthStar]

Tima you are right about the blue part of Magic Eraser ...

* I use a 30x magnifier to look @ my stylus for each album play.
It is the safest way to confirm the stylus cleaning job.
____

Bonus (for added fun):

 

[bonzo75]

I showed Tinka this thread, and she said “God, you guys are so neurotic!”

True, but we can’t be happy with the system unless everything is perfect!

A perfect system. Then what will we do?