To answer @uberwaltz’s question about what ME is exactly, it is melamine foam. It was originally developed as a soundproofing material and I’ve used it as such --in large sheets combined with mass loaded vinyl- this is not ’acoustic treatment’ this is’ kill the sound from emanating’ kind of stuff.
To my knowledge, it was @dougdeacon who first started employing ME as a stylus cleaner. I have used it in the past and it is very effective, far more than dry brushing or those gels, like Onzow/Oznow. I’ve also used the Blu stuff that Peter recommends. Never an issue with either, but I make sure to dry brush afterwards, particularly with the ME, which can leave abrasive residue.
If you look it up, it’s all these tiny fibers and the cleaning action is, I think it is fair to say, a type of friction on a very small level- like scraping the edges of the diamond. Perhaps my terminology is wrong but that’s how it seems to work. It is abrasive-- you can use it to scrub household stuff but I will remove finishes. Never wet it- the fibers will bind and you will be in XXXX-ville.
I’m really liking a long brush I found because it accomplishes what @mulveling was describing- not only cleaning the stylus, but the cantilever too. I have very clean records and try to keep my playing environment dust free (an endless battle even with good HVAC) but there was a lot of crud deposited on the top of the cantilever of my last cartridge, which is now out for rebuild. I’m currently using a Koetsu Jade Platinum and loving the hell out of it.
PS: I also use a pair of illuminated magnifying glasses that help me see the stylus when I’m brushing. I may look like a complete jerk but I can see exactly what I’m doing. The magnification isn’t very strong, like 3X. I have jeweler’s loupes at 10X and digital microscopes, but those get kind of tricky to work with when you are doing something other than taking a look.
Question for @montaldo- you said you spoke to the Koetsu distributor and he uses a liquid? Was that the US distributor? Just curious. I used to use liquid on the Lyras since it was meant for it, but so far on my Koetsu, which is brand new, I haven't done anything but dry brush yet....
To my knowledge, it was @dougdeacon who first started employing ME as a stylus cleaner. I have used it in the past and it is very effective, far more than dry brushing or those gels, like Onzow/Oznow. I’ve also used the Blu stuff that Peter recommends. Never an issue with either, but I make sure to dry brush afterwards, particularly with the ME, which can leave abrasive residue.
If you look it up, it’s all these tiny fibers and the cleaning action is, I think it is fair to say, a type of friction on a very small level- like scraping the edges of the diamond. Perhaps my terminology is wrong but that’s how it seems to work. It is abrasive-- you can use it to scrub household stuff but I will remove finishes. Never wet it- the fibers will bind and you will be in XXXX-ville.
I’m really liking a long brush I found because it accomplishes what @mulveling was describing- not only cleaning the stylus, but the cantilever too. I have very clean records and try to keep my playing environment dust free (an endless battle even with good HVAC) but there was a lot of crud deposited on the top of the cantilever of my last cartridge, which is now out for rebuild. I’m currently using a Koetsu Jade Platinum and loving the hell out of it.
PS: I also use a pair of illuminated magnifying glasses that help me see the stylus when I’m brushing. I may look like a complete jerk but I can see exactly what I’m doing. The magnification isn’t very strong, like 3X. I have jeweler’s loupes at 10X and digital microscopes, but those get kind of tricky to work with when you are doing something other than taking a look.
Question for @montaldo- you said you spoke to the Koetsu distributor and he uses a liquid? Was that the US distributor? Just curious. I used to use liquid on the Lyras since it was meant for it, but so far on my Koetsu, which is brand new, I haven't done anything but dry brush yet....