AT VM95ML stylus under a microscope looks . . . weird?

[ripblade]

Alcohol wont hurt the stylus glue (I wish it did it would make my job easier). It wont hurt coils either and mostly wont affect suspensions either. There was a test done over at VE and someone put a selection of old stylus in a jar fully submerged in isoproply alcohol for several weeks then dried them out and played then they were fine.
A stylus brush dampened with alcohol and brush the diamond is the best and cheapest way to keep a stylus clean.
Chris

I still wouldn't make a habit of it.

I can tell when someone has used that moongel goop as bits stick to the stylus, then dust sticks to that then more goops sticks next time and eventually there is a very hard to tremove solid rock covering the diamond. The last one I had to clean even alcohol would not remove and I had to chip it away.

I doubt the product you're mentioning is actual Moongel and not some other substance. The moongel is not a goop (fluid) as some stylus cleaners I've seen. It's a sticky polymer drummers use to damp drums, similar to the polymer found in stylus and record cleaners (eg. Onzow Zerodust and Nagaoka Rolling 152). I've used both for many, many years and the only residue they leave behind is the oils they pick up through use and handling, and the oils are easily washed away.


Michael Fremer did a hachet job on the Onzow with an unsubstantiated, speculative report claiming stubborn residues. I'm surprised Onzow didn't sue him for damages but considering his diminishing reputation I doubt his report damaged their sales much. A number of people responded in defence of the product (incuding myself) as there's no substitute for more than a decade of first hand experience using the product without issue throughout the lifetime of a stylus.

 

[cafe latte]

I still wouldn't make a habit of it.


I doubt the product you're mentioning is actual Moongel and not some other substance. The moongel is not a goop (fluid) as some stylus cleaners I've seen. It's a sticky polymer drummers use to damp drums, similar to the polymer found in stylus and record cleaners (eg. Onzow Zerodust and Nagaoka Rolling 152). I've used both for many, many years and the only residue they leave behind is the oils they pick up through use and handling, and the oils are easily washed away.


Michael Fremer did a hachet job on the Onzow with an unsubstantiated, speculative report claiming stubborn residues. I'm surprised Onzow didn't sue him for damages but considering his diminishing reputation I doubt his report damaged their sales much. A number of people responded in defence of the product (incuding myself) as there's no substitute for more than a decade of first hand experience using the product without issue throughout the lifetime of a stylus.

The products I sm referring to are thr gel blocks like Onzlow and similar. They definitely leave residue, I see this residue weekly at least.
Chris

 

[ripblade]

The products I sm referring to are thr gel blocks like Onzlow and similar. They definitely leave residue, I see this residue weekly at least.
Chris

You see the residue, not what caused it.

Anyway, not to side track the conversation, it's always best to tackle stylus cleaning from different angles: brushes, fluids, sticky pads or melamine foams; they're all good when used (and maintained) properly.

 

[cafe latte]

You see the residue, not what caused it.

Anyway, not to side track the conversation, it's always best to tackle stylus cleaning from different angles: brushes, fluids, sticky pads or melamine foams; they're all good when used (and maintained) properly.

I call customer and ask them how they clean when I see the residue and ask thrm if they use the gel pads. I am so used to seeing the residue now I am never Wrong when I ask the answer is always yes.
Chris

 

[DorkusPrime]

how many sides of albums did you play before those pix?

Hmmm, maybe on the order of 30 sides? Kind of tough to say given that there was a lot of testing & adjusting involved in the table’s initial runs. Lots of short plays, for instance, while I was working on the tonearm or fiddling with the audio connector panel in back.

You need to watch this video! Bought one and it works fantastic! Use it when I can't clean off the stylus with my small stylus brush.

Wow, excellent video! First off, that’s the same microscope as mine and he gave me some great ideas about how to improve my shots. Second off, super impressive results with the Hudson Hi-Fi Ultrasonic stylus cleaner – so I just picked up one myself for future deep cleanings Seems like I shouldn’t do the IPA thing too often, so perhaps this is a bit more repeatable.

 

[Blue Shadow]

A stylus brush dampened with alcohol and brush the diamond is the best and cheapest way to keep a stylus clean.

But don't use alcohol on the Discwasher brushes as this will ruin them by softening the glue holding the brush together.

 

[Nabnassett]

But don't use alcohol on the Discwasher brushes as this will ruin them by softening the glue holding the brush together.

This is good to know because I love my old Dishwasher stylus brush. I've got a few different ones but that seems to work the best.

 

[benricci]

A clean stylus is a happy stylus.

 

[patient_ot]

Your records are filthy. That cleaning kit won't really clean them either.

 

[flavio81]

I call customer and ask them how they clean when I see the residue and ask thrm if they use the gel pads. I am so used to seeing the residue now I am never Wrong when I ask the answer is always yes.
Chris

Hello dear friend, glad to see you're still here. I just sent you a PM.

 

[ripblade]

I call customer and ask them how they clean when I see the residue and ask thrm if they use the gel pads. I am so used to seeing the residue now I am never Wrong when I ask the answer is always yes.
Chris

I don't doubt you, Chris, but what you don't know is how often the stylus, record and gel were cleaned. A dirty cleaning appliance cleans nothing.

I can assure you, you will find no residue on any of my needles after more than 10years of using the Onzow. I wash it regularly; my records are clean, and I clean the stylus occasionally with a stiff brush and fluid.

I'm sure you know the saying: It ain't what you got, it's how you use it.

 

[MegaHurts]

I

Happy New Year, everybody!

Let me start off by saying that I'm very very new to Turntables. I may whip up a post about it later, but I just built my very first turntable from vintage parts and a custom plinth. For the final piece, I picked up a brand new AudioTechnica VM95ML cartridge, installed it, and gave it a whirl from my stupendously limited vinyl collection. Let me tell you, it was SO EXCITING!! There's nothing like finally getting a build project working and useable. But with all the excitement (and of course having literally no basis for comparison) I couldn't even begin to tell you how it sounded other than EFFIN' AWESOME.

Anyway, having seen a ton of amazing microscope stylus photos here and elsewhere, I had to give it a shot myself. And . . . well, let me just show you. Reminder that this is a brand new MicroLine stylus, not some sort of crystalline alien creature growing out of a diving board.

View attachment 2757909 View attachment 2757910 View attachment 2757911 View attachment 2757912

So I have a couple questions for you AK gurus:

1: Is this (somehow) what the stylus is supposed to look like? It's nothing like what I've seen online so far
2: If everything's in good shape there, is there a better way to clean the thing? It's still covered in wool fuzz even though I just gave it a good brushing with a Big Fudge stylus brush. Maybe I should pick up some canned air?

Thanks folks! Just so you know, this forum played a HUGE part in my deciding to take a dive into the world of vinyl

I ordered a usb microscope after seeing this thread. Took a look at an ADC XLM Improved MKII stylus that came on a table I aquired a while back but not being used. At first I thought it was a black diamond. Nope, just filthy. Won't be playing anything new to me that hasn't gone through the ultrasonic.

 

[grinx76]

I

I ordered a usb microscope after seeing this thread. Took a look at an ADC XLM Improved MKII stylus that came on a table I aquired a while back but not being used. At first I thought it was a black diamond. Nope, just filthy. Won't be playing anything new to me that hasn't gone through the ultrasonic.

what was your cleaning method for the stylus?

 

[DorkusPrime]

I

I ordered a usb microscope after seeing this thread. Took a look at an ADC XLM Improved MKII stylus that came on a table I aquired a while back but not being used. At first I thought it was a black diamond. Nope, just filthy. Won't be playing anything new to me that hasn't gone through the ultrasonic.

Nice!! I picked up the Hudson Hi-Fi Ultrasonic Stylus Cleaner, and it's working wonders. I've also been working on my Microscope technique, and put together an extremely sophisticated system using an old tupperware for a stand and a variety of index cards for shims and backdrop. With this setup I can take regular snapshots of the stylus from a somewhat consistent angle (it takes around 5 minutes, from removing the headshell to a nicely-framed shot). Check it out:

 

[MegaHurts]

Nice!! I picked up the Hudson Hi-Fi Ultrasonic Stylus Cleaner, and it's working wonders. I've also been working on my Microscope technique, and put together an extremely sophisticated system using an old tupperware for a stand and a variety of index cards for shims and backdrop. With this setup I can take regular snapshots of the stylus from a somewhat consistent angle (it takes around 5 minutes, from removing the headshell to a nicely-framed shot). Check it out:
View attachment 2762819 View attachment 2762822

what was your cleaning method for the stylus?

I used some on hand denatured ethanol (my pref for shellac) a little cup to soak the stylus tip in held with wired aligator clip and then a micro brush to clean along with using folded paper to give lateral/back support for the cantilever to apply a bit of pressure. I wasn't too worried about ruining the stylus though.
Pic of the cup, micro brush and manual microscope to see progress but it doesn't take pretty pictures. Background is of spalted yellow birch destined for a new SX-750 case soon.

 

[ghamilton]

Nice!! I picked up the Hudson Hi-Fi Ultrasonic Stylus Cleaner, and it's working wonders. I've also been working on my Microscope technique, and put together an extremely sophisticated system using an old tupperware for a stand and a variety of index cards for shims and backdrop. With this setup I can take regular snapshots of the stylus from a somewhat consistent angle (it takes around 5 minutes, from removing the headshell to a nicely-framed shot). Check it out:
View attachment 2762819 View attachment 2762822

That's a great photo of my ML. Love that cartridge!

 

[DorkusPrime]

Just for fun, here's a shot of an old 0.7 mil conical that I'm borrowing from a buddy for some listen tests:

 

[DorkusPrime]

I used some on hand denatured ethanol (my pref for shellac) a little cup to soak the stylus tip in held with wired aligator clip and then a micro brush to clean along with using folded paper to give lateral/back support for the cantilever to apply a bit of pressure. I wasn't too worried about ruining the stylus though.
Pic of the cup, micro brush and manual microscope to see progress but it doesn't take pretty pictures. Background is of spalted yellow birch destined for a new SX-750 case soon.

Oooh, hope we get to see that sx-750!

 

[MegaHurts]

Oooh, hope we get to see that sx-750!

Soon, the lamps just arrived today and the sides need to dry for a few more days. I have another SX-750 with cherry cab finshed and just waiting for lamp replacement.

 

[Ilikevinyl]

Hmmm, maybe on the order of 30 sides? Kind of tough to say given that there was a lot of testing & adjusting involved in the table’s initial runs. Lots of short plays, for instance, while I was working on the tonearm or fiddling with the audio connector panel in back.



Wow, excellent video! First off, that’s the same microscope as mine and he gave me some great ideas about how to improve my shots. Second off, super impressive results with the Hudson Hi-Fi Ultrasonic stylus cleaner – so I just picked up one myself for future deep cleanings Seems like I shouldn’t do the IPA thing too often, so perhaps this is a bit more repeatable.

Only use my Ultrasonic Stylus Cleaner if I can't wipe off any stuff with my small stylus brush.