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Koetsu Rosewood - Best/safest way to clean stylus

I have a Koetsu Rosewood Signature and have been cleaning the stylus using LAST (I think that is the brand) liquid with a brush, followed by using the cueing to drop the needle onto a Magic Eraser 4-5 times. I think this works pretty well, but I worry about the liquid... having read about liquid wicking up the cantilever, etc.

Could using liquid damage the cartridge? Could dropping the cueing down onto the Magic Eraser "grab" the needle and damage the suspension as I raise it? It seems like the only safe way to use Magic Eraser because I don't trust my hands to be steady enough to do it any other way.

Is there another cleaning method that has actually been proven (via microscope) to clean the needle safely and be safe for the cartridge?

Thanks
montaldo

Showing 4 responses by cleeds

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cleeds
5,682 posts
 
I've used the Last stylus cleaner for decades on a variety of cartridges and never had any issue. I think the fear of it "wicking up the cantilever" is unfounded.
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cleeds
5,682 posts
 
For those of you fearful of the Last stylus cleaning fluid, here's something that may keep you up at night: I occasionally use it with a Signet electronic stylus cleaner. It has worked like a charm on a variety of phono cartridges for decades. But I know the concept gives some people the willies.
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cleeds
5,682 posts
 
slaw
While it doesn’t keep me up at night, I have wondered about the pos/neg effects of an US stylus cleaner?
The positive effects are that it gets your stylus super, squeaky clean. That same stylus vibrates when it's playing an LP, which I think it can't distinguish from the electronic cleaner. I'll stop using it if I ever discover any negative effects, but that hasn't happened yet after decades of periodic use.
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cleeds
5,682 posts
 
lewm
... I also own and occasionally use an ultrasonic stylus cleaner. The thing about it, is that it is not ultra sonic. These devices vibrate at somewhere between 200 and 500 cps. That is in the audio range, and it is very unlikely to damage the stylus.
Yes, that has been my experience, too. As I recall, the old Signet cleaner that I use was marketed as an "electronic" cleaner, not ultrasonic, although I notice that some of the similar modern devices claim "ultrasonic." I think that's a misnomer.
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