Stylus Pressure Gauge AND Damage to Stylus?


Hello everyone, I am new to this analog thing and liking it so far. I purchased a Shure SFG-2 pressure gauge and do not have the steadiest hands in the world as I am a little older now. After 1 hour or so I finally got the arm force set at optimum pressure, but while I was doing this my new cartridge (Goldring) was sliding all over the gauge lever. Can this sort of slopyness damage the stylus or cause super accessive wear?

Very Worried!
-Marcus
mrcs99e0
Marcus,
Is your cartridge a mm or mc?

Twl,
I have been wondering if using a metal stylus force gauge is something of a no-no. Isn't the metal a ferrous one? I don't use one, but just curious.
I use the sfg-2 and I have not found any accuracy problems like you describe, except to say that when mine was behaving this way, it showed me that the spring was binding on my rb-300. I would say that if it isn't floating in the same spot every time, that there is friction (or resistance) somewhere. Evan with my immedia arm which has a lot of damping, mine always ends up in the same spot, it just does it ssloowwww. And since I have this arm, naturally I have to use it often. I always give it a soft careful tap just to be sure.
As far as extra wear on the stylas, I am not qualified to say, but I prefer to use it with the sound on, so I can 'hear' the friction. What I think I hear is that there is a big difference between a stylas running across a dirty groove with some speed and sitting on metal with hardly any velocity.
Here is one more thing to consider; TWL makes the point to be careful not to hook the stylas. I think that it is important to use the gauge perpendicular to the arm so as the stylas flexes as pressure is applied, it can slide in the groove rather than push against it.
Basement, its not that it doesn't float in the same spot everytime.

Every time I JUST place the Stylus on the lever I get my desired reading. If I were to touch the tonearm a little and make the tonearm and lever bob up and down with eachother, it then settles on a slightly higher reading (more downforce on the tonearm).

I maybe would say the more accurate method would be to JUST place the stylus on the lever without causing bobing because maybe the Gauge has friction on it and cannot lift the tonearm back up. What do you all think?
I'd say quit worrying about it and play some music.
Find a VTF you like and go with it.