I think I'm done using a record brush...

Pyramid1 said:
Question: How could a carbon fiber brush used properly *increase* static? The entire point of carbon impregnated bristles is that they're conductive. In my humble experience, records that crackle and pop prior to a light dusting with a CF brush (mine's an Audio Technica brand) are nearly silent after a gentle brushing. I always attempt to complete a path between the metal brush body and ground.

I live in a 100 year old house with no humidification. Static is always a problem. Heck, I can hear pops and crackles through my speakers when I pull a record off the platter. Probably time for an anti-static mat. Suggestions?
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deer hide
 
jrtrent said:
The way it was explained to me is that most cleaning brushes, while removing some dust, can also force some dust that was on the surface down into the record groove where it can be impacted by the stylus tip and cause record damage.

Linn: Most record cleaning devices do more harm than good. The dust that inevitably collects on records is not harmful: it's on the surface, not in the grooves containing the signal. Attempts to remove the dust usually force the dust down into the grooves, where it does damage. The best method of cleaning records is to let the stylus remove the dust then clean it. (excerpt from "How to Care for Records" as found in the Linn Magazine)

One of the nice things about this idea, shared by Rega, is that playing records becomes a simpler, more straightforward operation. You just take the record out of its sleeve, play it, then put it back in the sleeve.
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jr, thanks for posting that explanation.

I play lots of records without brushing - if they're already clean. :)

Maybe in Merry Olde England the dust consists of yew pollen and terrier hair, and stays on the "surface", but I live in the American Southwest, where microscopic sand particles have about an equal chance of landing on the land (where else, right?) or in the groove, since the "surface" consists of about equal portions of each.

It could be worse - I could live in Phoenix. Google "haboob" (don't forget the "ha"!).

:music:
 
ConradH said:
Still using a Watts Disc Preener (sp?) with the moist center sponge to get the humidity up.
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I guess were of the same era, I've used the "Preener" since day one and stopped wetting the core due to the issue
you mentioned.
I simply exhale and moisten the fabric and remove dust.
 
Pyramid1 said:
Question: How could a carbon fiber brush used properly *increase* static? The entire point of carbon impregnated bristles is that they're conductive. In my humble experience, records that crackle and pop prior to a light dusting with a CF brush (mine's an Audio Technica brand) are nearly silent after a gentle brushing. I always attempt to complete a path between the metal brush body and ground.

I live in a 100 year old house with no humidification. Static is always a problem. Heck, I can hear pops and crackles through my speakers when I pull a record off the platter. Probably time for an anti-static mat. Suggestions?
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I asked myself the same thing. Use of audioquest carbon fiber brush always makes my records insanely charged even with grounding. Not using it, no static issues. Go figure.
 
I always use a carbon fiber brush and have had no problems.

No matter how well records are protected in the sleeves and jackets, it is inevitable that they pick up dust. So, brush use is essential.

I have found that a light touch with the brush and flipping it just right when removing it from the record eliminates any left behind residue.
 
Interestingly, that gigantic online seller named after the mythical warrior women Wonder Woman spawned from carries an Audio Technica brush that has *both* carbon fiber bristles and a "central velvet pad" for 3 bucks cheaper than their ubiquitous CF brush.
 
So what does Linn think, that all dust particles are a size that's too big to penetrate into the record groove? Any proof for this?

I welcome them to come here to Arizona and see if that's so.

Jon
 
My biggest enemy is ultra fine dog hair from my American Eskimo/Husky mix. I can't get anywhere near my vinyl if I've pet him recently. His undercoat fur floats in the air.

I wonder how insane it would be to take a bog standard 3M, tear off style lint roller to vinyl? Or the tacky, washable silicone kind?
 
@jnoyes I lived in west Texas for a few years. And when the north wind blew hard a wall of dirt would come down and get into everything. It didnt matter how air tight your car or house was, it got everywhere, super fine dust would coat everything.
 
Lavane said:
@jnoyes I lived in west Texas for a few years. And when the north wind blew hard a wall of dirt would come down and get into everything. It didnt matter how air tight your car or house was, it got everywhere, super fine dust would coat everything.
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Yeah, it's a beautiful day here in Prescott and the doors are open to let in some fresh air. I certainly don't see anything in the air like that picture of Phoenix, but I guarantee that there is going to be a coating of fine dust on everything. Just the reality of life in this climate and topography.

Jon
 
meggy said:
Pretty much. If a record is dirty enough to need a brush it's dirty enough to RCM it.

What drove me nuts about a brush is the dust line they'd leave no matter which one you'd use or what you do. It's like using a broom without a dustpan.
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I don't think the idea is to put the brush on the record and then lift it straight off and leave a dust row. You angle it and move the brush to the outside of the record and the dust falls onto the plinth were you can wipe it up with a wetted
micro fibre cloth
 
I have a Pickering CF brush that I've been using steadily for maybe 20 years. The text on the handle is about worn off but the bristles are still in great shape
 
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