According to that last link, the Magic Eraser is good to use.
Cleaning Vinyl LPs
- Thread starter J. PUPSTER
- Start date
Help Support QuadraphonicQuad:
That article about the "Shibata Snow -Plough" tends to confirm what many of us have known for years that CD-4 is a very finicky system. Even clean looking records can have the fine sub-carrier grooves clogged with dirt, which affects play!
Doug G.
2K Club - QQ Super Nova
I have never used the snow plow technique. I have always just cleaned my CD-4 records the same as my regular ones, with a sponge in the sink with Dawn detergent and it has worked excellently. As I have written elsewhere, playing CD-4, for me, is no different from playing regular two channel records. Any distortion is extremely rare.
One experience of mine, which may support the snow plow mechanism, is that some of my CD-4 records, which were difficult to play originally (e.g. my copy of Hugo Montenegro's first record), have gotten much better the more they are played, the example I gave, for one. It now plays almost perfectly. Does more and more dirt get scooped out of the carriers in the groove at each playing and I am sweeping that away when I use the Discwasher brush before each play? I think that's it.
Doug
One experience of mine, which may support the snow plow mechanism, is that some of my CD-4 records, which were difficult to play originally (e.g. my copy of Hugo Montenegro's first record), have gotten much better the more they are played, the example I gave, for one. It now plays almost perfectly. Does more and more dirt get scooped out of the carriers in the groove at each playing and I am sweeping that away when I use the Discwasher brush before each play? I think that's it.
Doug
IIRC, the Q-540 PVC (developed for CD-4) had more antistatic compound, part of the problem accidentally solved by Louis Dorren was caused by a static charge attracting dust to the discs.
IIRC, the Shibata scooping action only happens when the cleaning fluid is still on the disc (loosening the "dirt" in the groove).
Kirk Bayne
IIRC, the Shibata scooping action only happens when the cleaning fluid is still on the disc (loosening the "dirt" in the groove).
Kirk Bayne
Doug G.
2K Club - QQ Super Nova
The thing is, any record groove is "cleaned" by the stylus as the stylus travels through the groove, even without a liquid agent present . That's why various materials end up on the stylus.
Doug
Doug
kap'n krunch
2K Club - QQ Super Nova
Don't know if I am lucky or my Ortofon OM30 stylus is from planet Krypton or that I clean my LPs and stylus every time I play them or that the stylus pressure on my Technics linear TT is very light (1.5 g) but I have never have seen any kind of gunk on my stylus...
Of course I make sure the LPs are cleaned thoroughly, a normal cleaning takes about three wipes and at least 6 KimWipes (2 at a time) and the really dirty ones like these last ones from Spain took way more, I even had to take one of the LPs to the kitchen sink and spray the HELL out of the fine dust with my spray bottle (I don't dare use tap water) until it was gone and the KimWipes still had traces of dust after cleaning it....
yes, you can call me ANAL! LOL!!!
Sounds like the scrupulous cleaning regimen you do would result in clean styli; but when you do clean stylus, what do you use?
Anal rules! ...
Doug G.
2K Club - QQ Super Nova
My post was not meant to represent a typical occurrence for different users or anything like that. I never have any deposits on my styli either as I keep both records and styli clean but, if left to natural , unmitigated, usage, build up does occur, thus proving that the stylus is scooping out debris as it works, in spite of the fact is it also probably impacting dirt into the groove walls too. All the more reason to be a bit anal with record cleanliness.
Doug
Doug
kap'n krunch
2K Club - QQ Super Nova
hey, that's MISTER Anal to you!!! LOL!!!!Sounds like the scrupulous cleaning regimen you do would result in clean styli; but when you do clean stylus, what do you use?
Anal rules! ...
I use the ORTOFON stylus brush cleaner , of course!!!!
https://www.ortofon.com/stylus-brush-p-284
Front to back sweep?
kap'n krunch
2K Club - QQ Super Nova
NEVER!
Always back to front, the way vinyl moves...and always in a straight line
kap'n krunch
2K Club - QQ Super Nova
here it is...I have not calculated the accumulated hours but I am guessing I am going to have to get another one in a couple of years since I got this on 2016...
That's what I meant actually, got directionally confused there for a second
I’m thinking about repurposing an old Sonicare Toothbrush for both my Vinyl Records and Styli.
I thought my unobtainium Technics EPC 310MC cartridge had reached its end of life. I played some records and they sounded terrible and one channel seemed like not there. So I took a close look and was horrified to see a large clump of black yuck on the cartridge practically obscuring the cantilever. I had been remiss in cleaning the cartridge for a long time. but not the records. I actually removed the cartridge and sprayed alcohol at it from the rear to the front to blow the crap off followed by duster freon and then the DiscWasher stylus cleaning brush which I like. Started playing perfectly again. I promise to be more careful from now on.
I also have an aging Technics EPC310MC, I hope I can keep it a long while as new "used" ones are not cheap. I use MoFi stylus cleaner and brush.
I also use one of these very soft makeup brushes to get off any dust between cleanings --
I also use one of these very soft makeup brushes to get off any dust between cleanings --
OK folks, so how do you know when your stylus is starting to reach the end of it's optimal performance life?
When I cleaned it sounded great again. I think if the tip is too worn it won't track and starts sounding bad. But in a fight between a diamond and vinyl even with some silicaceous dust that might be there. There is no contest. Diamond as you all know is the baddest ass material there is. I think if the diamond doesn't come off the cantilever or the cantilever pulls out because the rubber suspension donut got too old , I think cartridges can last a LONG time.
kap'n krunch
2K Club - QQ Super Nova
good question,I guess when the diamond is no longer there!
could also be when it starts to sound dull but by then there probably has been some vinyl damage...
Similar threads
