Anyone Still Using Zerodust


Haven’t heard anything since the original scare, but I stopped using it. I think I never had a problem because I always swipe with LP#9 between sides, as per Brooks Berdan’s advice. One recent video said Wally discovered some type of oil on the ZD. I regularly cleaned mine with dishwashing liquid, which could have removed any residue. 

chayro

This is the first I'm hearing of the controversy (as I own and use one), but found this link interesting. 

Time to Put Away The Onzow ZeroDust?

 

There is literally nothing conclusive nor scientific about the Fremer Onzow article, and certainly no evidence that the residue was from the Onzow. It’s unfortunate that with the weight Fremer’s words carry in the analog community, he would irresponsibly conclude the Onzow at fault in that vague article (which was seemingly an ad for a microscope...) If there was merit, there would have been a follow up with actual data on the Onzow residue, and there was not, because there was no merit. FWIW I use a DS50 pad composed of similar material to the Onzow (I think), and my cantilever is clean with no issues. Do all you guys just abandon practices with one opinion? Didn’t Onzow actually respond to Fremer and he neglected to respond?  Edit:  I suppose if one doesn't clean their Onzow/gel pad periodically, then some debris/dirt could be left on the stylus, but I wouldn't place blame on Onzow in that case.

I am aware of the "controversy" but continue to use my Onzow, as I have for over a dozen years.  It has worked quite well for me.

We are actively working with Mr. Ishibashi of Onzow to investigate these questions more deeply. Early experiments show very fresh units of Zerodust do not appear to leave any paraffin oil after application. 

It is hardly the only way to clean a cartridge, therefore, until matters are cleared up to a sufficient degree, I would not use something that can be the cause of so much problems. 

It is not just the deposits I would worry about.  I would worry about the application of force pulling down on the cantilever when one is lifting the stylus out of the cleaning pad.  This direction of force is unnatural and it may damage the cartridge.  I know of two people who pulled the cantilever out of very delicate MC cartridges using this kind of cleaner.  Perhaps they raised the arm too fast, thereby applying excessive force, but, in any case, I would not risk damaging a cartridge this way.