Best kit or product to clean stylus

rebelsoul

Looking for the best way to clean my stylus?

DaveHo

Onzow zerodust is what I use.

aprazer402

I really can't speak to what is "best". I use an Onzow most of the time. It's a sticky clear pad you Iower the stylus into, it grabs the dirt. I do have a "stylus" brush and some liquid cleaner.

Emlyn

Onzow here too but cleaning the stylus doesn’t need to be done too often if every LP played is cleaned well.

Disconnect the table from everything including power and interconnects before using the Onzow and use very little pressure on the stylus.

mhardy6647

I still use a Discwasher SC-1 and a drop of (vintage) DIII fluid.
But... I am a Luddite.

I will mention, in passing, and gingerly, and with some trepidation, that, years ago, it was "discovered" that the Onzow goop* was "the same" (??) as some sort of drum "dampening" (damping) gel stuff that's, apparently, cheap in music stores
https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/drum-dampening-gels-same-as-onzow-zerodust.761981/

I am thinking that the goo used to make those toys that you throw against the wall and they sort of rappel down of their own accord has been touted as "the same stuff" as Onzow Zerodust.

There's also some "controversy" as to downsides to Onzow Zerodust leaving residue -- but I have no hands-on experience to corroborate that.

__________________
* Not to be confused with Gwyneth Paltrow's goop.

DaveHo

Emlyn wrote: »

Onzow here too but cleaning the stylus doesn’t need to be done too often if every LP played is cleaned well.

Disconnect the table from everything including power and interconnects before using the Onzow and use very little pressure on the stylus.

That seems excessive, but can't hurt. FWIW, I'll drop the stylus on the Onzow with the cue lever, turntable input selected and volume wherever it was. The small thump created has never caused problems for me.

audioluvr

Reach toothbrush and Colgate toothpaste. Then throw the whole cart in the dishwasher. Comes out squeaky clean!

F1nut

Blu Tack or the like works amazingly well. I have blob on a nickel, which I place on the platter and lower the tonearm/cart down onto so the needle just makes contact for a second or so. Done.

mhardy6647

^^^ I did not know (until this thread) that folks were using Blu-Tack for stylus cleaning!

maxward

And it’s so expensive.

mhardy6647

It's like these things. One may buy these with audiohile brand names stamped on them for much more money, if one has absolutely nothing better to do with one's money.

https://www.diversitech.com/en-US/category/pads/anti-vibration-(av)-pads-A02

SCompRacer

DaveHo wrote: »

FWIW, I'll drop the stylus on the Onzow with the cue lever, turntable input selected and volume wherever it was. The small thump created has never caused problems for me.

You know when the stylus is perfectly cleaned when you have the same dB from each channel.

I like the Onzow. When the blob looks like a teenagers forehead, you just clean the blob.

Emlyn

DaveHo wrote: »

That seems excessive, but can't hurt. FWIW, I'll drop the stylus on the Onzow with the cue lever, turntable input selected and volume wherever it was. The small thump created has never caused problems for me.

In my case many years ago I had the whole system turned off when I used the Onzow with an SL1200 MK II table and when I powered the system up again afterwards there was a BIG static spike that ran through the whole system. Fortunately no damage. It may have been related to a grounding problem but I didn't want to experience that again. I only use the Onzow very rarely, like maybe once a year, since I don't use a turntable all that much and my LPs are all squeaky clean. I have also heard about the recent controversy regarding build-up from gel type cleaners when they're used on a stylus right after it's been in use so the temp of the diamond is up.

mhardy6647

^^^ that's weird. Was it wintertime/ very low humidity?

Emlyn

Yes, wintertime in a house that had a heat pump for heat and carpet on the floor so it was bone dry in the house.

muncybob

mhardy6647 wrote: »

It's like these things. One may buy these with audiohile brand names stamped on them for much more money, if one has absolutely nothing better to do with one's money.

I hear you! I have a bunch of those AV pads with the blue center section. Shortly after purchasing I wondered if anybody could compare them to the pads that cost $$$, I could not since I never invested in the expensive ones. All I was seeking was an opinion if the "audiophile grade" ones were indeed looking into, instead I was labeled as looking for validation on what I have.....sheez.

msg

I liked your post Bob. Do you feel validated?

muncybob

No, but I feel kinda cheap

decal

Another satisfied Onzow user here.

rebelsoul

Blue tack stylus cleaner
Trying blu tack as we speak.

TroyD

you can lower the stylus into a magic eraser as well......I have an onzow as well but the ME works too.

newbie308

I don't remember if it was here or another forum that someone demonstrated how to clean the stylus with a small piece of Mr. Clean Magic Eraser by using the cue lever to lower and lift the arm. They used high magnification photos to show the effective results. I have been using this method ever since.

mhardy6647

that (the Magic Eraser thing) was a craze for a while.
It -- largely -- went the way of most crazes.
Plus, there are at least a couple of caveats.

1) there're horror stories of various bad things happening to unwitting ME stylus cleaning 'audiophiles', although probably not with a lot of statistical assessment
2) capitalism and marketing being what they are, there have been various new and improved ME variants, and (of course) also generic versions and pure-D knockoffs (ripoffs). Many of these fall into the "internet horror story" camp, as well, if they are employed as stylus cleaners.

Caveat emptor.

... and, yeah, I've been known to dunk the DL-103's stylus into a little cube o' ME now and again.
I could quit any time, though. Really.
I'm not hooked.



EDIT:

PS Not all of us use arms with cue levers. Some of us are manly men.
The other way to ME involves a toothpick to bring the ME to the stylus, rather than vice versa.

jdjohn

The best way to avoid a dirty stylus is by having very clean records. But, I routinely use a fairly loose-bristle dry brush before every play. After 4 or 5 sides, I normally give the stylus an inspection with a jeweler's loupe to make sure the brush is doing its job. If I see any lingering debris, I use the Audio Technica AT607a liquid cleaner and brush. That's probably every 10 records or so.

For a really nasty rescue-project stylus, I use 90+% isopropyl alcohol with one of those stiff, short-bristle brushes, and have been known to baptize the diamond tip in the ISA if the gunk is really stubborn. On a couple of occasions, I've even used a small strip of sandpaper on the back edge of the stylus to remove...whatever that stuff was.

@mhardy6647 mentioned the controversy about Onzow Zerodust leaving residue. It started last year after WAM Engineering (WallyTools) started noticing a pattern with specimens coming in for their stylus 'analysis' service. Fremer wrote a story about here https://www.analogplanet.com/content/time-put-away-onzow-zerodust and then a follow-up here https://www.analogplanet.com/content/zerodust-saga-continues It became a rather polarizing issue.

Here's a somewhat measured video about the issue https://youtu.be/KdBEIH7KJgw

I have no dog in the hunt, nor any personal experience with the product. YMMV

Clipdat

TL:DR - what was the end result of the Onzow controversy?

msg

mhardy6647 wrote: »

that (the Magic Eraser thing) was a craze for a while.
It -- largely -- went the way of most crazes.
Plus, there are at least a couple of caveats.

1) there're horror stories of various bad things happening to unwitting ME stylus cleaning 'audiophiles', although probably not with a lot of statistical assessment

I remember when Bruce was on a tear picking up gear, and was getting a turntable setup going when the Magic Eraser thing was going around here. His description of accidentally ripping off a stylus in a nanosecond with a ME had me dying laughing. Still makes me laugh imagining his expression of disbelief and dismay at the realization and slow acceptance of what'd just happened. That was one of my favorite stories. Like a great dark comedy. Good ole Bruce.

Now watch, I'll likely snag my stylus in the next week...

jdjohn

Clipdat wrote: »

TL:DR - what was the end result of the Onzow controversy?

Too long? Dude, those articles are very short, and mostly pictures. No real resolution...just lots of bickering and people challenging the findings. The visual evidence is pretty compelling IMO. The product is still made and sold, so nothing has really changed.

jbreezy5

@jdjohn

After seeing the articles, I would have to agree the evidence is compelling; wouldn’t recommend it any longer.

Clipdat

jdjohn wrote: »

Clipdat wrote: »

TL:DR - what was the end result of the Onzow controversy?

Too long? Dude, those articles are very short, and mostly pictures. No real resolution...just lots of bickering and people challenging the findings. The visual evidence is pretty compelling IMO. The product is still made and sold, so nothing has really changed.

I read the articles when they were originally posted, the TL:DR was mostly just a joke expression. I was simply wondering what ever came of it and if a finite decision was reached on whether or not they are save/advisable to use.

msg

I don't like the TL;DR term, I think it's rude in a response, but I took Drew's use of it with his statement to mean more, yeah, so what was the general consensus in the end? I was wondering the same, generally. I've been meaning to follow up on it, myself. It sounds like interesting reading.

I'm gonna try BlueTac, but first I'd like to take a look with a loupe.

I've been using the Onzow primarily, and have sometimes used a stylus brush.

Jody, did you say you've used 99% ISO on the brush?

jdjohn

I figured Drew was "mostly" joking, but I gotta give it right back to him Honestly, I had to look-up what TL;DR meant. Best I can tell, there was no definitive conclusion on the Onzow. The originators of the claims didn't want to keep bashing the product, and Onzow never retorted. I think people just need to do their own research, and decide for themselves...as with most things

Scott, yes, I have used 99% ISA on a brush, and also 91%. But, that is only for extreme cases. There's a genuine concern about using a strong solvent like that on the adhesive which holds the diamond onto the cantilever, so it is a last resort. I actually need to reconsider using the AT607a, since it is made of ethyl alcohol and deionized water. I really try to limit how often I apply it.

I go back to having clean records as the best defense against a dirty stylus. A dry brush is the safest way to clean a stylus, so getting the interface to a point where that's all that's needed is the goal. Having debris in the grooves acts as an abrasive, which is not good for any of the parts involved.

It's kind of like those touch-less car washes. They are only effective for cars that are fairly clean already, with a good finish. Likewise, you wouldn't want to go through a car wash that uses the typical big brushes if there's a lot of mud or debris on the car. The dirt would act like an abrasive when the brushes get on it.

I think the car washing analogy can even be taken a step further when compared to cleaning records. You wouldn't just suds-up a car, suspending the dirt in the suds, and then let it dry. You do a rinse cycle. Same thing with records. Record cleaning solutions normally include a surfactant/detergent, which allows the dirt to be suspended in the solution, jarred-loose from the grooves by either a brush or ultrasonic vibration. A clean-water rinse is then needed in order to fully remove the debris.

And if the car (or record) is REALLY dirty, you want to do a pre-cleaning of some sort before doing any actual scrubbing. I guess with U/S cleaning that might not be necessary, since (in theory) the extra debris should sink to the bottom of the tank without any scrubbing involved.