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Stylus Cleaning Rituals

Did a search on the subject, nothing found.
So, please, briefly describe your Stylist / Needle Cleaning Rituals.
How often (in hours played?)
Procedure used.
Products used.

For me over the years (~45 and counting) I use Disc Doctor Stylus Cleaner on a Disc Doctor 'Pad' and pull it across the diamond outward (only one direction).  As it 'sees' the record when playing. 
I follow up with two 'placements' on a Zerodust Onzow 'gel type convex pad'  I clean it ~6 months with hot water, there is spots of gunk on the clear gel pad!
About once every 5-6 hours of play.

Seems to be doing the trick, but you never know if your are missing something critical or doing untold damage.

Thanks!
quincy
lexphin
62 posts
 
One or two "dips" on Onzow before each side. 
clearthinker's avatar
clearthinker
1,582 posts
 
"Stylast is supposed to extend stylus life x10."

Given the scale size of the forces operating between stylus and groove and the fact that the groove travels more than half a kilometer past the stylus for just one side, can the above statement be remotely credible?
Stylast is a good product but the claim is snake oil.
chayro
2,995 posts
 
Just a swipe with LP#9 between sides.  Never had any problems with  a dislodged stylus or anything migrating up the cantilever. 
audioguy85's avatar
audioguy85
2,018 posts
 
After every side, using discwasher stylus brush, and when needed discwasher stylus fluid. The aforementioned products are the original versions. Sometimes I’ll use my vibrating stylus cleaner and fluid for stubborn gunk. Otherwise a few swipes with dry discwasher stylus brush. I always inspect stylus using a 10× Russian made jewelers Loupe.
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,570 posts
 
There are different methods on mounting styluses now. Many still use the old technique of pressing the stylus through a hole in the end of the cantilever. It is harder to hurt this kind of mount. Unfortunately, with many of the modern materials used for cantilevers you can't mount the stylus this way and you have to resort to mounting the stylus in a notch at the end of the cantilever with glue. Any glue can be weakened buy the right solvent. 
For just dust a dry artist brush works great and it is very hard to damage the cantilever with one although I am sure millercarbon will find a way. 
For more stubborn deposits a very weak solution (20%) of isopropyl alcohol is distilled water will work fine. NEVER use denatured alcohol in any concentration as it will melt epoxy. Lyra makes a great stylus cleaning solution (I was given a bottle) but it is silly money. 
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