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SUPER Staticy Record???

So, I got a shipment from overseas of some new vinyl.  The first LP I pulled out of its sleeve literally had to be PULLED out of the sleeve there was so much static.  I spin washed/vacuumed it and then hit it with a carbon brush when I put it on the TT.  When I put the needle down it sounded like it was pressed through a layer of gauze.  I was pissed.  Shitty pressing from a small "audiophile" label - I surmised.  Its a double LP and I didn't bother to try out the second record.  I got three other albums from this label so I'm now expecting the worst and not a happy camper.

So today I pulled out the second record - which was also pretty staticy - spun washed it, carbon brushed it and it sounded fine... really good actually.  

Then I pulled the first LP out of the sleeve today to double check my ears (it slid out smoothly this time).  I put it on the TT; hit it with the brush; dropped the needle; and... viola - it sounds fine (more than fine, it sounds great).

Query: a vinyl be SO staticy that brushing, washing, vacuuming and brushing again doesn't get rid of the static?  Why did it sound so bad before I put it back in its sleeve last night and sound fine today?  When I say "so bad", I mean it sounded like every groove was full of grainy distortion to the point where it was virtually unlistenable. 
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fuzztone's avatar
fuzztone
5,624 posts
 
Sounds like a job for Furutech DeStat
antinn
406 posts
 
@lewm,

Completely 'wetting' the record will remove the static charge from the side that is fully 'wetted'.  This paper shows that a 20% IPA solution which has a surface tension of about 30 dynes/cm will remove the static charge from Teflon which has a lower critical surface tension (~19 dynes/cm) than PVC (~38 dynes/cm).   https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Static-charge-removal-with-IPA-solution-Ohmi-Sudoh/be62b540b4a.  Once the record surface or any surface for that matter  is 'wetted', it becomes 'dissipative' and  static charge is dissipated/eliminated.   Cleanrooms commonly use DIW-IPA sprays for anti-static/static removal. 

A 'conductive' carbon brush depending on how it is used and whether the human is grounded  can either do nothing, remove static charge or charge the record.   

Why would a record be staticky after initial cleaning could be associated with how it was 1st dried.  Plausible theory - Cloths used to dry the first record will be drier than when used for the 2nd record and when 1st used may not remove as much moisture as when used for the 2nd record when the cloth is slightly damp and drying by capillary action may be in-play.  The initially drier cloth may actually create static.  So the 1st record in its sleeve that may be slightly damp sets ups a high humidity environment in the sleeve perfect for dissipating any residual static.  
mattmiller's avatar
mattmiller
1,497 posts
 
I don't have Static of any kind thank you GRUVGLIDE!
sumadoggie's avatar
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sumadoggie OP
62 posts
 
Yah, when I say brushed again after the cleaning it was with a anti-stat carbon fiber brush while spinning on the TT.  Room carpeted.  Bare feet. 
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,570 posts
 
A spin clean wets both sides. Water would have totally discharged the record. But, rubbing any item high up in the triboelectric series against the record vigorously will re establish the charge. Even with careful drying the record might continue to hold some moisture in the grooves for a while. Summadoggie , do an experiment for us. Clean a record, dry it and place it on the turntable immediately. Does it play correctly or are you hearing the same thing you heard the other night?
Another thing. Charged records will play just perhaps with an occasional tic. What the OP describes sounds worse.
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