Zerostat: Old is Gold?

Dear Andy, Thanks for the lecture on how to behave on audio websites.  I would have rather thought that it is fun to behave as if we are all friends to begin with, and we are sitting around having a discussion over a hypothetical beer.  In my experience, everything in audio is open to "endless debate", regardless of how circumspect one might or might not be in expressing one's opinion.  I hold no grudge, nor do I bear any anger, directed at anyone here.  That's a given.

One thing I do know, though, is that you'd need to perform some thoughtful testing (if you think using the word "scientific" is pedantic), in order to know whether a particular Zerostat, old or new, British or Chinese in origin, is actually working.  

My experience with the Zerostat left me with the feeling it was just a piece of crap. It never did work right. I guess it was made in the UK, as I bought it over ten years ago. I won't be wasting cash on another one, that's for sure.

Dan

Islandman, We differ in the sense that I do think a Zerostat can work to do the job for which it is intended.  My only point is that I don't know whether MY Zerostat is still working after more than 40 years, and I certainly don't know if a Chinese-made Zerostat is any better or worse than one made in England.  Nor do I think one can answer that question without taking some measurements.

To complicate matters further, there are completely contradictory descriptions of how properly to use a Zerostat, to be found on the internet. One says to operate the trigger back and forth while holding the gun about 12 inches from the LP.  Another says to operate the trigger slowly so not to activate the clicking sound, hold the trigger IN, and then slowly pull the gun away from the vicinity of the LP while very slowly releasing the trigger.  Some folks say you can de-stat while the LP is on the platter, some say not.  So, if the gun does not appear to be working perhaps the problem is the method.  (I don't know myself which is correct, but the idea to hold the trigger IN while pulling the gun away from the LP makes some sense to me.)

FWIW - I had an "original" red Zerostat for years and (as was discussed in another earlier A’gon thread) followed the directions supplied with it. Going by memory now, instructions were to slowly pull and release the trigger at (3?) locations around an LP while on the turntable. One pull- and-release cycle at each of those locations. For the 4th and final activation, pull the trigger slowly while positioned over the spindle, then withdraw before releasing the trigger. Distance from the LP on the order of 8" or so (again, going by memory). Idea was to shower the vinyl surface with charged particles that were supposed to neutralize static.

I have a new blue Zerostat now. Don’t feel like digging it out to double-check but my recollection is that it’s supplied with a little attachment that fits on the tip of the "gun". This is not for use when treating an LP but is intended to confirm the Zerostat is functional. If the Zerostat is working, a little light on the attachment will illuminate when the trigger is pulled. The attachment is to be removed when using the gun to treat LPs.

Results with Zerostat do seem to be mixed and inconsistent - it might help with cleaning dust using a record cleaning brush afterwards but doesn’t always seem to reduce static buildup felt on removing the LP after play - even if used after a side is played. I mainly use the Zerostat prior to playing the rare piece of vinyl with significant dust and then follow with a record cleaning brush. More often, records are clean enough that Zerostat is not employed. I prefer, instead, to use a lightly moistened Hunt Mark 6 brush. Empty and rinse a spray bottle as supplied with eye glass cleaning solution from the optometrists office. Fill with 1 oz. distilled water and 1-2 drops 99% isopropyl alcohol. These spray bottles generate a very fine mist. Lightly mist (that’s LIGHTLY as in spray once from a distance) the surface of the record cleaning brush. With a few rotations, this lightly moistened brush does a great job collecting and removing any dust from the LP surface.

I purchased an original red Zerostat in the late 1970s, and replaced it with the blue "Milty" version about 8 or 9 years ago. As far as I could tell the original one was still working as well as ever, but I wanted to eliminate any lingering uncertainty. I did not notice any difference in the performance of the two devices.

Ghosthouse is correct that the blue Milty version is supplied with a plastic attachment enclosing what I believe to be a small neon bulb, which allows one to test the gun.

His recollection is also correct about the instructions provided with the original version, except that I believe they called for three pull and release cycles at each of the three locations, rather than one at each location (with the final release at each location being performed away from the record). That is what I have done on every side of every record I have played for the past nearly 40 years.

I also use a Nitty Gritty record cleaning machine on new records and occasionally on ones that have been played a number of times, and after cleaning I put the record in a previously unused Mobile Fidelity sleeve. I also clean the tip of the stylus with Last stylus cleaner before and after playing every side, while being careful to not let the fluid migrate up the cantilever. I have never felt the need to use a brush, and I’ve been happy with the results of these protocols.

Best regards,
-- Al