Peter Ledermann of SoundSmith, master cartridge designer, builder & repairer, recommends using Blu-Tac to clean a stylus by lowering and raising it several times onto a small slab of the material.
Well, interesting. I looked at his site and it seemingly instructs that a very thin layer be stretched over a quarter or such. One would only using tracking weight to be the amount of pressure into the substance, not a person raising it up into the cantilever. I would be concerned that it might stick too well and pull the cantilever downwards and out of range. Perhaps the SoundSmith cartridges can handle that type of treatment but I am very uncertain it would apply to all. Stantons, maybe. I personally would not do it to many others. He also recommends against sonic cleaners but, again, for his cartridges for sure. As in voiding warranties. I have used sonic cleaners for years without audible issues so I wonder what his take is on them mechanically. Thanks for the info. I will talk with Peter about that. Your comment is appreciated and noted. Glad, regardless, that he also does not fluids and is concerned about aftermarket clear gels that are particularly tacky.
Interesting stuff there Lou. I can see where you’re coming from especially in relation to using liquids to clean a stylus and I have to agree with you. However I’m sure you’re referring to people who are kind heavy handed at doing this sort of thing. No disrespect ok. As long as one is careful at doing this then, in my humble opinion, it should be ok. In my own case I’ve tried all of the methods you mentioned. I’ll get to my favourite in a minute. Over the past couple of days I’ve been experimenting with the liquid type of stylus cleaner. It’s been extremely effective too as long as the applicator brush, when removed from the liquid, is almost, but not quite, dry. By that I mean you remove some of the ‘wetness’ by scraping the brush hairs off the inside of the tiny bottle. Then you ‘clean’ the stylus tip only, using the sensible back to front movement. It seems to work really well too. I also doubly check everything with my trusty stylus magnifying lens. As I said I’m only in the experimental stage and paying attention to everything that’s going on. So far so good. My only concern is the list of ingredients in the liquid. I counted 6! The usual acqua and isopropyl plus two types of antistatic mixtures, a detergent and mould/bacteria disinfector. A long way from just water and isopropyl! As I said I’m in the very early experimental stage. Also I do not under any circumstances use the stylus cleaning carbon fibre brush bundled with the stylus cleaner. I just use the applicator brush. I’ve already overstayed my welcome so I’ll just end with this: my favourite method is to use a Decca record cleaning brush. It only has a single run of carbon fibre bristles along its length. Absolutely safe and brilliant at keeping my precious stylus tip pristine. I clean the tip using it sideways. I also have the ubiquitous AT 637 which I use maybe once a week too. Right I’ve said enough and yet it’s only the tip of the iceberg ;)
Well, I have made my position for everyone. Yes, heavy hands are out there when it comes to fluids. Same for painting furniture, I suppose, which is why I use the expression "It is amazing what you can destroy with Sear's Best.
I got sold some gel that was supposed to clean records and the manufacturer showed it also cleaning the stylus. Big mistake. Now I use that blob of gel to clean the airvents on my car :D
Thank you for adding your comment to the channel and this video. Other folks have talked about using a tacky substance and I have seen them in small containers for cleaning styli. Nobody, however, has reported a sort of universal record and styli cleaner until now. Hopefully it provides a sort of "heads up" on such claims.
I have seen where some of those ultrasonic cleaners include a fluid. I don't know what is in that fluid. The real critical factor is whether or not the cantilever is hollow or not. If so, the risk of capillary action is there. I don't see where fluids are particularly useful given the pressure and heat generated by a stylus in the groove of a record. Years ago, Linn would recommend the use of Green Sandpaper (Jeweler's sandpaper) made of aluminum oxide. It is important to know, however, that their diamonds are punched through the cantilever making it a solid piece as compared to diamonds that are glued on like Shure. In the case of glued on diamonds, the sandpaper is an absolute no-no. It will shear the diamond off. The intent is to grind off whatever has been baked onto the stylus. Well, I am not exactly sure about all that as well but that is where Linn dealers will come from. Answering your distilled water question, well, the same applies to it as to the other fluids. I really don't see it as useful. Please understand that the primary purpose of an ultrasonic cleaner is not to "clean the tip" so to speak as much as it is to clear the area of crap where the diamond goes into the cantilever on the bottom side. That can build up and prevent the actual tip from properly riding in the groove. Thank you for taking the time to ask the questions as they are good ones. Please tell others about my channel and maybe they will find something useful in the other 180 plus videos. More are going to be shot this weekend.
Peter Ledermann of SoundSmith, master cartridge designer, builder & repairer, recommends using Blu-Tac to clean a stylus by lowering and raising it several times onto a small slab of the material.
Well, interesting. I looked at his site and it seemingly instructs that a very thin layer be stretched over a quarter or such. One would only using tracking weight to be the amount of pressure into the substance, not a person raising it up into the cantilever. I would be concerned that it might stick too well and pull the cantilever downwards and out of range. Perhaps the SoundSmith cartridges can handle that type of treatment but I am very uncertain it would apply to all. Stantons, maybe. I personally would not do it to many others.
He also recommends against sonic cleaners but, again, for his cartridges for sure. As in voiding warranties. I have used sonic cleaners for years without audible issues so I wonder what his take is on them mechanically. Thanks for the info. I will talk with Peter about that.
Your comment is appreciated and noted.
Glad, regardless, that he also does not fluids and is concerned about aftermarket clear gels that are particularly tacky.
Lou, you’re the best!
Interesting stuff there Lou. I can see where you’re coming from especially in relation to using liquids to clean a stylus and I have to agree with you. However I’m sure you’re referring to people who are kind heavy handed at doing this sort of thing. No disrespect ok. As long as one is careful at doing this then, in my humble opinion, it should be ok. In my own case I’ve tried all of the methods you mentioned. I’ll get to my favourite in a minute. Over the past couple of days I’ve been experimenting with the liquid type of stylus cleaner. It’s been extremely effective too as long as the applicator brush, when removed from the liquid, is almost, but not quite, dry. By that I mean you remove some of the ‘wetness’ by scraping the brush hairs off the inside of the tiny bottle. Then you ‘clean’ the stylus tip only, using the sensible back to front movement. It seems to work really well too. I also doubly check everything with my trusty stylus magnifying lens. As I said I’m only in the experimental stage and paying attention to everything that’s going on. So far so good. My only concern is the list of ingredients in the liquid. I counted 6! The usual acqua and isopropyl plus two types of antistatic mixtures, a detergent and mould/bacteria disinfector. A long way from just water and isopropyl! As I said I’m in the very early experimental stage. Also I do not under any circumstances use the stylus cleaning carbon fibre brush bundled with the stylus cleaner. I just use the applicator brush. I’ve already overstayed my welcome so I’ll just end with this: my favourite method is to use a Decca record cleaning brush. It only has a single run of carbon fibre bristles along its length. Absolutely safe and brilliant at keeping my precious stylus tip pristine. I clean the tip using it sideways. I also have the ubiquitous AT 637 which I use maybe once a week too. Right I’ve said enough and yet it’s only the tip of the iceberg ;)
Well, I have made my position for everyone. Yes, heavy hands are out there when it comes to fluids. Same for painting furniture, I suppose, which is why I use the expression "It is amazing what you can destroy with Sear's Best.
Thanks for taking the time to reply. Forgot to mention that the Decca brush is only used dry. No liquids. Not even Sears 😱
@@cybot6 Glad you enjoyed the expression. You are free to use it wherever you wish!
😂😂😂😂😂
I got sold some gel that was supposed to clean records and the manufacturer showed it also cleaning the stylus. Big mistake. Now I use that blob of gel to clean the airvents on my car :D
Thank you for adding your comment to the channel and this video. Other folks have talked about using a tacky substance and I have seen them in small containers for cleaning styli. Nobody, however, has reported a sort of universal record and styli cleaner until now. Hopefully it provides a sort of "heads up" on such claims.
Yes, but ultra-sonic stylus cleaners use a drop of a chemical I emptied mine and just use a drop of distilled water. Thoughts on both?
I have seen where some of those ultrasonic cleaners include a fluid. I don't know what is in that fluid. The real critical factor is whether or not the cantilever is hollow or not. If so, the risk of capillary action is there. I don't see where fluids are particularly useful given the pressure and heat generated by a stylus in the groove of a record.
Years ago, Linn would recommend the use of Green Sandpaper (Jeweler's sandpaper) made of aluminum oxide. It is important to know, however, that their diamonds are punched through the cantilever making it a solid piece as compared to diamonds that are glued on like Shure. In the case of glued on diamonds, the sandpaper is an absolute no-no. It will shear the diamond off. The intent is to grind off whatever has been baked onto the stylus. Well, I am not exactly sure about all that as well but that is where Linn dealers will come from.
Answering your distilled water question, well, the same applies to it as to the other fluids. I really don't see it as useful. Please understand that the primary purpose of an ultrasonic cleaner is not to "clean the tip" so to speak as much as it is to clear the area of crap where the diamond goes into the cantilever on the bottom side. That can build up and prevent the actual tip from properly riding in the groove.
Thank you for taking the time to ask the questions as they are good ones. Please tell others about my channel and maybe they will find something useful in the other 180 plus videos. More are going to be shot this weekend.