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Options for ridding records of static electricity

I am getting back into vinyl, listening to “garage sale” finds and also new albums that I have been picking up. I have a nice old Linn Sondek LP12 with the felt mat. Every time I go to remove a record from the spindle or flip the record, static electricity grabs the felt mat and it sticks like a magnet. I have to very carefully flip the felt mat at the corner with my finger but one of these times I’m going to slip and smudge or scratch a record. 

I’ve seen the “Milty Zerostat” and seem to remember this product from back in the day. I see that it is still made and there is one eBay vendor that has them for $77. Is this my best bet? I thought Michael Fremor talked about these in one of his videos. 

Are there other products I should look at to reduce static electricity on my records? Thanks for any help you can give.
masi61

Showing 8 responses by uberwaltz

uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz
13,381 posts
 
Mijo
Do not think I could live anywhere "less dry"... Florida...lol.

And the very few affected records are NOT charged coming out of the sleeves, yes the hairs on back of hands/arms is a very effective technique, I use it all the time at work to "feel" the amount of static in the film we produce.
Of course we have static meters for this as well but after 40 years my "armometer" is pretty well calibrated...lol
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz
13,381 posts
 
orthomead.
I am now convinced it is just a peculiar material composition.
The two records that were affected the other day did exactly the same today.
None of the preceding or following records exhibited the static build up in the slightest.

As far as I am concerned that is the end of it for my curiosity.
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz
13,381 posts
 
I never discharge myself before handing records. As I never have any static issues.
Like I said this is more a just curious inquiry.
There is no static in the records prior to play, only a few odd ones seem to generate a small amount AFTER play.
Just enough to lift a very thin mat an inch or so off the platter.
Hardly earth moving....lol.

Vinyl formulation is more likely but who knows?
I had two records in a row today, I will try those pair again tomorrow.
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz
13,381 posts
 
I do have a serious question here and sorry if it has been discussed.
Not overly concerned with static per se as I rarely see it but......

I do very occasional have one or two odd records that have built up static as they played and on removal pick up the mat a little.
So what would account for this?
Meaning why might I get just one record out of say 10 played that builds up static during play?
Composition of the vinyl itself?
When it does occur usually the next record played is just fine.
And no I do not believe it is a slow buildup as it can be days before it might happen.
Or it could be two in a row.
Not troubled by it at all just curious.
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz
13,381 posts
 
I think the kindest thing to say here is that in Mijo system to his ears he hears no degradation in SQ with the dustcover on and down.
And we certainly cannot gainsay that as we are not there.

However if you use a little bit of statistics you will see that vastly more members do hear degradation in SQ on their TT with the dustcover on and down.

Nuff said imho. 
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz
13,381 posts
 
Fruitloop
Just click on his name and select message user.
He will hook you up I am sure.
If you look at my system, you will see a picture of my Avid TT with cover on it and the mat on the platter is one of Slaws MyMat 

https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/6466
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz
13,381 posts
 
@mijostyn. The LP12 is best played without the lid. I don’t know of anyone who listens seriously to the Linn that plays it with the lid on...easy to hear how it impacts the SQ negatively.
Actually I do not know ANYBODY with any half way serious system  that plays with the dust cover in position and down on their TT.

Except Mijo.........
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz
13,381 posts
 
Replace that felt mat right now!
Try one of member Slaw (above) patented MyMat.
Your music will thank you for it......
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