More on the Onzow Zerodust

This video has been up since December - and it doesn't really add any new information. 

Jeez so burn me…… Actually she’d a lot more light than the Fremmer article. 

Sorry, I shouldn't have sounded harsh like that. Just meant to say, I remember seeing this in December. I don't agree with his level of paranoia. And he keeps showing the same Wallytools pics (which ARE great pics) which to me show a shocking lack of cartridge care from the USERS, not issues from the Onzow. Those big grainy particles came from buildup due to lack of proper cleaning, not some evil gel. To be fair, using Onzow alone is NOT proper cleaning. 

Give me a break at this point.

It looks like WallyTools, which has no financial interest one way or another, is doing more controlled experiments with the product.  Until it is completed, I think it would be best to stop using the suspect product.

I have not used gel cleaners myself.  I do know of two instances where someone accidentally pulled the cantilever out of their cartridge using such cleaners.  I suspect that they lifted the cartridge up too fast, and the force exceeded the limits of the design of the suspension (after all, the suspension is designed to resist forces from the stylus dropping onto a record, but not in the other direction).  Both cartridges were quite delicate MC designs (one was an Allaerte, the other I cannot recall), so I don't know if this should be a concern for everyone, but, I do suggest a very slow and gentle lift from the gel using the cuing lever.    

I'm very interested in the composition of these stylus deposits, I have used Onzow and noticed similar deposits when viewing stylus with magnification.

The magnetic field is rather strong from a moving coil cartridge body and speculate this field could draw up record debris that'd likely deposit on the cantilever and elsewhere. Just my .$.02 I haven't heard anyone else add this magnetic attraction conjecture.

I doubt that there would be much in the way of ferrous debris that would be attracted by a magnet, nor would that explain why such debris would deposit on the stylus and cantilever which are NOT ferrous.  Nor would this explain why the condition is particular to use of gel-type stylus cleaner and not with other cleaners.  This appears to be some kind of chemical deposit, and one that probably changes in property when exposed to the temperature and pressure of the stylus tracking the groove (it gets burned on in the process).  

I have been practicing what is recommended by Wally Tools independent of their recommendation--mostly dry brushing to remove gross deposits, with very occasional wet cleaning with a stylus cleaner like LAST.  This has worked for me.  I don't see much crap building up on the stylus.

I don't agree with his level of paranoia. And he keeps showing the same Wallytools pics (which ARE great pics) which to me show a shocking lack of cartridge care from the USERS, not issues from the Onzow. Those big grainy particles came from buildup due to lack of proper cleaning, not some evil gel. To be fair, using Onzow alone is NOT proper cleaning.

👍

Beware of bearded, tattooed, 4 eyed bald guys.

I agree a dry brush I use Furutech brush and Lyra fluid once a month however I use Furutech brush after each side.My Transfiguration Proteus has been playing great for 4 years.

@ebm   Wow...two whole sentences (three, actually) in the same post. You must be worn out😃

Next time I might give 3 sentences  ACR.

richmon, The particles of dust or debris attracted by the MC magnet structure would have to be ferrous, I think we would agree.  So where is ferrous material going to come from in the typical listening environment?  Also, any such dust would stick to the cartridge body, not to the stylus or the cantilever.  In my experience, I have not ever seen dust or particles accumulating on a cartridge body, except incidentally.  Like some others, I keep thinking there is something missing from this Onzow Zero Dust story.  I use Magic Eraser, and I have a good microscope.  When this scare about OZD was first called to my attention, I started examining my own cartridges.  They all look exceptionally clean, both cantilever and styli.  I dip the stylus into ME before every side of every LP. Carefully and only in the vertical direction, up- down- up.

I only have a 40X jewelers loupe to examine my cartridge. When this Onzow issue first was reported, I noticed similar looking 'dots' of whiteish grey spots on the cantilever and cartridge body magnets, while gently trying to scrape them off, I noticed how strong the magnetic attraction was on the bottom of the cart body (Audio technica ART9), Dunno if the Onzow debris  is ferrous, something in my environment dust (did have kitchen remodeled recently) but for the last month have been using a photography lens brush mainly with the Onzow every 10 days or so and no longer see these whitish grey dots.

I agree, there's more to the story and just wanted to inject the magnetic part to the considering, my VPI prime does not have a dust cover so that's part of my environmental dust concerns. Gonna turn my hepa air filter back on.

On a a lark, googled 'is dust magnetic' , appears there's some studies that show it can be: My previous residence was at the top of a hill close to an I95 beltway, the constant tire grinding up the road debris made this weird fine dust settle on my outside windows and I had to clean them more regularly, it was really a fine dust. Anywave, just trying to add info to this Onzow thing.

There's no way the Onzow is ferrous, and like others have been saying, magnetism wouldn't cause anything to stick to the non-magnetic cantilever & stylus anyways. When you see the horror-show "before" pics from rebuilders, all the dark ferrous debris is aggregated on the magnetic parts like the front yoke/pole piece and maybe the coil former (except if ruby). And for that - I don't really know where the ferrous debris would have come from, either...that's an interesting one to ponder. 

 I admit, I was surprised to see such gunk on a cantilever. First thought was that the user didn't just 'dip' the stylus, but came into angle of contact with the cleaner surface that made with the stylus AND cantilever. In the case of a brush being used to clean, I would think the same thing. It is important as to how you Apply the brush. Then this stuff about magnetism comes up and it may be possible that static cling causes the dust to rise and contact the cantilever and stay there because of the buildup of cleaning agent.

Found a very interesting post from johnss from 5/12/2020. Seems he's been examinng LP's with a microscope and seeing these cantilever gunkies: to paraphrease his post (thank you johnss):

"Have looked into this for a long time and taken many microphotographs of LP / vinyl groove surfaces.

first you need to understand what is  mixed in with vinyl pellets before the record pressing plants ever sees them. Many think mold releases are used. Have not found that to be the case.

But during PVC pellet processing, Calcium carbonate is added to almost all vinyl formulas during formulation as a processing aid for all the manufacturing steps, from extrusion, to pelletizing to molding.

during the record pressing cycle, the calcium carbonate is still in suspension in the PVC vinyl matrix during the heating cycle. During the cooling cycle, the rapid change in temperature causes the Calcium carbonate to migrate to the the cooler surface, collecting in the bottom of every groove.

As the stylus tracks the groove, the bottom of the stylus is hitting the tops of these larger particles. Want evidence? Take a look at the bottom side of your cartridge. you will likely see some fine dark white to light tan tiny particles clinging everywhere. these are tiny calcium carbonate particles the stylus removed from the bottom of the groove.

Have looked at over 300  records under a microscope and have never found one without the deposits."