Static Electricity on Vinyl

A Milty Zerostat 3 Anti-Static Gun and a room humidifier work for me (especially this time of year).

I used a Milty until it crapped out a couple of years ago.   Then I got a good deal on a Furutech Destat II.  Both do the trick, but the Milty is quicker/easier to use.  In hindsight I wish I had bought another Milty.

I have used various versions of the Milty since 1974. A few years ago, unhappy with the Milty 3 insofar as it would not evenly remove the static from the record or would apply static if the trigger was not pressed and released in a precisely even fashion (not always easy to do), I went looking for an alternative. After reading an online review of the Destat, I purchased one. I much prefer the Destat as it works better and applies its effects more evenly than the Milty. I highly recommend it. It is worth the price difference.

I second the Furutech DeStat along with an Acoustac carbon fiber brush.

If your table allows, try grounding your platter from underneath the plinth.  Try using a humidifier in the room.  If all else fails, use one of the anti-static guns.

Gruv Glide will completely cure the static issue.  Yes, I know some people are against putting coatings on their records - so be it.  I'm just letting you know.  Without getting into a debate on the safety, the audiophile sites such as Music Direct have been selling the stuff for years and I'm sure if it was harmful the audio community would know.  In any case - it does cure static.  

Curious about the Furutech, I followed the link....

.....I think I'll keep what I've got....

Nagaoka Kilavolt #103.  Bought it sometime in the mid 80's for about twice what Zerostats were going for...

Still works.  I have to remember to change the C cell in it, if only to prevent 'battery rot'....that and a carbon brush is all I've ever needed....*S**

A DIY ultrasonic cleaner. This solves many issues along with making your listening experience much better.

Titus1;

I have the Furutech Destat 2 and 3. The 2 has served me well for about 3 years but the 3 is far more powerful.there have been times I've had to run the 2 over a record 5 or 6 times with the unit set to the longer run time. The 3 is just more powerful and one15 second blast is all it takes. I test with styrofoam, the 2 wouldn't cause it to let go of the record most times without performing multiple passes. The 3 did it so fast it literally shocked me. BTW, the 2 works GREAT with CD's that are being played in plastic drawer equipped CD Players/Transports. If the tray/drawer is metal,it doesn't seem to make a difference and yes,I tested this quite thoroughly :)

hope this helps

 I find it makes a huge difference as to which turntable i use. My VPI TNT is the worst. Everything I play on it gets static charged by the time I'm done half of a side.  I have a teres and a micro and they don't seem to suffer from static at all 

analogluvr, the TNT's plinth is black acrylic, right? What are the Teres and Micro made of?

There is a passive solution to static on the record.  The SK-EX-III.  Works great on records that have static build up.  3-6 seconds in the sleeve and the static is gone.

Buy the hand held ORB Sakura. It works on batteries. You hold the switch and the unit blows pos and neg ions. Use a circular motion and shut off. This works better than any device including old Milty’s.

Wearing shoes or socks on carpeting is a sure fire way to create a charge; I only play and handle records in bare feet. Re-sleeving a record can create a charge- some of the aftermarket inner sleeves are "anti-static" but you have to sort through what type you prefer--I’d suggest you buy some of the well-regarded brands in small quantities and try various ones. (I now use the MA Records sleeve-- it is some sort of woven plant matter that has a soft fabric-like quality and also doesn’t leave any detritus on the record, something that some aftermarket sleeves seem to do (they shed)).
I find that the so-called anti-static brushes are, for the most part, ineffective, and can also leave a charge. (They also shed). I use a Giotto Rocket Blaster bulb type air puffer- it gets rid of the surface stuff without touching the record, but you have to get used to using it-- you need to hold the record almost vertically, so the air blast and gravity help get the surface stuff off.
A good cleaning is essential and some vacuum machines can charge a record.
The various anti-static machines and the Milty Zerostat type gun work-- but you are ameliorating the charge by another charge-- look for ways to minimize the charge in the first place. Humidity is a factor with heating during the winter. I also don’t re-jacket my records- I put the inner with record in a pocket next to the jacket created by an outer jacket sleeve. I use the old inner as a protective surface and slide the record, with new inner sleeve in between, like a sandwich-- less static than pulling a record out of the jacket, faster to pull the record, less wear on the jacket. Makes for a thicker package though, in terms of shelf space.
Someone once recommended buying a used bench top ionizer of the type used for chip production. You see them on E-Bay, used, for $50- 100 bucks (they can be more expensive).

I only play and handle records in bare feet.

My knees got so bad from the pounding when running, that I was starting to hurt walking barefoot on the hard house floors. So I started wearing all rubber sandals at the recommendation of a fellow runner.

The all rubber sandals had the added benefit of not introducing static when handling records and equipment controls.

I found this information helpful.

"The best combinations of materials to create static electricity would be to have one material from the positive charge list and one from the negative charge list." 

http://www.school-for-champions.com/science/static_materials.htm#.WkQvRVWnGM9

I have found that some record's mats are more prone to statics than others. I used the George Merill mat during the summer time and switch to a Funk mat during winter. That said the Merill perform better with my turntable 

I get rid of static electricity with a spray bottle of distilled/demonized water and a Nitty Gritty Vacuum Record Cleaning Machine. I lightly spray the LP, then suck up the water with the NG.  I get static free and clean LP's.   

i clean all of my new lps with a record dr V machine and put them into new mofi sleeves.  static is never an issue from then on.  the record dr V  is relatively inexpensive (200 bucks) and very easy to use.