OK, record is now clean, how about the Stylus?

>> Oh! So you're one of those sons of b****s that sold us that crap that clogged our records and stylii. And, when did you say before? <<

Huh? Not sure what you are saying here, please explain. I sold expensive cartridges and gear to clean them. We usually used the SC-2 fluid from DiscWasher to clean the stylus. It did the job.

>> It's not always what you see on the stylus, but rather what you don't see build up on the stylus.<<

You are wrong. What you see is *everything*. Keep in mind that I used a microscope when looking at the stylii - you can see *everything* on the stylus when doing so. And I'm telling you that you can play 5-10 albums before seeing any build-up on the stylus.

And we were certainly using stylii that reached down deep in the grooves.

You might comsider reading your posts before submitting them, some passages are incoherent...

-RW-

So, here is what I actually do, I am ready for the onslaught of comments why it is a bad idea:

While the lock is still on the arm, with a magnifying glass, I actually push my Onzo UP onto the stylus while watching carefully, and now do the same with Magic Eraser. I personally think I have better control of depth and gentle pressure, than lowering the arm into the Zero stuff or into the MR.

Any thoughts?

To Rlwainwright,
Please don't get upset with some of the responses you get on this or any other thread; I have learned that people here have VERY strong feelings about their rituals. Right or wrong, I think you have to at least respect the opinion of someone who has examined a bunch of styli under a microscope! Thanks for your input. There is the strong possibility that most of us are a bit nuts with our record cleaning, stylus cleaning, stylus treating, dust removing rituals.
Sometimes, I get so tired of thinking it through, that (I admit it), I just put on a record, get a glass of brandy, and listen to it. Kind of nice

Oh, I'm not upset, this isn't life or death after all. I just wish that folks would present some reasonable basis for opinions besides "I believe" or "I feel". Beliefs or feelings have nothing to do with the cleanliness of your stylus.

It is quite simple to *see* if your stylus needs to be cleaned, a 40x - 100x microscope will do it every time. You can also check wear patterns which would help in achieving perfect stylus alignment. Everyone should take the opportunity to see their stylus like this, it's very cool.

Just to keep the pot stirred, did you also know that you shouldn't play a given track on a record twice in succession because of groove deformation from the diamond being dragged thru the plastic? You see, there's this little spec. called the "modulus of elasticity" for vinyl...

Best Wishes,

-RW-

>> You may want to read some archived threads about the Mr Clean ME if you haven't...<<

I haven't read the archived threads. However, several years ago, I purchased some ME from the local grocery store and shipped it to one of our UK-based members at his request. I then did some investigating on this matter.

My conclusion? I wouldn't use it. The DiscWasher SC-2 does a fine job of cleaning the stylus and I see no reason to use anything else. The ME may work as well or better, I do not know. I do know that the SC-2 does the job and the bottle I have will probably last the rest of my life.

Looking back, my comment about the expense is really not important, both methods are cheap enough. But keep in mind, the more you handle the stylus, the better the chance that you will damage or ruin the stylus. If you can limit your cleaning routine to 1/10th that of someone else - AND STILL HAVE A CLEAN STYLUS - you have 1/10th the chance of buggering your stylus.

Yes, I have buggered a stylus or two in my day. I was NEVER very happy afterwards...

-RW-