Static Build Up On Record Surface

It's not normal. I doubt that is has anything to do with your cleaning process. It could be the material of your clothes (polyester, polar fleece, etc.), synthetic carpeting, or it could be very dry climate. Regardless, there is a simple solution. Purchase a Zerostat 3 antistatic gun. It costs around $50-60 and should last a many years. You simply hold it about a foot away from the record surface and one shot releases positive and negative ions that couple with the positive and negative static charges on the record effectivly neutralising them.

Rosstaman offers good advice. If you do live in a dry climate and have synthetic carpeted floors it is likely that YOU are the source of the static electricity. You can buy a grounding device that plugs into the ground of the electrical outlet at most electirical supply houses (radioshack probably has it too). Electrical techs use these to discharge any built up static electricity on them before they work on something. You could put one of these beside the cleaning machine and touch it right before you clean an album. Then you will not have the static build up that is likely transferring to the album. The other area to check, although I think it's a small possibility, is the grounding of the VPI unit. A floating ground could have some effect on static build up.

The static build-up on your LPs is usually caused by leaving the vacuum on too long. I am careful not to let the LP rotate more than three times. I know this sounds simplistic but give it a try. I just sold my VPI 16.5 to get a Sota record cleaner and in their literature they caution against over vacuuming because of the static with can build up on the record surface.

Yep, any more than 2 spins on my 16.5 causes problems, though a Zerostat will eliminate the static. There is a further discussion of other static sources on the "tech talk" board.

Confirming 4Yanks and Nrchy comments. Also, the 16.5's owner's manual cautions the user about static buildup if the record is over-vacuumed. I recall the manual indicating that more than two revs may cause static.

Regards
Jim

Thanks for the suggestions.
I live in Sacramento , Ca. and the climate is very dry.

When I remove the vpi cleaning fluid from the record surface I allow 1 rotatation of the platter before I shut down the motor. This completely removes the fluid but, this allows about an additional 1/2 rotation of the platter before the record cleaning machine comes to a halt and the vacuum tube lifts, Is this to much?

I have tried an ESD grounding strap to decrease the potential static build up. This seem to help somewhat but... it still does not solve the problem. Is there a grounding strap that is available that will enable me to ground myself to the earth ground of my home wiring?

Before you drive yourself crazy with grounding straps, holding on to a ground wire and putting down different flooring, try the Zerostat as was recommended previously. Cheap, painless and relatively inexpensive.

The 1 1/2 revolutions on the vacuum cycle is not really enough to cause all the static problem you seem to have. The dry climate is probably a major factor. Are you using a regular compressor A/C system or an evaporative cooler? A swamp cooler might give you a a little moisture so you're not bone dry (and, therefore, not as much static) and is alot cheaper to run, too.


Regards
Jim

get some Gruv-Glide. http://www.musicdirect.com/product/73619

You will love it.