Cleaning gunk off a 78 needle

thevoice · 9th June 2006, 09:21 AM

I've just gone through a large number of 78's, working out which one's I wanted to keep and which to pass on. Because there were so many it was really only practical to brush them before listening, rather than a proper clean if they needed it.

Because of this I've now got a decent amount of crud stuck behind the tip which the usual brush will not dislodge. It doesn't seem to make much difference, sonically and the needle is still in good condition, but I would like to get it off somehow.

Does anyone have any ideas as to how I might achieve that? The note that came with the cart was rather specific about not using solvents. It is a Grado Prestige 78C.

dnsey · 9th June 2006, 10:00 AM

Fine silicon carbide paper, used *very carefully* is perfectly safe on a diamond stylus, and will remove almost any debris. Linn used to sell it specifically for the purpose.

thevoice · 9th June 2006, 10:05 AM

Cheers, I'm familiar with the stuff, I'm not sure how I would exert enough pressure to get the gunk off without damaging the stylus suspension though.

Peter.

bulgin · 10th June 2006, 06:22 PM

Hi all

Here we go again with silicone carbide paper on a stylus (with all due respect to the poster). Maybe because I live in the colonial sticks, I'm not familiar with this cleaning method but quite frankly, I don't like it.

Grado most likely uses the same stylus to cantilever and cantilever to suspension adhesives like all other cart. manufacturers. Maybe over the years they had customers do really stupid things to their products (like rinsing in thinners or acetone) and their caution about solvents are likely given to protect themselves against misuse.

For easy, safe cleaning of styli, you need a shorthaired brush with black fibre bristles (it looks like a little frying pan) and is still available. The cleaning solution I use comes in a small aerosol can and is called Servisol Video 40. The stuff is UK made Ambersil of Somerset, England. It is perfectly safe on rubber and adhesives provided you spray a little on the brush and then clean the gunk off the stylus by careful backwards/forwards strokes. There is no need to spray directly on the stylus as you will probably miss...

BTW I have NO connection whatsoever with Ambersil.

Cheers

bulgin

9th June 2006, 09:21 AM	#1
thevoice diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Melbourne Again	Cleaning gunk off a 78 needle I've just gone through a large number of 78's, working out which one's I wanted to keep and which to pass on. Because there were so many it was really only practical to brush them before listening, rather than a proper clean if they needed it. Because of this I've now got a decent amount of crud stuck behind the tip which the usual brush will not dislodge. It doesn't seem to make much difference, sonically and the needle is still in good condition, but I would like to get it off somehow. Does anyone have any ideas as to how I might achieve that? The note that came with the cart was rather specific about not using solvents. It is a Grado Prestige 78C.

10th June 2006, 06:22 PM	#4
bulgin diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2006	Cleaning gunk of a 78 needle Hi all Here we go again with silicone carbide paper on a stylus (with all due respect to the poster). Maybe because I live in the colonial sticks, I'm not familiar with this cleaning method but quite frankly, I don't like it. Grado most likely uses the same stylus to cantilever and cantilever to suspension adhesives like all other cart. manufacturers. Maybe over the years they had customers do really stupid things to their products (like rinsing in thinners or acetone) and their caution about solvents are likely given to protect themselves against misuse. For easy, safe cleaning of styli, you need a shorthaired brush with black fibre bristles (it looks like a little frying pan) and is still available. The cleaning solution I use comes in a small aerosol can and is called Servisol Video 40. The stuff is UK made Ambersil of Somerset, England. It is perfectly safe on rubber and adhesives provided you spray a little on the brush and then clean the gunk off the stylus by careful backwards/forwards strokes. There is no need to spray directly on the stylus as you will probably miss... BTW I have NO connection whatsoever with Ambersil. Cheers bulgin

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9th June 2006, 10:00 AM	#2
dnsey diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Shropshire, England	Fine silicon carbide paper, used very carefully is perfectly safe on a diamond stylus, and will remove almost any debris. Linn used to sell it specifically for the purpose.

9th June 2006, 10:05 AM	#3
thevoice diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Melbourne Again	Cheers, I'm familiar with the stuff, I'm not sure how I would exert enough pressure to get the gunk off without damaging the stylus suspension though. Peter.

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