2. analog
  3. 123590-1473

Does dry-brushing really do anything...

...other than create static? Sure, you can sweep up visible debris, but is it the visible debris that creates the ticks and pops? I've given up the carbon fiber brush, and if the records begins to collect more visible debris than I care, I'll drop it back in the Klaudio ultrasonic cleaner.

Has anyone else given up on the dry brush?
128x128nrenter
ghosthouse's avatar
ghosthouse
4,298 posts
 
I use a Hunt brush with a spritz of distilled water from a re-purposed eyeglass cleaner spray bottle.  This is the kind of bottle you get at the optometrist and puts out a very fine mist.  Once empty of the eye glass cleaning solution, rinse thoroughly and fill with good quality distilled water.  Hold the bottle 1-2 feet away from the brush and spray in its general direction to very lightly moisten the brush surface.  Helps pick up dust rather than just push it around.  

By the way, ticks and pops are often - though not always - the result of wear from repeated playings eventually exposing voids (tiny unfilled pockets) in the vinyl that were formed at the time of manufacture.    
inna
7,262 posts
 
Yeah, mostly a ritual but it does remove some dust. Could create static sometimes, no doubt. Using LAST after each play may be a good idea but it's too much for me, this and machine cleaning before each play.
dean_man
90 posts
 
Just for a point of clarification, the Last all purpose cleaner was designed as a maintenance cleaner for records that have previously been thoroughly cleaned.  As such it takes no more time to use than a carbon fibre brush.
don_c55
1,025 posts
 
The ones with a double row of short grounded conductive carbon fiber brushes work well IMO.

The original Decca and Sleeve City brushes are the ones I use.

The brushes on the Audioquest are too long.

The brush must be used properly. Lay the brush on the record at a slight vertical angle, and slowly tilt the brush in the opposite direction of record rotation, then lift off. Hold down the brush gently! Do not slide the brush as the collected dust will be dragged into the grooves! Then turn the brush in the holder to knock off the collected dust. You can see the collected dust on the brush as evidence of effectiveness.
tketcham
291 posts
 

I use two carbon fiber brushes; first brush is rolled quickly for one revolution of the LP to pick up the majority of any loose dust. The second brush is rolled slowly for a couple of revolutions of the LP. Then I swipe the brushes against each other several times to clear off the dust. Finally, I take one of the brushes and roll it for one revolution and then quickly sweep the brush off the LP at an angle. That takes care of any larger particles that weren't picked up by the first two passes.

After each play, I use one brush for a quick touch up and clean it off using the other brush.

I removed the handles from my brushes and grip the brush directly, which seems to help with static problems. I store both brushes in a small wooden box to keep them from collecting dust.

Are the brushes effective? Not for cleaning; that requires a vacuum RCM of some sort. But to sweep off surface dust I think they're better than nothing.

Regards,

Tom

More to discover