When Does a Stylus Need Cleaning?

[arancano]

When the stylus is dirty, of course. But how do we know when it is? There are various ways to find out to avoid unnecessary cleanings. But, are they convenient? Is it easier to just clean it even if we cannot easily tell if it really needs it?

We risk damaging a stylus every time we clean it, especially if it is a fragile model with a super-thin cantilever. I came up with a way that is super-easy for me. Many folks will not find it an elegant solution. They are right. However, for me putting more hours of service on a cartridge is more important than aesthetics.

I mounted a USB microscope to the front right edge of my Technics 1210GR turntable.

I turn the microscope on with the arm resting at a predetermined place.

The stylus looks something like when it needs cleaning.

And something like this after cleaning.

 

[abdo123]

It’s a diamond nothing breaks or wears a diamond except another diamond. So don’t feel like you’re cleaning it too frequently. The only bad thing that could happen is if you apply too much pressure and bend it or something.

Personally i clean it with a brush every time i play a record. Specially if it’s the first time the record is being played.

 

[Angsty]

It’s a diamond nothing breaks or wears a diamond except another diamond.

Not true. The diamond stylus wears down over time and has a limited lifespan. The abrasive components of dust, sometimes including diamond dust, do this over time.

I use a cheap pocket magnifying glass to check my stylus periodically. I use a stylus brush to clean the stylus before each playing. Cleaning records is an important part of extending stylus life.

 

[MCH]

I use a gel pad every time i play a record. It is the best thing i ever tried, but it is true it must be done carefully.

https://www.amazon.de/dp/B082X3VQZJ/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_DEBWG7ZB9T16MMTXKH4N?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

 

[sergeauckland]

As all my records are cleaned on a vacuum Record Cleaning Machine, the stylus stays pretty clean. Nevertheless, I clean the stylus after every two or three LPs using a Magic Eraser pad. Three or four dabs on the pad, and the stylus is clean. I only need to use a brush on the stylus very rarely indeed. I've tried every known stylus cleaner over the past 50 years, and Magic Eraser is the one I've ended up with as being the most effective.

I clean any new records especially well, as I want to remove any traces of Mould Release Agent, which is oily and dust sticks well.
S

 

[Robin L]

As all my records are cleaned on a vacuum Record Cleaning Machine, the stylus stays pretty clean. Nevertheless, I clean the stylus after every two or three LPs using a Magic Eraser pad. Three or four dabs on the pad, and the stylus is clean. I only need to use a brush on the stylus very rarely indeed. I've tried every known stylus cleaner over the past 50 years, and Magic Eraser is the one I've ended up with as being the most effective.

I clean any new records especially well, as I want to remove any traces of Mould Release Agent, which is oily and dust sticks well.
S

Back when I was turntabling also found the magic eraser the most effective stylus cleaner. I was fortunate enough to have access to ultrasonic cleaning for LPs at a shop in Fresno, Tower District Records. This is the most effective cleaner, followed close by the Keith Monks machine at db Audio in Berkeley. I used a VPI cleaner for a very long time, mine developed issues over thirty years of use, in large part due to the MDF used in its construction. "Discwashers" are very effective at transferring gunk from one LP to the next, avoid.

 

[MCH]

Regarding sonics, i agree with fremer there, if they aren't fully automated, it doesn't make sense. Unless you buy two records a year

 

[abdo123]

Not true. The diamond stylus wears down over time and has a limited lifespan. The abrasive components of dust, sometimes including diamond dust, do this over time.

I use a cheap pocket magnifying glass to check my stylus periodically. I use a stylus brush to clean the stylus before each playing. Cleaning records is an important part of extending stylus life.

I meant a cleaning brush will not break a diamond, or do anything to it.

 

[abdo123]

As all my records are cleaned on a vacuum Record Cleaning Machine.

I wanted to buy one of these then i was shocked by the 2k$+ prices.

 

[sarumbear]

Not true. The diamond stylus wears down over time and has a limited lifespan. The abrasive components of dust, sometimes including diamond dust, do this over time.

If you want to believe so...

 

[Angsty]

If you want to believe so...

There is a considerable body of knowledge and research into stylus wear going back several decades.

If you want to believe a diamond lasts forever, you’re likely to be rewarded with damaged records after a thousand hours or so of stylus playing time.

 

[sarumbear]

There is a considerable body of knowledge and research into stylus wear going back several decades.

Maybe you can share them with us?

 

[NiagaraPete]

Between each record side played.

 

[Angsty]

An excerpt from the monograph below:

LIFE TESTS OF DIAMOND STYLI

Tests were made on diamond tipped styli. However, before discussing these tests let's dispel one fallacy. DIAMOND STYLI DO NOT DAMAGE RECORDS! This misconception apparently stems from the fact that the diamond is the hardest material known. "Look at what a diamond does to glass, and a vinylite record is not as hard as glass." True, but to cut glass a diamond must have a point or a cutting edge. A diamond stylus tip has a smooth rounded surface, like a ball bearing. A smooth surface finish is important on a stylus tip, since the smoother the surface the lower the friction between the tip and the record groove. The lower the friction the less is the amount of wear on both the stylus tip and the record. Due to its great hardness, the diamond can be polished to a higher degree than any other substance. A higher polish results in a smoother finish, which greatly reduces friction.

One of the chief causes of record and stylus wear is abrasion caused by the material worn off from the stylus itself. These particles worn from the tip become lodged in the record groove and act as an abrasive which accelerates the wear on both the record and the stylus tip. The diamond, being harder than other older stylus materials, like sapphire, does not wear as rapidly and thus does not deposit as much material in the record grooves. This results in less abrasion and consequently less wear. …

DUST AND GRIT

The presence of dust, grit and particles worn from the stylus tip itself not only can damage records and reduce stylus life, but may affect tonal response. An analysis of the "dust" removed from a number of stylus tips, which had been used on dirty records, showed that it consisted of approximately; 12% jagged silica particles, 35% diamond dust, 40% miscellaneous particles, including soot, grit and particles worn from the record groove itself. The remaining 13% consisted of fibers and lint.

https://service.shure.com/s/article/stylus-wear-and-record-wear?language=en_US

 

[Angsty]

I wanted to buy one of these then i was shocked by the 2k$+ prices.

You can get a vacuum record cleaner for as little as $200-$300. I use the Record Doctor which is in that range. A motorized VPI or Pro-Ject can be had for under $1000 new. It’s typically ultrasonics which run into the thousands. The newer Humminguru is a notable exception.

Record Doctor V Record Cleaning Machine-Audio Advisor

The Record Doctor V Record Cleaning Machine is a manual record cleaner with a powerful high-performance vaccum motor that will signifcantly improve sound quality and extend the life of your LPs safely at a very low price

www.audioadvisor.com

VPI HW-16.5 Record Cleaning Machine-Audio Advisor

The easy to use, built to last, full-featured HW-16.5 record cleaning machine has a high torque motor that spins records at a steady 18 RPM for deep cleaning without strain. A newly designed vacuum pickup tube adjusts automatically to any record thickness.

www.audioadvisor.com

 

[abdo123]

You can get a vacuum record cleaner for as little as $200-$300. I use the Record Doctor which is in that range. A motorized VPI or Pro-Ject can be had for under $1000 new. It’s typically ultrasonics which run into the thousands. The newer Humminguru is a notable exception.

Record Doctor V Record Cleaning Machine-Audio Advisor

The Record Doctor V Record Cleaning Machine is a manual record cleaner with a powerful high-performance vaccum motor that will signifcantly improve sound quality and extend the life of your LPs safely at a very low price

www.audioadvisor.com

VPI HW-16.5 Record Cleaning Machine-Audio Advisor

The easy to use, built to last, full-featured HW-16.5 record cleaning machine has a high torque motor that spins records at a steady 18 RPM for deep cleaning without strain. A newly designed vacuum pickup tube adjusts automatically to any record thickness.

www.audioadvisor.com

Oh the record doctor looks pretty neat! thank you for sharing.

 

[Angsty]

I use a gel pad every time i play a record. It is the best thing i ever tried, but it is true it must be done carefully.

https://www.amazon.de/dp/B082X3VQZJ/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_DEBWG7ZB9T16MMTXKH4N?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

There is some concern in the vinyl community that gel pads actually deposit microscopic bits of adhesive on styli that can cause them to degrade over time. I stopped using my Zerodust pads about a year ago after reading about this phenomenon.

It’s hard to say how scientifically proven it is, but I’ve found that I can keep my stylus clean with just a stylus brush.

 

[MCH]

You can get a vacuum record cleaner for as little as $200-$300. I use the Record Doctor which is in that range. A motorized VPI or Pro-Ject can be had for under $1000 new. It’s typically ultrasonics which run into the thousands. The newer Humminguru is a notable exception.

Record Doctor V Record Cleaning Machine-Audio Advisor

The Record Doctor V Record Cleaning Machine is a manual record cleaner with a powerful high-performance vaccum motor that will signifcantly improve sound quality and extend the life of your LPs safely at a very low price

www.audioadvisor.com

VPI HW-16.5 Record Cleaning Machine-Audio Advisor

The easy to use, built to last, full-featured HW-16.5 record cleaning machine has a high torque motor that spins records at a steady 18 RPM for deep cleaning without strain. A newly designed vacuum pickup tube adjusts automatically to any record thickness.

www.audioadvisor.com

If you pay attention most of the sonics ones are just a typical sonics bath that you can get for 200-300 euros and then they add a more or less complex mechanism to make the record turn or to blow some air so it dries. Someone handy could build one for very little (not me though)

 

[MCH]

There is some concern in the vinyl community that gel pads actually deposit microscopic bits of adhesive on styli that can cause them to degrade over time. I stopped using my Zerodust pads about a year ago after reading about this phenomenon.

It’s hard to say how scientifically proven it is, but I’ve found that I can keep my stylus clean with just a stylus brush.

No worries about that, it is just a polyurethane gel. They do more good (getting rid of all the sticky stuff) than bad. The gel is completely inert. The bigger risk is if the plate moves when you are dropping the needle. If that happens...

 

[sarumbear]

An excerpt from the monograph below:

https://service.shure.com/s/article/stylus-wear-and-record-wear?language=en_US

You expect a stylus manufacturer to suggest you to buy new a new one often don't you? That is not research, it is marketing blurb.

Not to mention that it is a paper from 1954, before even elliptical tips invented.