Dealing with Static on LP palyback

@richardbrand, @lewm, 

FWIW - how air will be drawn down and across the record when spinning should follow this example:  Laminar Flow Over a Spinning Disk | Ansys Innovation Courses

How small particles drop from the air has been studied extensively because of cleanrooms, and this is a good article - CACR25_FINAL_LR.pdf, and let me summarize:  84)“…particle settling rate, the rate of surface accumulation is proportional to the airborne concentration which is differentiated by the particle size, the exposure time, and the orientation of the surface relative to the air flow. Surfaces parallel to the average direction of flow and at right angles to gravity sustain the lowest particle accumulation.". Figure 4 of the article shows the Deposition Velocity for the very small particulate <5 um is very slow, but the large particles >25 um is much faster.  Once the record is spinning, the risk for small particles depositing in the groove should be very low.  Larger particles that deposit will be on the record, but not in the groove.

A published study of static on a record is in the article Phonograph Reproduction 1978, James H. Kogen, Audio Magazine May 1978, Audio-1978-05.pdf.  Kogen observed & measured that that static is not uniform, but exists as islands on a record. Additionally, once the static gets high enough to discharge to the cartridge it only reduces to about 4200 volts. A static charge on the record of 4200 volts will not create noise by itself, but it can by electrostatic attractive forces cause a transient increase in cartridge VTF as much as 0.375 grams leading to distortion and premature wear.

The use of a grounded conductive (as defined by ESD requirements) brush is unlikely to remove the static charge below deleterious levels:  Microsoft Word - SEALEZE_WHITE_PAPER_Final dam.doc.

As far as why the PVC and diamond pair in rubbing does not produce static is likely caused by the diamond on the triboelectric scale being close to PVC, meaning it attracts electrons to yield a negative charge the same as PVC, and that is implied in this article:  (PDF) Durable and High‐Performance Triboelectric Nanogenerator Based on an Inorganic Triboelectric Pair of Diamond‐Like‐Carbon and Glass.  

Antinn, Many thanks for your last post, especially the last paragraph.  For a long time, I assumed that my observation that the stylus tracking vinyl did not induce a charge on the LP surface was due to the fact that both PVC and diamond ought to be similar in a triboelectric table, since they are both fundamentally made of carbon atoms in which the outer shell is occupied in the case of vinyl by sharing with another carbon atom and in the case of diamond by the lattice structure.  The problem for me was that diamond is not mentioned in most published triboelectric tables. And then finally I found one source claiming that diamond is a willing electron donor, which again begs the question of why is there no ES charge generated when a diamond stylus tracks a PVC LP. (You can see in one of my earlier posts here that I conceded that diamond can donate negative charge; that statement was based on information to be found in that one source.) Happy to see the reference you cite, which ameliorates the need to explain my findings, at least to my own satisfaction but perhaps not to other’s satisfaction.

Update:  I just purchased the Hudson unit that richardbrand mentioned above, it does clear up static and dust.  I also have a Mo-Fi anti-static record brush which I now sweep over the record before playing.  Between the two, I'd say about 90+% of the static is cleaned up.  I still hear it but nowhere near as bad as before.

@richardbrand Yes, she is my ex now.  The cats were one problem, she presented a number of other problems.  Those cats didn't just trash the TT, they also clawed up my speakers, which required me to ship them back to Long Island for repairs.  With freight, insurance, and repairs costs, that totaled a bit over $7000.  I still like cats, I just don't want to own one!  I'll try treating the carpet today.  I haven't found a conductive mat that folks like.  Most reviews state they lose fibers and make a mess of some sort on the record.  But, when I find one, I will give it a try.  I did buy that Hudson conductive sweep arm.  It works, as I mentioned above, but is somewhat flimsy and doesn't really support itself when not on the record.  Granted, it is only $30, but it would be nice if it was better made for a bit more money.

@dhite71 I own one of those Tru-Sweep dust arms!  Very nice construction, too.  The problem is, in spite of what they claim, it doesn't eliminate static. It does do a great job on dust though. And as I mentioned, the construction is top-notch.  If I could find a replacement conductive brush for it, I would switch back to it.  

I'm a big fan, pun intended, of the Furutech Destat II

@cliffaudio I was looking at the fan you mentioned.  I was wondering how noisy it is and if I need to have it run while playing the record.  We have similar ones at work, and they run full-time when someone is working on static sensitive stuff.  It does strike me as a bit overkill, though.  And, if I get a dust cover installed, then it is out of the picture.