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Analog maintenance

I know there are a few posts on this one, but I had a specific question. Here's my ritual:

* clean my LPs using a VPI 16.5;
* periodically wipe the surfaces of the TNT and 16.5
* platters, as well as the 16.5's vacuum tube with three
* dedicated sponges moistened with distilled water;
* use Extreme Phono's Solid Stylus Cleaner on my cartridge before each listening session;
* use LAST stylus cleaner between LP sides

I do not do anything re: LP static or cartridge demag. Should I? If yes, any suggestions?

Thanks.
128x128flyfish2002
sbank's avatar
sbank
3,378 posts
 
Good suggestion to go right from your record cleaning machine into a new rice paper sleeve.

I think you should seriously consider using Magic Eraser to clean your stylus instead of the gel goop. There are many reasons why.
1)dirt gets transferred to the gel, so over time you are dipping into a dirtier "cleaner".
2)Depending on shape of your cantilever, gel can get deposited there and buildup.
3)Magic Eraser safely cleans your stylus much more effectively, and you can see & hear the difference(plus it is so cheap, it's almost free).
I switched from the gel goop to Magic Eraser a few years ago, and couldn't be happier w/it. Same results for many hear. Search the archives for details.

One other thing I use that's kinda neat is the AcousTech giant-sized carbon fibre brush(w/grounding wire). It quickly allows me to remove the stray dog hair, etc. from LP with one swipe. I do this last after using a Walker Talisman. Cheers,
Spencer
peterayer
1,382 posts
 
I second the Magic Eraser. Much better results than I used to get with the Last liquid-type cleaners. I follow it with the Onzo gel to remove any lost fibers from the ME as Doug Deacon recommends. I usually check the cleanliness with a 10X loupe and the stylus and cantilever look like the day I bought the cartridge. I follow that with a zap from the Milty3 anti-static gun in the dry NE winters. I now only use my VPI 16.5 once and store the clean LP in a rice-paper sleeve.
flyfish2002's avatar
flyfish2002 OP
94 posts
 
Thanks. I do place all LPs after they are cleaned on the VPI 16.5 in a brand new rice paper sleeve - I bought a bunch. If the stock sleeve is just a sleeve of paper, I disgard it.

The dust appears on hte LP surface (and therefore the stylus) after I play the LP - it must be from the area of the basement in which I listen. If I merely place the LP in a rice sleeve after cleaning with the VPI 16.5, it never energes dusty.

Plenty to think about re: the gel cleaner I am using. I plan to explore this and the Walker Talisman (if only I could swing the Walker Procesnium :-)

Thanks.
sbank's avatar
sbank
3,378 posts
 
Flyfish,

I used to have a dusty room, and I solved it by getting a Honeywell air cleaner, which I run whenever no one is in the listening room. Like this:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000GT9RJK/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_2?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000NBGMK8&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=01SS1ZGQEQ4YA9V2REWG

It works wonders to get dust out of your room and away from your LPs, and I got the idea here in another thread. Cheers,
Spencer
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