Wrong way to clean a stylus!
According to Soundsmith, using Blu Tack is the best way to clean the stylus. https://www.sound-smith.com/how-care-new-or-soundsmith-rebuilt-cartridges Has worked for me so far. |
Dominic at Northwest Analogue in the UK says clean. your records, not your stylus. I think that the Green Paper method is atrocious - I have spoken to several cartridge manufacturer and universally all think this is ludicrous unless you have a microscope sharp enough to see each face of a shibata stylus and the hands of a precision engineer to then use the said paper. Nearly all cart manufacturers I spoke to said the Audio Technica cleaning machine was good, likewise a very soft brush to remove dust. I have used Lyra LPT but you have to be very careful in using it. Also worth using are the frequency sweeps on the George Cardas test record |
parrotbee, I have used “green paper” since 1988 when I bought my LP12 and provided by my dealer. No harm to any of my cartridges. Few but Linnies know of it. In lieu of green paper; I have been told the “striker” portion of a cardboard matchbook cover could be substituted. Have never tied it because I have “green paper” Also have tried and used just about all the other methods on the market. |
Oh well, sorry to hear about your misfortune, but if you're looking for support through numbers, I still recall driving home from a bicycle club ride and hitting the garage door remote to whip right in like Batman into his "Bat Cave". Only thing I forgot was the bike on top of the car held tightly by the rack. "Smash, Pow, Boom, Crunch!" Wow, just like the Batman show. |
I once scratched a precious record when the plastic straw flew off a compressed air canister and dug right into the vinyl. I have never used a compressed air canister since without holding the straw as I do it. Sounds like you had a slightly more expensive lesson. With that auspicious debut, welcome to the forum. |
Get a stylus cleaning brush and a small bottle of stylus cleaning fluid. Apply a drop to the brush and gently wipe the diamond tip from back to front several times. This should remove any debris. Do this after playing a side of an LP. Keep your LP's clean and your TT covered when not in use! I myself also use LAST Stylast preservative after cleaning - claimed to lubricate and extend diamond life. Never use your finger on the stylus! |
