Is this the solution to LP static issues?? Seems to be!

mijostyn

If taken care of correctly a clean record should never get dirty other than incidental dust that can be easily removed with a brush or sweep arm.

It is easy to show that this is mistaken - all that’s needed is a bright lamp, a clean record, and a few hours for it to accumulate dust. Those sweep arm brushes actually grind the dust into the record because it is just a small contact patch that contacts the LP. That may be OK for removing static - although it’s not my solution - but it doesn’t result in a truly clean record. Perhaps it is "clean enough" for your purposes, though.

I always use a conductive sweep arm during play and always keep the dust cover closed during play.

The wisdom of using a dustcover during play is widely debated.

Since I do not buy used records I have no use for a record cleaning machine.

Many new LPs accumulate dust before they ever leave the pressing plant. I suggest you visit a pressing plant sometime - you’ll discover that LPs are not pressed in a "clean room."

As an aside the 5 Analog Productions albums I sprayed off with brake cleaning fluid are doing just fine.

Brake cleaner? On LPs? Apparently your new LPs are not as clean you sometimes profess!

It’s interesting that many audiophiles have never heard a truly clean, pristine record. Once you’ve heard one you’ll find it hard to go back.

@mijostyn,

The article “Phonograph Reproduction 1978” in Audio Magazine May 1978 (download here - https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-A ... 978-05.pdf ) goes into some detail on static; what causes it and what does not – the needle in the groove was not source of static.  So, your results are not surprising.

You are not going to give-up talking about brake cleaner. 

But, to others please note the following:   CRC brake cleaning fluid https://www.crcindustries.com/products/crc/crc-brakleen.html (and others) now comes in various compositions, one non-flammable version contains perchloroethylene which is a known human carcinogen. One VOC-free 50 state version contains acetone & naphtha (very flammable) and the acetone can partially dissolve the vinyl record.  Years ago CRC Brake Clean contained a CFC solvent (likely methyl chloroform or CFC-113), that was safe with vinyl records and was not flammable or toxic.  But that version is no longer available and never will be again.    Most chlorofluorocarbon (CFCs) solvents stopped manufacture in 1996 per the Montreal Protocol.   Old stock has long since been sold-off.

 

What's a clean record? To some, it is one cleaned with, ahem, break fluid, to others...it is one cleaned on a vacuum cleaning machine or a US machine. I clean all of my LP's with a specific regimen, and have done so with both new LP's ( primarily to remove any enzymes, etc) and LP's that have sat on the shelf for any length of time. The difference in SQ is quite apparent with a 'clean' LP vs. one that has not been cleaned recently....or swept with just a brush.

daveyf

What's a clean record? To some, it is one cleaned with, ahem, break fluid ...

It is odd that the one guy here who cleans LPs with brake fluid insists he doesn't need a record cleaner. Maybe he's right!

@cleeds Or, maybe’s he’s wrong! Or, maybe for his definition of clean and his expectation of what a ’clean’ LP sounds like, maybe that is good enough...and you are correct...maybe he’s right (for him)! I’m not buying it though.