Cleaning the stylus

Posted by: Long Haired David on 25 June 2018

I have a Uniti Atom to which I have just added a Rega deck. I have a nice machine for cleaning old records and I have a Pro-Ject BrusH It it for instant clean on the deck. Howevere, years ago, I used to have a brush that ran like a tone arm, which I don't want to do, but the brush itself was useful for cleaning the stylus of fluff. The Pro-Ject brush won't get under there. Any idea what I should buy?

Posted on: 25 June 2018 by Super

I used to have (still have actually) a audio technica stylus cleaner. You place your turntable arm with the stylus on the cleaner pad and it would vibrate your stylus clean, works on one AA battery. I don't know if it's still available as it must be 25 - 30 years ago when i got it (can't believe the time).

Posted on: 25 June 2018 by Mike-B

Ah the Audio Technica AT-637   the best'est ever stylus cleaner with the vibrating (buzzing) pad.   It's supposed to be discontinued but I see fleabay have 'new' ones for £89+PP  .....      & it looks like 'pre-loved' are going for £25-£30.        I still have one,  but with no TT to use it on & if they are going for that kind of money I might try selling it.     

Posted on: 25 June 2018 by Robert Burgess

Someone told me years ago about slicing off a thin strip from a block of Mr Clean Magic Eraser (original version). Place it on the turntable platter and gently lower then raise the stylus a couple of times until the tip touches the Eraser. Don’t push the stylus down; just use the weight of the cartridge. Inexpensive and Works for me!

Posted on: 25 June 2018 by Long Haired David

Prompted by the mention of the Audio-Technica device, I have now found a pro-Ject Brushit, which seems to be a little brush for cleaning the stylus. Does anyone have any experience of this device?

Posted on: 25 June 2018 by ChrisSU

I used to have a little hand held brush called a Dishwasher SC2, which I found much better than an AT637 for removing any visible deposits from the stylus. I imagine the Project hand held brush would be similar.

Posted on: 25 June 2018 by J.N.

I that the find the polymer gel compound products work very well. I have an Onzow Zerodust which does an excellent job - I check with a hand-held microscope. Prices of the OZ have gone a bit silly since I bought mine, but there are reasonably priced alternatives available from The Big River Shop and a popular on-line auction site.

John.

Posted on: 25 June 2018 by Japtimscarlet

The ortofon carbon brush works for me ...

It's a little expensive ...but you get a free cartridge!!

Posted on: 25 June 2018 by Tabby cat

Audio Technica AT - 637 is the buisiness.About a minute on the pad and your ready to go again.As Mike says if you can get a used one in good condition off the Bay its all you need.

Posted on: 25 June 2018 by Richard Dane

Another Discwasher SC2 user here.  I do have an AT637 (and its triangular Goldring equivalent) and sometimes use this but usually the little Discwasher is my go to stylus cleaner.  I usually put on a single drop of stylus cleaning fluid on the brush head, leave it for a minute or two to soak and almost evaporate (you dont want the brush head to be too wet as that may cause problems for the cartridge) then pull the brush away from the stylus - running the stylus through the dense bristles. Repeat a few times. It does the trick and no cartridge or stylus problems yet after so many years.

Posted on: 25 June 2018 by FangfossFlyer

I believe that Tiger Paw is looking to market a new stylus cleaner. Shoild be interesting.

Richard

Posted on: 25 June 2018 by Mulberry

The AT 637 should be in a drawer around here, but my go to stylus cleaner is SPT from Lyra, the cartridge manufacturer.

Posted on: 25 June 2018 by Clive B
Mulberry posted:

The AT 637 should be in a drawer around here, but my go to stylus cleaner is SPT from Lyra, the cartridge manufacturer.

AT-637 with a single drop of Lyra SPT on the pad. Works fine for me and avoids the risk of getting any fluid on the cantilever. 

Posted on: 25 June 2018 by fatcat

I've been using this for years. I'd estimate a bottle should last 50 or 60 years,

Posted on: 25 June 2018 by tonym
Clive B posted:
Mulberry posted:

The AT 637 should be in a drawer around here, but my go to stylus cleaner is SPT from Lyra, the cartridge manufacturer.

AT-637 with a single drop of Lyra SPT on the pad. Works fine for me and avoids the risk of getting any fluid on the cantilever. 

And me Clive. I tend to leave the stylus on the AT's vibrating pad for at least a minute.

Posted on: 25 June 2018 by Mulberry
Clive B posted:
Mulberry posted:

The AT 637 should be in a drawer around here, but my go to stylus cleaner is SPT from Lyra, the cartridge manufacturer.

AT-637 with a single drop of Lyra SPT on the pad. Works fine for me and avoids the risk of getting any fluid on the cantilever. 

For whatever reason, I never even thought about doing this. Time to open some drawers...

Posted on: 25 June 2018 by Clive B
Mulberry posted:
Clive B posted:
Mulberry posted:

The AT 637 should be in a drawer around here, but my go to stylus cleaner is SPT from Lyra, the cartridge manufacturer.

AT-637 with a single drop of Lyra SPT on the pad. Works fine for me and avoids the risk of getting any fluid on the cantilever. 

For whatever reason, I never even thought about doing this. Time to open some drawers...

I suggest you let the SPT dissolve into the pad before lowering the stylus onto the pad. I don't think you should lower the stylus into a drop of SPT.

Posted on: 26 June 2018 by joerand

In my experience the foremost thing you can do to keep the stylus clean is use a record cleaning machine up front. From there a gentle brush back to front with a dry natural hair stylus brush when dust appears should be all that's required to keep it clean. I have verification for this process as I've taken three styli to a regarded "needle guru" (Andy, for those familiar) over the years and all were deemed clean, no debris to remove.

Many manufacturers discourage liquids/solutions/potions for cleaning their stylus; solvents can degrade the adhesives that bond the diamond to the cantilever. If your stylus is accumulating gunk (other than dust) it's probably a sign of improper alignment or your vinyl is dirty.