Stylus Cleaner Questions

hearingimpared

I need to really clean my stylus as I haven't used the cartridge in 20 years. I used to use the stylus cleaners requiring brushes and as a conditioner a product called Stylast which I believe is still available.

I'm wondering if any of you analog lovers out there have any suggestions for a stylus cleaner. Maybe you folks could just list what stylus cleaning system you are currently using.

I've been considering this one but the price is like $70 without shipping. Not that I wouldn't pay that price but if there is something out there that is just as effective with less of an effect on the wallet I would rather go there.

Thanks,
Joe

TroyD

That's the one to get, don't bother with anything else.

You can find it cheaper though. Ebay sometimes has them for around 40 bucks.

BDT

hearingimpared

TroyD wrote:

That's the one to get, don't bother with anything else.

You can find it cheaper though. Ebay sometimes has them for around 40 bucks.

BDT

You're just the guy I wanted to hear from. . .Thanks Brother.

szhleppy

Some guys @ vinyl asylum claim that the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser works just as well...if not better. I think these guys may just be a little on the cheap side. These are probably the same guys who recommend building your own vacuum cleaner and making your own cleaner solution with tap water.

madmax

I use the zero-dust. No want of anything else. You can find it cheaper somewhere. Audiogon maybe?

reeltrouble1

+2, when you get it you will be, WTF?? this is 70 bucks, but it works and if I lost mine I would buy another one.

RT1

SCompRacer

Joe, I was doing some shopping today. One for $44.

http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cl.pl?anlgcart&1173621091

hearingimpared

I saw one for $40 earlier but the seller was in Hong Kong. I've been told never to make purchases outside the USA. I'm not ebay or audiogon savy so I shied away.

I'm definetely going with the Zerodust especially now that I am older my hands are not as steady.

Thanks all for your feedback.

Joe

Toka78

Zerodust is the first choice, if money isn't a concern.

Mr. Clean Magic Eraser is the second choice, if money is tight.

hearingimpared

Okay just for kicks, are we talking the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser that my wife uses when cleaning the kitchen and stuff like that?

Just in case some get offended (Cathy), I help clean too. LOL

TroyD

I wouldn't use that. It gets smaller as you use it so that means it leaves residue.

Get the zerodust and call it a day.

BDT

hearingimpared

I ordered it and got a free carbon fiber brush with it.

Thanks again,
Joe

DarqueKnight

You might want to check with the manufacturer just to be on the safe side. I asked Ortofon for a stylus cleaning recommendation for my Jubilee cartridge and they said to only use the brush supplied with the cartridge or another similar stylus cleaning brush. They said the use of liquid stylus cleaners would void the warranty.:eek:

TroyD

The problem with brushes is that the chances of damaging the stylus and/or cantilever are high. Plus, a brush isn't all that effective against greasy deposits on the stylus. The problem with liquids/brushes is that getting your stylus/cantilever wet introduces other problems over the long haul.

The zerodust thing isn't a liquid, it's a soft blob. You lower the stylus into it and it lifts out clean. Magic.

BDT

Fireman32

Looks like a cool product. Might have to order one myself.

hearingimpared

DarqueKnight wrote:

You might want to check with the manufacturer just to be on the safe side. I asked Ortofon for a stylus cleaning recommendation for my Jubilee cartridge and they said to only use the brush supplied with the cartridge or another similar stylus cleaning brush. They said the use of liquid stylus cleaners would void the warranty.:eek:

Unfortunately my cartridge manufacturer is out of business. I'm hoping the suspension on the cantilever is still good and not dry rotted from lack of use these last 20 years. I would just go ahead and get a new cartridge but this is one of those keeper cartridges like my Spectral preamp. There was a tme when the tonearm / cart combo I have was considered the end all so I would really like to see if it still works okay. I'm afraid that if I use a brush, it will pull the cantilever right out this is why I was considering this product.

Toka78

The Magic Eraser *does* work, in a pinch, but sounds like Zerodust is the way to go for you. You'd break off a small square, and lower the stylus onto it just like the ZD...maybe a slight bit of moisture to make it more pliable. I used it when I was digging out some old carts that I found in the basement (older mid-level Shure, etc.), and they were shiny clean. However, if I had a new cart, or one that has a lot of sentimental value like yours, ZD is it.

madmax

If I didn't have the zero-dust I wouldn't have a problem trying the magic eraser. It supposedly really locks onto the grime and pulls it off. You just sit it stationary like the zero-dust and lower the arm onto it then raise back off. Each time you use it you end up probably sitting it in a different position so it should last forever.

hearingimpared

madmax wrote:

If I didn't have the zero-dust I wouldn't have a problem trying the magic eraser. It supposedly really locks onto the grime and pulls it off. You just sit it stationary like the zero-dust and lower the arm onto it then raise back off. Each time you use it you end up probably sitting it in a different position so it should last forever.

Glad to see you back Bro!

jm1

A friend forwarded the attached Word document to me. It is the one referenced in the following text taken from Arthur Salvatore's web site.

"The Magic Eraser"- The Stylus Cleaner

This letter is from a veteran reader and (highly reliable) contributor. It deals with stylus cleaning, and a most unlikely source for the actual cleaning material. There is no editing (my bold):

"I thought you'd want to hear about a friend's recent experience. He had only 50-60 hours on his ZYX UNIverse, yet the sound was going dull, high frequencies were abating and he was getting mistracking on dynamic passages that the cartridge had tracked cleanly before. He's not very comfortable adjusting his rig, but the small increase in VTF I encouraged him to try did not help. He decided to ship his UNIverse to me for inspection.

His stylus looked grey and cloudy through my loupe. He cleans it after each side with a ZeroDust, plus occasional dips in my recommended Magic Eraser, but this regimen was visibly inadequate. My stylus is crystal clear under magnification, despite having ten times more hours on it.

After scrubbing away at his stylus with a Magic Eraser, I mounted the cartridge on my rig and played some records. No problems of any kind, his UNIverse performed identically to mine. His stylus is still slightly cloudy so more scrubbing is needed, but his cartridge is on the way to a full recovery.

The Magic Eraser is the most effective stylus cleaning method I've tried, but it does need frequent and proper use to be fully effective. The odd dunk now and then will not suffice.

I've written up a document describing the optimal use of the Magic Eraser for complete stylus maintenance. A copy is attached. I hope you find it interesting and useful."

Personal Notes- As stylus cleaning is critical for optimization and ultimate performance, this information may be very useful to all phono enthusiasts, regardless of the cost of their cartridge. I'll obviously be adding the (Mr. Clean) Magic Eraser to my "shopping list" during my next visit to the local supermarket. I can forward a copy of the (MS Word) document, with the reader's cleaning instructions, upon request.

TroyD

Salvatore is a lunatic.

Take him with a healthy dose of skepticisim.

I don't have any scientific proof but I'm leary of the Magic Eraser as it doesn't 'erase' anything. It's a concoction of household cleaners and I'm leary of putting anything that harsh on my stylus.

BDT

jm1

Actually, the attached document was not authored by Mr. Salvatore. The document was sent to him and the quoted text is from Mr. Salvatore's web site. Also, most of the quote is from the author of the attached document.


The Magic Eraser's we have at home do not have any household cleansers in them. It looks like there are several Magic Eraser products available. Maybe the one you are referring to has cleaners in it.

A Wilipedia description of what the material is.

TroyD

good read....I stand corrected...

BDT

madmax

I remember there were two types for sale and the recommended one is the original version which has no cleansers. The whole idea behind it is that its structure is such that it physically grabs dirt with inward facing micro sized spikes. Cool idea for sure.

madmax

You guys should try "Cartri-Clean". It comes in a small classy looking oak box and uses space age material (magic eraser) to do the actual cleaning. It sells for $69.99 plus $14.99 shipping. I'll post a pic as soon as I can find an old piece of oak to make it out of.
madmax

starchaser

I paid the price on a zero dust over a year ago at the recommendations of those above.
This thing works incredibly well!

DarqueKnight

TroyD wrote:

I'm leary of putting anything that harsh on my stylus.

Most guys are.

DarqueKnight

madmax wrote:

You guys should try "Cartri-Clean". I'll post a pic as soon as I can find an old piece of oak to make it out of.

I'd pay a premium for a mahaogany or exotic burl wood box.

hearingimpared

I used the zerodust today when I was doing my TT cleanup. I like it, it really seems to get the grunge out. Because the whole TT rig was in storage so long I gave it eight gentle dunks in the goo.

Ted was right about the WTF!!!

hearingimpared

This thing works extremely well. I find little black things on the goop. Me and Ted laugh cause they look like the black heads on a teenagers forehead!