Wet Cleaning the Stylus

I've been using STYLAST, since 1981, without the first negative experience. Used between every three discs(played both sides) Nothing but excellent sound and remarkable stylus longevity. Keeping your records immaculate, goes a long way to preserving your stylus, as well.

I have used all four methods- wet, dry, Stylast and Magic Eraser. I think the wet brush and then applying Stylast sounds the best. I have looked at the stylus under a microscope and seen that a wet brush is much more effective than a dry brush for removing dust. If the stylus has grunge build-up, then the magic eraser works the best for cleaning it off.

Auto oil changes? Really? We are going to discuss this here? Plenty of forums on that topic based on no real data. Just follow the recommendation in your owners manual or change it more often if you like- it's your money. As for me, I change my engine oil more often than recommended. Hey, it's my money. I feel better doing that. It definitely keeps the internals of the engine cleaner.

Elizabeth,
Prior to initiating your preservative recommendation for every record side do you start out with a new stylus, or by cleaning the stylus once to get started?

Well as nearly everything analog 'it depends'. In the first place it depends from the question if the stylus needs cleaning. One need to look at the stylus with a
magnifying glass to discovere the truth. In the second place the fear against wet cleaning should apply for the styli which are glued in the cantilever. The fear is based on the assumption that fluid may disolve the glue. But many cantilevers are made from aluminum (alloy) in which the stylus can be pressure fitted. That is to say without any glue. This is, alas, not the case by the so called 'exotic cantievers' (boron, sapphireberyllium,etc). But we have no idea what kind of glue (or cement) is used in our exotic cantilevers. Such info from the producers would be much more useful than the usual specs. In many cases there is no substitute for wet cleaning. Look at your stylus with a magnifying glass to see for yourself.

FWIW Soundsmith strongly discourage use of fluids except in emergencies. Edited from their document-
"The DRY soft brush is good, but far better is to use some "fun tak"... just before or after every play [and they go into the blu-tak method]...

"Using this method [with] every record should eliminate the need to wet clean ever. "Only wet clean when the dry clean doesn't work."