I’ve used brushes, magic eraser, and most recently the Onzow ZeroDust thingie. While I didn’t have access to a microscope for the previous cleaning products, I did use a USB microscope (focusing is a challenge) to take a look after using the Onzow. It’s not pretty …
Methinks I need a new cleaning process!
Yeesh. I wonder what this well washed broccoli that I’m shoving in my piehole looks like–under a microscope
Please, no one show me
I’ve been using Onzow, but after seeing that I think I’ll stop!
The Linn polishing paper is what my dealer recommends, I might well move to that!
Stylast especially really helps cleaner tracking, I also was or am still convinced of this feature.
The critical thing is, that any dissolution is in suspect to attack the glued stylus. And it really sounds strange, that such a fluid, suited for the diamond should also help the suspension rubber, to where it moves all the time.
I got very skeptical of using it, because I fear damage of the rubber,
Yes, there are some cartridge manufacturers who advise against any liquid cleaners because of the concern they could weaken the stylus/cantilever glue bond. I think it would be a weak adhesive that would be affected by Stylast because it evaporates almost instantly. One would have to be very sloppy with application to get so much on the cantilever that it would wick up and damage the suspension parts. I’ve always been careful to apply it sparingly and wipe back to front so you do not push it into the end of the cantilever. I have never had any issues with Grado, Transfiguration, Ortofon, Goldring, or Stanton cartridges.
Me too. Yikes!
I read quite late, that Stylast advertises that the fluid moves towards the rubber suspension intentionally even if you just use it for the stylus (and it really does).
Great if it really helps there, too, but really hard to believe. I’d love to continually further use it, too…I’m just quite unsure…also if we’d notice if the rubber would be better off without it.
Generally I’m a Stylast fan, too.
Stylast works well and definitely prolonged stylus life. I had a retipping recently but after five years of frequent playing only. Additionally I use an old audio technica 637 electronic cleaner, without fluid. The newer flux hifi seems to do a good job too.
I use the GrooveWasher camel hair stylus brush, dry, after every side, and every few records with that in conjunction with Record Doctor stylus cleaning fluid.
DS Audio ST-50 for the “hairballs” stylus lowered gently onto the pad with the tonearm lifter followed with a dry brush
The ST-50 pad does not appear to leave residue and is washable, it also costs $75 bucks. I voiced my doubt to my dealer about needing a $75 stylus cleaner so he gave it to me at a promotional rate of $30. Have had it 2 yrs now, works great, just wash it with warm water every now and again
Best,
-JP
I have the same DS device and it works great.
Is the surface of it flat?
Yes sir, I took a pic with the pad removed from the case as you would to clean. Also has a leather pad on the underside of case
Best,
-JP
I agree the DS is one of the best options and what I have used for the last year.
This many positive replies on a product lead me to just go and order it.
I love the concept of the Onzow, but if it leaves the residue it does, it’s an absolute no no.
This looks like what the Onzow should have been, perfect for me! And I don’t mind the extra cost, reviews generally show that it’s extremely highly regarded.
Many thanks all for the recommendation!
I haven’t heard that the Onzow leaves residue.
What i don’t like about the Onzow is that it’s dome shaped, so drop your stylus anywhere but dead center and you torque it a bit at an angle. That might be insignificant on the cart’s suspension, but why have a non-flat surface? The DS is flat and that makes more sense to me.
It was @pmotz photos above that really put the nail in the coffin for me with Onzow, but I have seen other reports of the same thing where it gums up the stylus so much over time and it needs to be professionally cleaned.
The dome shape is not something I’d considered before, but now you mention it, makes perfect sense that it may damage the stylus or at least put it under unwanted stress, especially on some of the MC carts.
My two cents: I do think it is important to note that if you do not have a powerful microscope you may think your stylus and cantilever are free of fuzz via various cleaning methods.
What happens when you get a scope powerful enough to resolve a needle and cantilever as clearly as in pmots’s pic above - is that you grasp that the static and the micro-grunge of various sorts on that scale is simply de rigeur.
Clean and De-static everything - bueno. But then you play a record, dragging your diamond through a jagged plastic ditch for 20 minutes. Static Happens.
Don’t kid yourself that one cleaning method or another somehow manages to mitigate the forces that exist in the World at this particular micro level. That pic is, IMO, a “relatively clean” stylus. I can see the shape of it. There is pretty much Always Fur on it to one degree or another.
The good news is that it is not worth stressing over. And this might be a nice job for nano-bots:thinking:
Well, if it’s all the same to you, I’m going to continue to stress over shmutz on my stylus and in the grooves of my rekids.
Knock yourself out, Grasshopper.
Not saying not to clean or destatic or brush, etc. Goes with the territory. Just saying specifically that you can’t change the physics of the forces at that scale.
