Ultrasonic Stylus Cleaning

[watchnerd]

I read a random forum post alleging that MM/MI/MP cartridges with removable styli can be cleaned ultrasonically.

I happen to have an ultrasonic cleaner designed for jewelry / watches.

Does anyone know if this is true?

I don't doubt that an ultrasonic cleaner might knock some gunk of a stylus.

But what might be the risk of harm?

 

[Soniclife]

That's an interesting question. And how does it compare to the vibrating stylus cleaners.

 

[Jimshoe]

Not exactly what you are talking about, but I had an audio technica ultrasonic stylus cleaner that I gave a friend. He used it on his ultra ££££££ Lyra cartridge and the stylus fell right off the cantilever!

Perhaps be cautious?

 

[Thomas_A]

I just use the magic eraser sponge and iso-propanol now and then. Works well.

 

[Philbo King]

To me, the risk of stylus damage far outweighs any possible benefits.

 

[Jimshoe]

I'm not expert here at all, but I would be wary of using solvents that might dissolve adhesive used to fix a stylus in the cantilever. They might also affect compliant mountings e.g plastic rubber etc. Cartridges are all different so I guess it could be a bit of a lottery. The advice from Lyra to my friend was DO NOT use ultrasonics or solvents.

@watchnerd, are you convinced you actually have a problem with stylus gunk?

 

[JeffS7444]

It's a very big risk, because the typical ultrasonic cleaner requires you to immerse the item in liquid.

The older vibrating (doubt that they were actually ultrasonic) Audio Technica and Denon cleaners worked fine for me, but they've been out of production for many years.

I'll second the Magic Eraser recommendation. Since I already use a generic product for household cleaning, it's pretty much free for me.

 

[MRC01]

This reminds me that years ago, the Cardas Test LP instructions claimed that the frequency sweep degausses and cleans the stylus. It didn't explain further, but the implication seemed to be that jiggling back and forth that fast shakes crud loose.
https://www.cardas.com/_files/ugd/840d88_fe9119b8a4ec4c719e70566e97f4b415.pdf

Back in the day, I used LAST stylus cleaner which came with a small brush that looked like a small felt pad. One mishap and you're out $1000, so I used it carefully. It never damaged my stylus.

 

[sq225917]

The AT66 was 2khz frequency. Still use mine, drop of distilled water on the carbon pad, lower, run for 20 seconds, blow off pad and repeat.

 

[Laika2]

Too many reports of tips falling off with ultrasonics. The above methods will work fine.

 

[Count Arthur]

I had one of these when I had a turntable:

I'd put a drop of isopropyl alcohol on the "pad" so that it formed a small bead, then lower the stylus onto it for a few seconds. Used it a fair bit and it didn't seem to do any harm.

https://www.vinylengine.com/library/audio-technica/at637.shtml

 

[ClearHearing]

This reminds me that years ago, the Cardas Test LP instructions claimed that the frequency sweep degausses and cleans the stylus. It didn't explain further, but the implication seemed to be that jiggling back and forth that fast shakes crud loose.
https://www.cardas.com/_files/ugd/840d88_fe9119b8a4ec4c719e70566e97f4b415.pdf

Has anyone else used the Cardas Test LP and, if so, did it work to clean your stylus and was it safe?

 

[Palmer]

I had one of these when I had a turntable:

View attachment 459619

I'd put a drop of isopropyl alcohol on the "pad" so that it formed a small bead, then lower the stylus onto it for a few seconds. Used it a fair bit and it didn't seem to do any harm.

https://www.vinylengine.com/library/audio-technica/at637.shtml

Could have used that, before fixing a Beogram 5000 I bought a 2000, in case I ruin something ... The stylus on the 2000 was so caked up, I doubt anyone had played a record in ages on it, took me quite a while to get the blob off the diamond. Have to find one of those AT637...

 

[watchnerd]

I'm not expert here at all, but I would be wary of using solvents that might dissolve adhesive used to fix a stylus in the cantilever. They might also affect compliant mountings e.g plastic rubber etc. Cartridges are all different so I guess it could be a bit of a lottery. The advice from Lyra to my friend was DO NOT use ultrasonics or solvents.

@watchnerd, are you convinced you actually have a problem with stylus gunk?

Ultrasonic jewelry cleaners can use just water.

And, no, I am not convinced I have a problem with old stylus gunk, but I have some old styli I could experiment on.

 

[watchnerd]

It's a very big risk, because the typical ultrasonic cleaner requires you to immerse the item in liquid.

The older vibrating (doubt that they were actually ultrasonic) Audio Technica and Denon cleaners worked fine for me, but they've been out of production for many years.

I'll second the Magic Eraser recommendation. Since I already use a generic product for household cleaning, it's pretty much free for me.

Yes, it's a water bath.

But the removable stylus doesn't have any motor parts to worry about getting wet, so what's the specific concern?

 

[watchnerd]

I just use the magic eraser sponge and iso-propanol now and then. Works well.

I use the ONZOW (or whatever it's called) sticky thing, but this would be next level (in theory).

 

[JeffS7444]

Yes, it's a water bath.

But the removable stylus doesn't have any motor parts to worry about getting wet, so what's the specific concern?

I have no idea how it will withstand the effects of repeated immersion, and all of that handling (and I assume you'd be doing this frequently).

 

[Chrispy]

Tuning in, altho never felt the need for such

 

[watchnerd]

I have no idea how it will withstand the effects of repeated immersion, and all of that handling (and I assume you'd be doing this frequently).

Oh, I thought it would be the opposite.

A once a year kind of deep clean.

 

[watchnerd]

I had one of these when I had a turntable:

View attachment 459619

I'd put a drop of isopropyl alcohol on the "pad" so that it formed a small bead, then lower the stylus onto it for a few seconds. Used it a fair bit and it didn't seem to do any harm.

https://www.vinylengine.com/library/audio-technica/at637.shtml

You did this while the stylus was attached to the motor?

i.e. you didn't remove it?