Magic Eraser Skeptic No Longer

[thunderstick]

Hi.

I just tried ME for the first time. The stylus I tried it on has perhaps ~60 hours. I removed the stylus before using ME and had a close up look with a magnifier. I could see lots of very tiny particles covering the needle area, but otherwise the styus looks very good indeed.

I've read quite a few posts about 'black blobs' being picked up from people's stylus' on the ME, but quite honestly, in my particular case, I saw no residue at all left on the ME. I did notice though that the fine particle matter was gone from the stylus, so I guess it did what everyone claims it does.

I have an Ortofon so I've read about the importance of liquid-free cleaning.

 

[fiddlefye]

Used Magic Eraser for the first time a few days ago when I was setting up the BIC 960 I got for them. I tried both headshells and both carts and one stylus sounded much better than the other. Got a bit of ME and tried it out with the result that both ended up sounding the same. So, yes, dirt does make a difference and yes, ME does seem to work.

 

[spideyjack]

i tried the magic eraser yesterday on both the upstars and downstairs turntables and was quite happy with the results.

 

[powerplayer]

Going to try one on my TT today.

Another question for the experienced. I dont have a cool microscope to do my own study, but since you use it dry I would think you could cut a piece off and store it in a ziploc or such to keep it clean and re-use it many many many times. Do you guys cut a new piece every time you spin or re-use for days, and if so how long have you got use out of one piece?

Yes, Im THAT tight....

 

[Axcel]

I know this has been covered a bunch, but I was still skeptical about the efficacy of the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser when it comes to stylus cleaning. No more. I dropped by Home Depot and picked up a box, came home and cut off a chunk the same height as the platter and lowered my Grado Green into it 5-6 times. I then fired up a few LP's and I swear it made a noticeable difference to both me and my 14 year old son (with better hearing, of course). I've been using isopropanol and a stylus brush to date and this seems much better (not to mention easier).

Side note from left field- the mastering and pressing of the Police's Regatta de Blanc and Zenyatta Mondata are truly excellent. Try 'em.

Not too get way off topic here but Finnbow the picture in your avatar is that you? I ask cause if it is you your a dead ringer for Sam Elliott the actor:yes:

 

[markd51]

Going to try one on my TT today.

Another question for the experienced. I dont have a cool microscope to do my own study, but since you use it dry I would think you could cut a piece off and store it in a ziploc or such to keep it clean and re-use it many many many times. Do you guys cut a new piece every time you spin or re-use for days, and if so how long have you got use out of one piece?

Yes, Im THAT tight....

It's not a question of being "tight", it is good common sense to not let such a product just sit on a rack shelf accumilating tons of crud-dust over time.

Yes, the ME can be used over, and over again, one box should last for years of use. It helps if one doesn't cut such huge, thick pieces of it, for little cubes to cue Stylus upon. A 1/16", to 1/8" thick piece, the size of a Nickel-Quarter is more than enough. Cutting it with a razor will help make nice little pieces at use at the Table. Mark

 

[classic carl]

Yes. I have used both a 10X and 20X loupe before and after Magic Eraser and a brush. For the most part, the brushes I use most, those that came with Denon and Audio Technica cartridges, work very well. I use these after each play. Magnification shows very little dust on the stylus and cantilever after use.

After numerous plays I will use an old Last stylus brush with a little distilled water and IPA (some styluses don't like IPA). Its bristles are a little more course than the other brushes. I also use this brush when there is visible dust that stubbornly won't come off with the other brushes.

On a few occasions, I have noticed some dust/lint that won't come off the stylus no matter how many times I use any brush. This is usually only noticeable after magnification. After dunking the stylus into the Magic Eraser, the dust/lint is gone.

The Magic Eraser works. I have now incorporated its use in between the soft brushes and the Last brush with homebrew stylus cleaner.

I have not noticed any discoloration with any of my styluses. Maybe this is because I avoid build-up by using a brush after each use.

IPA??? You use an India Pale Ale on your stylus. That's alchohol abuse. It's much better if you drink it. :beer:

 

[shimniok]

Going to try one on my TT today.

Another question for the experienced. I dont have a cool microscope to do my own study, but since you use it dry I would think you could cut a piece off and store it in a ziploc or such to keep it clean and re-use it many many many times. Do you guys cut a new piece every time you spin or re-use for days, and if so how long have you got use out of one piece?

Yes, Im THAT tight....

I use the same piece over and over until it is pretty ratty looking. So, I get several months per tiny block. I'm on piece #2 since last summer. At this rate I am probably good for a few more years out of the first box I bought.

Michael

 

[thedelihaus]

Cleaned a bunch of styli last night again. Magic Eraser on all of them first, which resulted in almost all looking great under a microscope.

Two of the 10 or so remained looking nasty mcfilthy, so I cleaned with nakoga (spelling?) stylus cleaner followed by magic eraser.

Those two then were as nice as the rest.

 

[analog fan]

Just tried the ME once, wet, but I think I'll go dry from here on out.
I think I've read all the responses, but I didn't see... how often would be too often to use the ME?

 

[markd51]

Just tried the ME once, wet, but I think I'll go dry from here on out.
I think I've read all the responses, but I didn't see... how often would be too often to use the ME?

Never use wet, use dry only. And there's never a "too much" use with the magic eraser when just dunking-cueing the stylus. I use it before every LP side I play, and figure that's just about right.

If those of you who should find that by just by cueing the stylus is insufficient, and your stylus isn't coming clean, it tells me one of two things, either that you have let stylus maintainence slip, and you've neglected your stylus for a good period of time, and/or your records are horribly filthy, and the groove is perhaps loaded with crud, contaminants, dirt, dust.

Not sure whether I mentioned it in this thread previously, but the ME can be used in a more agressive manner, without the need to resort to harsh liquid chemicals. With a razor blade, cut yourself a small sliver of ME, that it looks like a feather.

Take that fine feather edge of the ME, and very carefully scrub all sides of the stylus for a couple of minutes, being careful not to snag the stylus with the ME. If you're deflecting the cantilever, you're probably using too much pressure. Take your time. If you feel the need that the cantilever as well is filthy, the ME can also be used in a very careful manner to get this again clean.

This more agressive procedure will get the filthiest of stylus' clean, then to maintain, go back to the gentler, and safer cueing method. Mark

 

[Art K.]

Just turned a friend onto the ME this weekend..think he's a believer!

 

[Mr. Lin]

Never use wet, use dry only. And there's never a "too much" use with the magic eraser when just dunking-cueing the stylus. I use it before every LP side I play, and figure that's just about right.

If those of you who should find that by just by cueing the stylus is insufficient, and your stylus isn't coming clean, it tells me one of two things, either that you have let stylus maintainence slip, and you've neglected your stylus for a good period of time, and/or your records are horribly filthy, and the groove is perhaps loaded with crud, contaminants, dirt, dust.

Not sure whether I mentioned it in this thread previously, but the ME can be used in a more agressive manner, without the need to resort to harsh liquid chemicals. With a razor blade, cut yourself a small sliver of ME, that it looks like a feather.

Take that fine feather edge of the ME, and very carefully scrub all sides of the stylus for a couple of minutes, being careful not to snag the stylus with the ME. If you're deflecting the cantilever, you're probably using too much pressure. Take your time. If you feel the need that the cantilever as well is filthy, the ME can also be used in a very careful manner to get this again clean.

This more agressive procedure will get the filthiest of stylus' clean, then to maintain, go back to the gentler, and safer cueing method. Mark

Something like this would require a very steady hand indeed.

 

[Robie]

I'm a convert, too. Cleaned my DL-103 today and couldn't believe the difference.

 

[markd51]

Something like this would require a very steady hand indeed.

Yes indeed it does Dave. Now perhaps "massaging" an old Shure M-44, or the like, which many of these Cartridges were as tough as nails, and could probably almost literally be cleaning them with a wire brush, we know that isn't going to be the case with these new MC Cartridges, like your Benz Glider, with thier ultra skinny, and very delicate Boron Cantilevers, and suspension systems.

Yes, with something like this scrubbing with such a modern MC Cartridge, one wrong move could spell instant disaster. Slight deflection, no more than what the Cantilever experiences during play should not be detrimental. What will make it much harder, is a Cartridge that is mounted to a permanently affixed headshell. It is the snagging of Stylus that one certainly doesn't want to subject thier Stylus to.

That is how my Tonearm is, and one good reason why I religiously do the dunking method, before every LP side, so I'll never have the need of resorting to this more agressive method I previously mention. Mark

 

[thedelihaus]

Never use wet, use dry only. And there's never a "too much" use with the magic eraser when just dunking-cueing the stylus. I use it before every LP side I play, and figure that's just about right.

If those of you who should find that by just by cueing the stylus is insufficient, and your stylus isn't coming clean, it tells me one of two things, either that you have let stylus maintainence slip, and you've neglected your stylus for a good period of time, and/or your records are horribly filthy, and the groove is perhaps loaded with crud, contaminants, dirt, dust.

Not sure whether I mentioned it in this thread previously, but the ME can be used in a more agressive manner, without the need to resort to harsh liquid chemicals. With a razor blade, cut yourself a small sliver of ME, that it looks like a feather.

Take that fine feather edge of the ME, and very carefully scrub all sides of the stylus for a couple of minutes, being careful not to snag the stylus with the ME. If you're deflecting the cantilever, you're probably using too much pressure. Take your time. If you feel the need that the cantilever as well is filthy, the ME can also be used in a very careful manner to get this again clean.

This more agressive procedure will get the filthiest of stylus' clean, then to maintain, go back to the gentler, and safer cueing method. Mark

Regarding your comment on the Magic Eraser not being able to clean super-cruz needles due to said needles being used on filthy records or poorly maintained, I agree.

The stylii I couldn't clean with the M.E. alone were neglected stylii that played cruddy uncared for and unclean records.


Stylii regularly cleaned should not see such a filthy buildup, as long as your re odds are well cleaned, too.

The M.E. Should be able to tackle and clean your stylus without issue 99% of the time, if not better, I feel.

 

[HypnoToad]

I use my M.E. regularly now as I find that voices are a good indicator, any distortion at all and I give it a quick treatment and it sounds like new again.

Thanks Magic Eraser you are a super hero of the cleaning world.

 

[thunderstick]

M.E. certainly is as great as everyone states.

As a public service I would like to advise that you not waste your money on the alternative, onzow zerodust.

The M.E. does a superb job and costs basically nothing. The zerodust costs a substantial amount (in relation to M.E.) and I can't notice it picking up any excess debris that M.E. has left behind, even with a magnifying glass.

Spend the ~$50 on something else. I wish I had.

 

[porschpow]

How wouls you apply this piquid to the stylus? I have the same thing?

I can't agree all of that is corrosion.. How will corrosion stick to the diamond like you see in that picture? What is on the very tip is dirt, and you can clearly see the ME didn't clean it. If anything all it did was push it up just a little higher and make the glob a little bigger around.

I've got several AT stylus, and this is what I use on them. I figure if they make it for their stylus, you can't go wrong. I've also been using it on a couple other stylus with no problems.

 

[porschpow]

By the way, what does VTF mean?

The ME is a Melamine Foam, with a latticework of millions of little sharp fibers. When the Stylus is cued into the foam, those fibers scrape-abrade the Stylus, and remove gunk, films, dust, dirt. Since this material is so much softer than a Diamond Stylus, no harm comes to the Stylus. By dunking with the force of prescribed VTF. no harm as well will come to Cantilever, and thier suspension components. When used wet, it was found that this fiber matrix collapses, and then it is not anywhere near as effective as dry.

Dry cleaning has the benefit as well, of not having any possibility of fluids climbing-wicking up the Cantilever from capillary action, and having any detrimental effects on the Stylus Bonding Adhesives, or Suspension Components. Mark