Microscopic Stylus Portraits

[BrocLuno]

I'm thinking any picture is worth more than mere words to describe conditions. And the concept of a scrubbed clean record still leaving that level of crap-ola on a stylus is a bit of news to me. Micro-photography is fun and informative. I like the work done so far, carry on !!

 

[iLUVanalog]

all this further reinforces the importance of cleaning/dusting off your stylus after EVERY play.

i do that religiously. it will only help your stylus (and record) last longer. no cleaning system is going to be perfect, but everything you can do to help keep things as clean as is possible certainly helps!

 

[shimniok]

Magic Erase results...

I finally got around to buying Magic Erase pads. As promised, here are before/after microscope shots.

Before picture (left) shows Ortofon ULM50E stylus (new to me TT) after playing what I thought was a pretty well-cleaned record. The After shot (right), shows the stylus following 4 or 5 dips into a small square of Magic Erase pad.

This little experiment, if nothing else, has convinced me that the 5 or 10 seconds cleaning at least every play, if not every side, actually does something. :yes:

Also, my earliest picture at the beginning of the thread with the huge amount of buildup appears to have been due to too much Dawn in the cleaning fluid. I've not had anywhere close to this level of buildup since switching formulas to use much less Dawn.

Michael

 

[spok]

Excellent!:thmbsp:

I have used the Discwasher SC-2 brushes for about 30 years. A drop of the cleaning solution before each playing session, then a swipe or two between sides, and your stylus will stay in clean condition.:yes:

I have the same brush, is the cleaning solution still available? mine dried up years ago

 

[jdandy]

Nice photos. Never thought about using record cleaner on my stylus brush. I'm going to try it today. Thanks.

 

[shimniok]

I've tried manually cleaning stlyii with the discwasher record brush and homebrew cleaner. It did work brilliantly... My only fear with the liquid is the suggestion that it will either dissolve the needle bond or working its way up to the cantilever pivot and stiffening it. Not sure how true either is, or if either is applicable to my particular stylus. Figured I'd try the dry stuff if it works which it appears to...

Michael

 

[yamahammer]

looks good to me

nice pics shimi nice thread makes you want to go :scratch2: about how much crap is still in those grooves even after a good cleaning or how much of it is in your room floating around

 

[Doug G.]

I worked in a University geological chemistry lab back in the 80s and they had a microstereoscope that was perfect for 3D viewing. I took my cartridge over there one day and could not believe the pile of sand grains (its was NM after all) all around the stylus. Yikes.

I will have to read that other thread but let's not get too snooty here - shimniok gets credit for being interested and using what's at his disposal.

I agree. :yes: He never did state that his main objective was to discover the condition of the stylus tip per se. He just wanted to look at it through the scope and voila! He saw all the dirt.

His method is great for this purpose. :thmbsp:

EDIT: Oops, hehe, didn't notice the age of this thread or look at all the posts etc. I still agree with myself though. :^)

Doug

 

[Doctordirt]

http://scientificsonline.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_3112101

I have a similar one to this. You would need to fashion a suitable holder such as a hobby vice, since you need to hold onto it with one and and focus with the other. It is designed to rest on a flat surface. Your target would need to be below the stantion of the scope. I also have a stereo zoomscope, which is very useful. I don't have video capture cababilities at home, but I do at work. I might just see what other things I could show y'all.

 

[Grainger49]

Here's what it looks like after a couple of passes with discwasher brush wetted with record cleaning solution... (not ideal, I know but...)

I'm pretty sure that is what it is intended to do. I look at it this way, the diamond/sapphire and metal of the cantilever are harder than the nylon of the Diskwasher brush. You can't clean your windshield with sand (Comet), but can clean it with Bon-Ami because it uses a softer abrasive (diatomaceous earth).

 

[Grainger49]

Michael,

Are you picking up this much dust on a single LP play? I bought a cheaper version of the goo you can lower the stylus into and it cleans it. I'm pretty happy with it but I don't do it after every LP.

Should I?

 

[ke4jhj]

I have the same brush, is the cleaning solution still available? mine dried up years ago

I don't think it's made anymore. I bought up several bottles about a year ago from a dealer on the web. He no longer has any in stock.

Perhaps we need to start a thread on diy stylus cleaner fluid.

 

[ke4jhj]

I've tried manually cleaning stlyii with the discwasher record brush and homebrew cleaner. It did work brilliantly... My only fear with the liquid is the suggestion that it will either dissolve the needle bond or working its way up to the cantilever pivot and stiffening it. Not sure how true either is, or if either is applicable to my particular stylus. Figured I'd try the dry stuff if it works which it appears to...

Michael

I have been using the SC-2 Discwasher brush and fluid for about 30 years and have never done any apparent damage to a stylus. But then I only apply one, maybe two drops of fluid to the brush at the beginning of the listening session and then give the stylus two or three swipes between sides. I may apply another drop after six or more sides.

What are you using for your homebrew solution?

 

[shimniok]

I am picking up a fair bit of dust after a couple of sides. Have noticed that dipping into magic erase is good enough for maybe 5 LPs but still need to brush with liquid periodically to get rid of the more stubborn stuff. I am probably just going to switch to a stylus brush w/ cleaning fluid. I figure as long as it is slightly damp it will "probably" be ok... but who knows.

Homebrew solution for record cleaning at present is based on reading here and is a total guess. Right now I am using one drop of dawn in a quart of ~ 3:1 or 4:1 distilled water to 99% isopropyl alcohol from the grocery store. I wanted to cut back on the IPA a little and wanted to cut back on the Dawn a lot.

As for method: I've been spinning LPs, applying liquid, then putting the paint edging pad down on them for several revolutions, then using microfiber towel to lift off most of the fluid and the discwasher brush to remove the rest.

It's enough to handle the large stack of dusty records I have to go through. I haven't yet refined to determine effects on low level crackles and noise floor, but it is getting that low enough that the noise floor/crackles are in any way distracting. And stylus build-up is definitely reduced but I would imagine if I get the record cleaning right I won't have to clean the stylus as often.

Once the RCM is hacked together, vacuuming will make a big difference, no doubt. Ideally I should figure out a way to compare methods and solutions by looking at the record microscopically... if so I'll start a new thread I guess.

Michael

 

[Arkay]

I use a variety of scopes to examine styli, including an ophthalmic one like eteller mentioned. [In fact, I posted about that one here on AK when I first got it.]

It's amazing the gunk you find on styli, and how helpful a good scope can be when you want to be sure you have that tip really clean. I once bought a NIB stylus when I didn't have a pocket scope with me. Got it home, took a look, and it had a jungle of corrosion built up on it! After getting it as clean as it was going to get, I looked at it under a higher-power scope, to check the tip. The corrosion had eaten pits into the metal surface. Ruined, before it ever played a single record...:tears:

Incidentally, next time you are playing with a scope like that, look carefully around and under your fingernails ... before (and after) you wash your hands. It isn't only styli that can get dirty.

Nothing like a scope to get you cleaning your stylus --and your hands!-- regularly! :yes:

 

[shimniok]

Incidentally, next time you are playing with a scope like that, look carefully around and under your fingernails ... before (and after) you wash your hands. It isn't only styli that can get dirty.

Nothing like a scope to get you cleaning your stylus --and your hands!-- regularly! :yes:

Eeek, I donno ... if I do that I might get all Howard Hughes about the germs and dirt and stuff

Michael