Daveyf, if you think the guy at any Hi Fi store is an expert at setting up a turntable you are more gullible than I thought. I have NEVER seen a turntable come from a store set up perfectly. I was not kidding you when I said I have much better tools. Message me and I will happily send you some pictures.
Options for ridding records of static electricity
I am getting back into vinyl, listening to “garage sale” finds and also new albums that I have been picking up. I have a nice old Linn Sondek LP12 with the felt mat. Every time I go to remove a record from the spindle or flip the record, static electricity grabs the felt mat and it sticks like a magnet. I have to very carefully flip the felt mat at the corner with my finger but one of these times I’m going to slip and smudge or scratch a record.
I’ve seen the “Milty Zerostat” and seem to remember this product from back in the day. I see that it is still made and there is one eBay vendor that has them for $77. Is this my best bet? I thought Michael Fremor talked about these in one of his videos.
Are there other products I should look at to reduce static electricity on my records? Thanks for any help you can give.
I’ve seen the “Milty Zerostat” and seem to remember this product from back in the day. I see that it is still made and there is one eBay vendor that has them for $77. Is this my best bet? I thought Michael Fremor talked about these in one of his videos.
Are there other products I should look at to reduce static electricity on my records? Thanks for any help you can give.
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@mijostyn, I have had good experience with controlling static buildup during play by grounding the platter bearing of my VPI 2" aluminum platter. This will minimize charging the record bottom during play. My records are all first wet-cleaned and stored in anti-static sleeves. Are far as conductive brushes the much softer Thunderon is is an option https://www.gordonbrush.com/search/Thunderon. Note that this brush material comes in two versions - 100% Thunderon, and the more common blend with goat hair. FYI - a similar brush to what you use (albeit much more $$) https://elusivedisc.com/integrity-hifi-tru-sweep-anti-static-dust-cleaner-sweeper-large/. |
Mijostyn, maybe stop putting words in my mouth, did I say anywhere where the guy at any Hi Fi store is an expert...or did I say, and I quote' " Linn trained professional". Please read my posts closer and not jump to conclusions. You stated that you can set up the table way better than my Linn LP12 dealer, and since you believe this, there is nothing more to discuss...I am done with this. Have a nice day. |
I'm keeping up my end just because I am bored (like most of us a prisoner in my own house), and it's fun. Plus one of my two audio systems is down and that depresses me. If you arrive at the turntable all charged up with negative electrons (or ions, as some would say), then as soon as you touch the LP, the charge on you will flow to it, owing I guess to the fact that skin wants to give off negative charge, and vinyl loves it. No rubbing needed. There is also the issue of removing the LP from its sleeve which also could charge it up. And the LP rotating in air on the platter is another possible source based on the relative positions of air and vinyl in the triboelectric series. In the actual situation, the interactions are complex enough that one can almost never say the LP is neutral just using empiric reasoning. Shure found that when they neutralized charge on the playing surface, that did nothing to the charge that might have existed between the LP and the platter mat, on the other side of the neutralized surface. As soon as the LP was lifted off the mat, the charge on the reverse side redistributed itself to cover both sides. By the way, I don't think conductivity has much to do with it, since this is, after all, "static" electricity, and we see that the materials on the extreme ends of the Triboelectric table, those with the most vs the least tendency to shed electrons or negative ions, are in general not very conductive or not at all conductive of electric current. You are entitled to your opinions about the Linn LP12 and about use of the dust cover and the horrors of dust, but you are not entitled to facts. I am not sure of the facts, but I am interested to learn more without reverting to long held "beliefs" based on nothing discernible. Or you could quote your sources. |
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