Static problems with all my turntables

B

bungler666

New Member
Hello!
I have an extremely irritating problem when playing my records. After just 1 play the record gets very statically charged.
I live in Sweden and it's been raining here constantly for the last few weeks so I doubt it's a humidity problem.

I've tried different mats and the only one that had an effect was the anti-static carbon mat, but that one shed fibers across the record so I'm not using that one.
What's strange is this problem has occured on all my turntables, a Thorens TD166, Technics 1210 and now an Acoustic Signature Challenger.

I have sprayed my carpet with anti-static spray to no avail. Carbon fibre brushes also make it worse.

What's strange is, when I brush a record with the same brush on my Project VC-E RCM it actually works as it should and removes a lot of static.

When I tried the Challenger in the Hifi-shop a few days ago, the records I played did not build up a static charge, not when I brushed them either.

I've tried grounding the spindle to the amplifier, outlet and radiator to no effect whatsoever.

What is going on here?!

I'd REALLY appreciate some help with this, or I'm gonna go crazy!
 
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I used to have static problems with my vinyl for years and I couldn’t get rid of it. I used to think they must have been so dirty and was constantly cleaning my records to no avail.

In the end what has worked for me is using an acrylic turntable mat directly on the metal platter. I don’t use a rubber mat at all. Think I got the mat off of eBay or Amazon for about $20. Nothing else worked (except I have a copper mat too that gives me no static issues). It makes sense in a way I suppose as rubber doesn’t conduct electricity away from the record.
 
Yes I think another mat might be worth trying. I have an "Anti-static felt" mat in the mail right now so maybe that could do the trick (or maybe not...)
 
bungler666 said:
Hello!
I have an extremely irritating problem when playing my records. After just 1 play the record gets very statically charged.
I live in Sweden and it's been raining here constantly for the last few weeks so I doubt it's a humidity problem.

I've tried different mats and the only one that had an effect was the anti-static carbon mat, but that one shed fibers across the record so I'm not using that one.
What's strange is this problem has occured on all my turntables, a Thorens TD166, Technics 1210 and now an Acoustic Signature Challenger.

I have sprayed my carpet with anti-static spray to no avail. Carbon fibre brushes also make it worse.

What's strange is, when I brush a record with the same brush on my Project VC-E RCM it actually works as it should and removes a lot of static.

When I tried the Challenger in the Hifi-shop a few days ago, the records I played did not build up a static charge, not when I brushed them either.

I've tried grounding the spindle to the amplifier, outlet and radiator to no effect whatsoever.

What is going on here?!

I'd REALLY appreciate some help with this, or I'm gonna go crazy!
Click to expand...

Once you remove the record from the platter run the carbon fiber brush around it again, no more static. You can test this by putting your forearm near the record, if the hair doesn't stand up you're good to go.
 
Sgt Shultz said:
Once you remove the record from the platter run the carbon fiber brush around it again, no more static. You can test this by putting your forearm near the record, if the hair doesn't stand up you're good to go.
Click to expand...
That's true, and I can also zap it with the Zerostat but it really feels like something is wrong here. Static buildup shouldn't be a thing with a well grounded turntable and a cork mat? I find it very weird that this doesn't happen with the ProJect. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that the record doesn't sit on a platter?
 
bungler666 said:
That's true, and I can also zap it with the Zerostat but it really feels like something is wrong here. Static buildup shouldn't be a thing with a well grounded turntable and a cork mat? I find it very weird that this doesn't happen with the ProJect. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that the record doesn't sit on a platter?
Click to expand...
I have several tables and the two I'm using currently have the same issue, not sweating it. The issue isn't whether or not the table is grounded but the platter, and it's kind of hard to accomplish on the Well Tempered Lab Turntable platter. It doesn't affect playback so I don't worry about it.

My Kenwood KD-770D exhibits the same issue, I find it's seems to be more prevalent with newer records, something different in the vinyl composition maybe.
 
How you pull the record off the platter makes a big difference. Pull it off slowly by lifting one edge, keeping the opposite edge on the mat till the record is at a 45 degree angle to the platter, then remove it completely. I've found this helps tremendously when there's a static problem that can't be resolved any other way.
 
bungler666 said:
Hello!
I have an extremely irritating problem when playing my records. After just 1 play the record gets very statically charged.
I live in Sweden and it's been raining here constantly for the last few weeks so I doubt it's a humidity problem.

I've tried different mats and the only one that had an effect was the anti-static carbon mat, but that one shed fibers across the record so I'm not using that one.
What's strange is this problem has occured on all my turntables, a Thorens TD166, Technics 1210 and now an Acoustic Signature Challenger.

I have sprayed my carpet with anti-static spray to no avail. Carbon fibre brushes also make it worse.

What's strange is, when I brush a record with the same brush on my Project VC-E RCM it actually works as it should and removes a lot of static.

When I tried the Challenger in the Hifi-shop a few days ago, the records I played did not build up a static charge, not when I brushed them either.

I've tried grounding the spindle to the amplifier, outlet and radiator to no effect whatsoever.

What is going on here?!

I'd REALLY appreciate some help with this, or I'm gonna go crazy!
Click to expand...
It does seem like a crazy situation. The only time playing a record ever created static was when I was using a Shure M97xE with the little brush down on the record surface. Shure confirmed to me that it was normal for that to create a static charge on the opposite side of the record. My Nitty Gritty record cleaning machine eliminated the static charge from my records, and by locking the brush in the up position I never had the problem again.

Did you take your own Challenger into the shop to try out, or was it a floor sample owned by the store? Did anyone at the shop have suggestions or guesses as to what's happening in your home environment?

Does your Project VC-E remove the static when you clean a record with it? If so, what happens if you just take a record directly from the rcm, put it on a turntable, and play it with no additional brushing, zapping, grounding, etc.? Does it still get a static charge by just playing it?
 
DeadRock said:
Hmmmm...strange it is...
Click to expand...
I get static on very cold wintry days. Think it's the low humidity.

This is going to sound crazy... Get a heavy piece of metal something or other. I have a plumbing galvanized steel to copper union piece. Heavy piece of anything metal seems to work the best.

Touch this piece before handling the LP. I touch this union piece to the turntable's spindle to ground any built-up static. Seems to work well during those very bad static days.

steel to copped union (1) SMALL.jpgsteel to copped union (2).jpg
 
jrtrent said:
It does seem like a crazy situation. The only time playing a record ever created static was when I was using a Shure M97xE with the little brush down on the record surface. Shure confirmed to me that it was normal for that to create a static charge on the opposite side of the record. My Nitty Gritty record cleaning machine eliminated the static charge from my records, and by locking the brush in the up position I never had the problem again.

Did you take your own Challenger into the shop to try out, or was it a floor sample owned by the store? Did anyone at the shop have suggestions or guesses as to what's happening in your home environment?

Does your Project VC-E remove the static when you clean a record with it? If so, what happens if you just take a record directly from the rcm, put it on a turntable, and play it with no additional brushing, zapping, grounding, etc.? Does it still get a static charge by just playing it?
Click to expand...
Thanks for the lengthy reply!

The Challenger was a floor sample. I took a record I had with me and brushed it for about 10 revolutions.
No static, and that was with the stock felt mat!

The people at the shop thought it was my carpet, but I've debunked that theory since trying it on the kitchen table with no effect.

Yes, the Pro-Ject removes all static. Even if I just brush a record on it with THE SAME BRUSH that causes static on my TT.

If I play a cleaned record, it will stick to the mat after 1 play. That's with no additional brushing or anything.
 
How about trying a Zero Stat gun before every play while the record is on the table?

I do it all of the time, 3 cycles or so and don’t release the trigger on the last cycle until away from the record.
 
OBMG74 said:
How about trying a Zero Stat gun before every play while the record is on the table?

I do it all of the time, 3 cycles or so and don’t release the trigger on the last cycle until away from the record.
Click to expand...
I have one, and it removes the static but the record still manages to pick up a lot of dirt while playing so it's not really a solution.
 
I use one of these anti-static arms. The base is electrically connected to ground and the conductive carbon fiber brush continuously discharges static as the record is played. The one I have measures roughly 50 ohms from the brush to ground and I find that it works really well when static is a problem.

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Curious as to how your records are stored.

In paper sleeves? Plastic? Outer album cover plastic covered?


Other than the above, you may have to go to another method of cleaning.


Q
 
Try cleaning your records with a damp brush before you play each side. A genuine old Discwasher if you have one. Works wonders.
 
I store them in poly-lined sleeves.
I don't think the cleaning causes it, they are static free after cleaning.

I've been meaning to try one of those Dust-Bugs, maybe it can work? But still, i've tried grounding an Audioquest gold brush and that didn't work.

Regarding a damp brush, yes that could actually work but doesn't that just push the dirt into the grooves?
 
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