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Am I brushing records wrong?

I just cleaned a bunch of my records, using the sink washing (with the GroovMaster) method described by a fellow 'Goner.

When I'm done I place the record on the player for a final dust cleaning with my Audioquest carbon fiber brush. Just looked at the record under the light, and there are dozens to hundreds of tiny little hairs over the record. Brushing them just moves the around, but they're almost impossible to get off. Sometimes they just change the way they're pointing, sometimes the brush goes right over them, making them seem like a scratch, but they're not.

Am I carbon fiber brushing incorrectly? I usually brush with many swipes from the center to the edge while the record spins on the player, attempting to brush the dust off the record. I think the carbon fiber bristles are the little hairs I'm seeing, though, so maybe I shouldn't be brushing.

Incidentally, many of my brand new records still have surface noise, and quite a bit of ticks and pops...I'm pretty disappointed. Maybe if I had an autocleaner it would help, but I'm manually washing with soap/water, then using a stiffer brush to apply Record Research Deep Cleaner, so I was hoping for no noise.
matt8268
patrickamory
193 posts
 
Matt,

Yes, you are brushing wrong. Carbon-fibre brushes work by harnessing static electricity - which simultaneously causes the dust particles to adhere to the edge of the bristle, and de-statics the record.

Hold the brush perpendicular to the spindle hole and touch a piece of grounded metal (turntable chassis for example). Don't press down -- the brush's own weight provides sufficient contact. Turn on the platter and let it spin for one revolution -- then pull the brush directly away from the spindle in a smooth motion. When it leaves the record you will feel a tiny spark through your finger where it touches the metal chassis.

If you look at the brush now, you will see that the dust has adhered to the end of the bristles.
dekay's avatar
dekay
5,401 posts
 
Patrick:

The Philips Carbon brushes I use have removable grounding wires supplied with them. Never tried the wire ground, but w/o being aware of the benefit I do steady myself by placing a hand on the grounded metal equipment rack.

Nice info to know as the few times the brushes seemed to be doing a poor job were probably caused by my not touching the rack (being unaware of my inconsistancy, or the grounding issue, I recleaned the brushes and the LP's).
cylinderking_1
130 posts
 
Yup most defenitly you must be grounded by touching a peice of equ. that does have a ground for the - ions to excape through that path. As for holding the brush (audioquest) I hold it at a slight tilt say 110 degree`s not the 90 degree`s as most do. I also pull it to the outer edge say after 5 or 6 rotation`s very slowly. With this method I get ALL the dust and lint off and I mean ALL. I have been told it`s not the proper way to pull it back, and also I should hold it at 90 degree`s but sometime`s rule`s can be broke`n with good result`s. David
cmk
397 posts
 
Matt
Regarding the ticks and pops on new records, I think you shd recheck your cartridge setup, esp VTA, to make sure its tracking properly. If your cart is mis-alined, you could be damaging the grooves.
dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
Matt,

The others have described the proper technique for using a carbon fiber brush. "Hundreds of tiny hairs" on a freshly washed record are almost certainly carbon fibers from your brush. They are indeed very difficult to remove. Try zapping with your ZeroStat gun (you have one, right?) and then blasting with compressed air (you have that, right?).

It may be time for a new carbon fiber brush.
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