Weird. I'm not sure I would do this, but maybe it's "output" is the same as the Zerostat? |
Not sure if its output is similar to the Zerostat, but if it works, it a lot cheaper than the Minty gun. Maybe just an anti-static brush would work as well? |
An "anti-static" brush can only reduce static if it's grounded. Without a conductive path from the bristles to ground, the friction between bristles and LP will increase static, not reduce it.
Don't throw your Zerostat away. Years ago someone here (4yanx?) posted a tip about how to open it up and adjust/tweak something. Supposedly makes it as good as new. Wish I could find that post...
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> Dougdeacon: I'll look for that post too, but if you find it first, let me know. Some of the brushes do have grounding wires as I'm sure you know. Would they work as well as a Zerostat? |
Doug, my Zerostat never did work right. I managed to get it open, I discovered the two halves are not glued together.
Inside is a small cylinder with a lever connected to it. There is a locknut that is used to set the adjustment on it. I found there is a very small area in the adjustment range that makes the thing work.
In the end, I was unable to improve on the factory setting, which only works every third or fourth squeeze of the trigger. Yours may turn out differently, but you won't know until you try.
Best regards,
Dan |
Many Zerostat owners use the device incorrectly by pulling and releasing the trigger too fast. If you hear any clicking sound when depressing or releasing the trigger, you are pulling/releasing too fast. |
Thanks, Dan. That sounds like it. I only learned of it AFTER I'd tossed my first one... drat. My second one continues to function correctly.
Brf is correct. To function, the Zerostat's trigger must be pulled s-l-o-w-l-y.
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> Brf My red Zerostat was bought back in the 80's. I can operate it fine without any clicking. Just not sure after all these years whether its got any juice left in it.
Hence, the original post. |
Ebuzz, I've never used a grounded brush. My Zerostat works fine so I've had no occasion.
With a name like yours, I'd assume you'd be the expert! <:^-) |
I just replaced my old red Zerostat because it no longer seemed to function properly. I now have a new blue Zerostat which works great. The first thing I noticed is that the new one emits a slight buzzy or grainy sound as the trigger is pulled and released which my old one did when it was new but no longer did when I replaced it.
I also try pulling the trigger with the end about 1/4" away from my cast iron radiators while in the dark. I see what looks like a tiny lightning bolt between the end of the gun and the metal radiator. |
I still have the small black cap that goes on the end of the red original Zerostat that shows sparks when properly activated. Peterayer is on to something. Find a way to see if it sparks. Engineers? |
@ Dougdeacon: that is a good one, I hadn't thought of that with my name. But to all: any thoughts on the unit in the original post? Do you think it would work? |
I've had my Zerostat since maybe 1985. Still works great. I have the black cap which verifies function but if you've lost it just put your finger on the needle as your pulling and releasing slowly. You'll know if it works! |
For what it's worth,
In dry weather or during the heating season, if I point my Zerostat at my arm, I can feel the hairs standing up, so I know it is working. |
But to all: any thoughts on the unit in the original post? Do you think it would work? I'd be surprised if it did. Too many unknown variables are involved. It's designed to emit sparks, not to emit and disperse ions. If it does emit ions, the long and narrow barrel may not disperse them over a wide enough area to be practical, unless it is held so far away from the record that it would not be effective. There is no indication that it emits both positive and negative ions in roughly equal numbers, depending on whether the trigger is being pulled or released. There is no indication of the intensity with which they are emitted. Devices having functionality that is based on similar principles, but that are intended for different applications, may perform that function in a manner that is completely different from a quantitative standpoint. Etc., etc. In the absence of credible information to the contrary, I see no reason to assume that using this device on records would not increase, rather than decrease, the static charges on them. BTW, my Zerostat 3 Milty, which I bought several years ago to replace my 1980's Discwasher Zerostat, came with the test cap that has been mentioned. It appears to be a small neon bulb in a plastic housing. Although I too was always under the impression that the trigger has to be pulled slowly enough to avoid an audible click, and that has been my general practice, interestingly my Milty flashes the test light strongly when the trigger is pulled or released quickly, but there is little or no flash when it is operated slowly enough to avoid a click. Regards, -- Al |
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I have a brush made of very thin metal bristles (very, very soft) that attaches and plugs into the ground outlet. Works great. The directions say you can swipe your cartridge with it too, however, the magnets are so strong in my cartridge, that it grabs onto the brush with a violence that I will avoid. |
I bought the ORB Sakura deStat device. This works by pressing a button and a fan blows the charges across the record or cd. Works on a battery. Much easier to use and I think better than the Milty. It is expensive, but I feel worth it. Retails for 350.00. |
... put your finger on the needle as your pulling and releasing slowly. You'll know if it works! Zavato, if it's all the same, I'll use YOUR finger. Kenyonbum's method works for me too. Jwm, may we all ship our records to you for treatment? ;-) |
After using an ultrasonic cleaner on my records, static is no longer an issue, hence no brushes or guns used in my system anymore. I use a photgraphers puffer ball to blow off any offending dust. When there is no static, the dust blows right off the record. |
Doug, I bought the device at CES and got a big discount. Very funny |
I was starting to doubt that my Discwasher Zerostat was working properly, after all, it's 20 years old. So I tried Zavato's test and got a shock, but still, does that prove it will remove static from a record? The old tried and true test of using a Styrofoam peanut clinging to the record proved my Zerostat is still functioning once the Styrofoam separated from the vinyl.
Not very scientific, but now I know these Zerostats last a long time. |
I have not found zerostat to be effective in removing static. Maybe it reduces it, but it sure doesn't get rid of it completely. That has been my experience. |
Dear Rockitman: You are right but remember that the item is only a " help " and static is always there/around, to reduce it is a " help " and better that " nothing ". Don't you think?
Regards and enjoy the music,
R. |
Gruv Glide your records and you wont have any static... |
Mattmiller...is Gruv Glide for cleaning the only the surface of a record? It does not clean inside the grooves, correct? |
Not true, it cleans the grooves and eliminates static and repeals dust. It also protects against needle wear. I wont spin a record without it. |
Simple test, pull 12 inches of Scotch tape off a roll quickly. Note that if you dangle it from your fingers, if you bring your other arm near it the free end of the tape will move over to that arm. Now Zerostat it. Do the same test. Using a properly functioning Zerostat the tape will hang straight down when you bring your other arm near it.
To recharge the tape to do the test again, just stick it down on a table and pull it up quickly a few times.
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Gruv Glide your records and you wont have any static... Nor any music. ;-) @Lowrider, Gruv Glide is not a cleaning product, it's a lubricant. Properly applied it does indeed go down into the grooves. By design it leaves a thin, residual film on the groovewall surfaces. This creates quieter backgrounds, dramatically so with some records. It also masks the smallest groove modulations, making higher frequencies and the full amplitude of each waveform unplayable by the stylus. Surface noise can also be reduced by methods that do not impair (and in some cases improve) the full depth of musical information. OTOH, some of those methods are expensive, whereas Gruv Glide is relatively cheap. As in most things audio, it's a choice each of us must make based on individual listening preferences and circumstances. |
11-14-13: Rauliruegas
Dear Rockitman: You are right but remember that the item is only a " help " and static is always there/around, to reduce it is a " help " and better that " nothing ". Don't you think?
Regards and enjoy the music,
R.
If you clean and dry your records right (ultrasonic and blow dry, not vaccum), there is no static. I still find the zerostat practically useless. Another tip that helps, is to blow warm air from your breath into the sleeve prior to pulling out the record, then again blowing into the sleeve prior to putting the record away. That helps to maintain the static free record. That's how I do it and I have no static charged records as a result. YMMV. |
I completely agree with Doug about GruvGlide. We sold it in my stores when it first came out many years ago. Once we figured out what it was doing, we quit selling it.
IMHO, not a good product, but like Doug stated, "As in most things audio, it's a choice each of us must make based on individual listening preferences and circumstances." |
Well I for one think that the Benefits far out weigh the negatives. The $40 can of spray is an award winning product that is meant as a tweek. The very subtle details that I might be blanketing are a minor trade off IMO. I keep my stylus clean with a good cleaner and dense brush. I admit If you TREAT your stylus AND use Gruvglide it does dull the sound. Too much treatments..not good. So then you can easily make the leap to say ALL stylus TREATMENTS are no good as well. Do you treat the stylus? or do you treat the record? or both? hmmmm sounds like another thread..lol Happy listening everyone. |
