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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. 
128x128Ag insider logo xs@2xsumadoggie
14 responses Add your response
antinn
406 posts
 
@lewm,

Agree completely with your statement. An old Audio magazine article showed that just removing a record from a paper sleeve could produce a static charge on the record = 30,000V (this is not a typo).

Otherwise, it appears the folks over at the VinylEngine have found a <$20 device that works fine for removing static - http://www.vinylengine.com/turntable_forum/viewtopic.php?f=53&t=120963&sid=e001cca548c0a23ce....
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,570 posts
 
If the records are in a paper sleeve (paper is high on the list) they move around a bit in shipping. Paper rubbing vinyl makes a great static charge.
Try it. Take a paper record sleeve and rub a record vigorously. You won't hurt it. Pass the back of your hand over the record and you will feel your hairs stand on end. 
As for what made the record sound awful after cleaning? Lord knows but I doubt it was static. 
As far as discharging the record a path directly to ground is the gold standard. This is easily done with a conductive sweep arm or a carbon bristle record brush attached to ground. You can drill and tap one of these brushes and wire it to ground near your table where it is handy. This is the best way to discharge a record. All that other stuff is making a mountain out of a mole hill. 
ebm
9,311 posts
 
Buy Furutech Destat 3 ASAP!!!
sumadoggie's avatar
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sumadoggie OP
62 posts
 
I use an Audioquest carbonfiber brush. (The gold and black one ’cuz it looks posh).

Use the Record Doctor to clean: drops across one side; bush around prob four times +/-; flip and vacuum around about 5x.

Honestly, I was shocked (haha) when I tried to get the vinyl out of the sleeve the first time. The second in the 2 LP set was the same. I opened up the others the following day and they were likewise pretty sticky with static, but not as bad as the first LP the first evening.

The record had been inside a few hours after delivery before I put it on the TT, so it was up to temperature (if that’s a factor).
dekay's avatar
dekay
5,594 posts
 
Items shipped via common carrier pick up electrical charges from the sorting machines, scanners and conveyor belts.

I've noticed this most with vacuum tubes (especially large power tubes) that attract dust like a magnet when unpacked.

Usually powering them on/off 2-3 times with a waiting time/period between episodes rids them of the static charge.

For the few LP's I've received (shipped) I just used a Zerostat.

DeKay
lewm
13,106 posts
 
Antinn, I take your point about “wetting”, but my point was that it takes a fraction of a second to charge up an LP even after it might have been discharged by wetting, and sumadoggie might be inadvertently doing something conducive to charging AFTER wetting. He’s certainly not playing the LPs in the wetted state. His carpet and bare feet might be ill advised but then he does say he uses an anti-stat brush. Sumadoggie, can you say more about the brush?
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.
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. 
mattmiller's avatar
mattmiller
1,497 posts
 
I don't have Static of any kind thank you GRUVGLIDE!
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.  
fuzztone's avatar
fuzztone
5,624 posts
 
Sounds like a job for Furutech DeStat
lewm
13,106 posts
 
Because "brushing, washing, vacuuming, and brushing again" does not per se get rid of static charge.  Those processes can just as well charge up an LP as discharge it, especially that last step.... "brushing".  Cleaning and static charge dissipation are two entirely different things.  Do you have a wool carpet in your listening room? Do you wear leather soled shoes?  Do you perform any rituals to discharge the LP surface prior to dropping the needle, such as using a Zerostat or any of many other options?  Those things affect static charge on the LP.
sumadoggie's avatar
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sumadoggie OP
62 posts
 
Possible, but I gave it the same treatment I give all my records. I have to say it's a very quiet mastering job...  on my Hegel I play it at an 80 whereas I'm normally playing my vinyl 65-70.
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,570 posts
 
sumadoggie, the only thing that makes sense to me is it probably did not get dry all the way and there was still water in the groove. Today dried out it sounds fine.
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