Anyone still use a Watts Dust Bug?

[wualta]

FYI: If you're having trouble with your dustbuglike contraption tracking the record too fast or slow, the Audio-Technica AT6002 instructions have the answer: move the mount farther from or closer to the spindle, respectively. Should apply whether your device was made in Japan or Germany.

 

[Van_Isle]

Any idea what this one is?



I found this in a local thrift shop the other day. No 'velvet' left on it.

 

[jimbofish]

I found one at a local store a few days ago and am using it now. I had to fabricate a base for it as it was missing. I think I made a pretty good one from a heavy aluminum knob, and a mounting shaft that came out of a dismantled turntable, plus a few minutes with a Dremel.

I've never had one or used one before but what's the feeling on them?

:thumbsdn:

:thmbsp:

:thmbsp:

Picked mine up several years ago at SA, unopened in its original packaging, although the fluid in the bottle had completely evaporated.

I use it all the time. It picks up a lot of dust and I've learned to sweep it over onto the label before lifting it off. Otherwise it leaves a patch of dust where it stopped. I haven't had any static problems with it.

 

[michaelhigh]

I sweep the record with a carbon fiber brush first, use the Dust Bug for the play (to keep the dust that comes from the static down to a minimum) and resweep with the CFB at the end of the play, both sides. I started by cleaning all the records at first, thoroughly with a soft toothbrush and water, Palmolive ("you're soaking in it!") and isopropyl. Now it's pretty much dry cleaning and careful handling. This did tons to improve my vinyl playback, and I heartily recommend it to anyone who wants to enjoy vinyl playback, at the highest bitrate possible (a clean record is high def, right?) hehe...

 

[70WR]

I like some of those shown - I even had thoughts of getting another turntable on the cheap just to swipe the tone arm and mod it to brush the vinyl during play.
Anything to upgrade my system - but what I'm using I guess is better than nothing -

 

[wualta]

Any idea what this one is?
I found this in a local thrift shop the other day. No 'velvet' left on it.

That's a Model 42 Bib Groov-Kleen, and you can of course perform a DIY revelvetization of your roller and put the thing to work. Get a dark velvet so you can see the dust better. Get Black Velvet and.. well, you know what to do with that.

 

[Amcrebelfan]

I have been looking for one for sometime just haven't gotten lucky yet.

 

[phatster]

I'm looking for the AT version 6002,if anyone has one or knows where to obtain plz share.[love the static wire]
I too had the Dust Bug and the extra noise sorta got to me.

 

[ETI_5000]

I think there were several versions of the original Watt’s Dust Bug, as mine (bought new in the late 1970’s) had double sided sticky tape to stick it to the turntable. One of my relatives had one with the rubber suction pad. I think the double sided tape was slightly better because the ones with the rubber suction pad on the bottom sometimes failed to stick on turntable plinths that were slightly rough or porous.

I also have another “copy” that I bought off Ed Saunders on Ebay about a decade ago, that has a heavy metal base, and it will sit in place without needing to be attached to the turntable – I find it better than the Dust Bug. I also bought a replacement velvet roller for it, but I’d need to use it for decades before the one on there wears out!

Most of the later ones were improvements on the original design. Many electronics or accessories companies (e.g. Radioshack/Tandy, Nagaoka, Bib) had copies. There were also a number of ones which tracked tangentially, and used two parallel bars which pivoted out over the record, with a small lightweight brush and velvet pad running along the bars. I had one of them in the late 1970’s, but sold it with a turntable – it was called the Metrosound Lin Trak http://www.gramophone.net/Issue/Page/December 1976/179/860887/TWO+FROM+METROSOUND . Nagaoka also had a parallel tracking version, the Vertical-1, as well as two pivoting ones, the Auto-1 and the Clean-Master, according to my copy of the Stereo Buyer’s Guide Directory 1980. They also had heavy bases, so they'd just sit there without sticking them down.

 

[Karma16]

HI All,
Does anybody know the formula of the liquid that Watts used? It's possible that it was nothing more than distilled water. But it might have been more since the Dust Bug was designed to dissipate static electricity.

After using the Dust Bug for many years, I considered the application of the liquid to the pad to be important. Are you who are currently using the Dust Bug using a liquid on the pad? I understand that all of the existent Dust Bug kits are very old and, almost certainty, the original liquid has dried up. You should find a substitute because it is needed for proper operation.

BTW, I liked the Dust Bug a great deal but quit using it when the Diskwasher came on the market. Have not used it since because the Diskwasher is much better. I still use the Diskwasher for light dust removal which is before every play. I do not like carbon brushes because they always leave a residue of dust.

Do not expect the Diskwasher to actually clean dirt from a record. It won't. For that, you need a real RCM.

Sparky

 

[mayidunk]

I used the Dust-Bug until the Bib Groove-Kleen came out. Still have the Dust-Bug, and there is a seller on eBay selling NOS Groove-Kleen units.

I just got one of those NOS Groov-Kleens from eBay. I like it, it seems to work well. Here's a link to some that are still for sale there, in case someone else may be interested.

 

[danj]

I've been faithfully using a Watts Dust Bug for 40 years. I still have one that I use when playing records on my original model PL-570. I keep my records clean but since I play with the dustcover removed the Dust-Bug helps the records stay dust free.

 

[Nixxuz]

It was good for its day. If the record isn't clamped or weighted, you can hear it "playing" the record and sending the vibrations through the body of the record, but only if you have the gain way up and/or are listening on headphones.

It does nothing for the static charge on the record and probably creates some, so these days I use an antistatic mat and a dry [vintage] Discwasher brush. But I also use a direct Dust Bug descendant with a carbon-fiber brush and a gounding wire. It looks like this:

Sorry for necroposting, but I just got one of these and am amazed at how many little hairs, (3 cats 2 dogs) it picks up that I can't see. Seems to help quite a bit with static as well during the central air summer here in my house.

 

[doctor fuse]

I got one (the shiny silver metal kind, not the transparent ones - is this still a Watts?) on a CEC BD2000 turntable, scored for $30. I really bought it for the dust bug, but fell in love with the turntable.

The Bug now sits on a Thorens TD145. After scanning this thread, I am wondering if the metal kind accept liquid inside, like the plastic ones? Will check it out tonight.

Mine does a good job picking up cat hair and general dust as well. I don't hear any noise from it, and I play my vinyl LOUD.

EDIT: Googling a bit more, it likes the metal ones are made by BIB. Do these accept cleaner fluid inside?

 

[danj]

I'd use one if I had one. My last one just disappeared and I'm afraid it was accidentally dropped into a waste basket. Now that I have central air conditioning there is (seemingly) less dust in the air.

Think I'll go on e-prey and buy one there.

Cheers!

 

[Nixxuz]

I'd use one if I had one. My last one just disappeared and I'm afraid it was accidentally dropped into a waste basket. Now that I have central air conditioning there is (seemingly) less dust in the air.

Think I'll go on e-prey and buy one there.

Cheers!

The one I got is $15 on Amazon.

 

[mccalljd]

I still have my Dust Bug and my Manual Parastat Brush, along with my Vac O Rec (love that thing), and I use them whenever I play an LP. I found out the hard way that the rubber suction cup on the Dust Bug reacts with polystryrene plastic and it melted the plinth and dust cover on my cheapo BSR xl-1400 just from light contact.

 

[Montycat]

I still have several of these in various styles. And still don't use one regularly.

 

[richamor]

Got one still in the box and still don't use it. I've tried.....but I find a soft wipe with a good clean brush is all it takes. The records are all cleaned anyway. So no need for a dust bug.

 

[polypetalous]

Don’t have a dust bug, but being a Realistic fan I do have the Realistic Kleentrak (42-138)
Which is pretty much the same as the dust bug, though I have never seen another one...
Can’t even find a picture on the web to show y’all...

Ben

Edit: found it in Radio Shacks 1977 catalog