Cleaning stylus: opinions on what I got.

I'm very interested in knowing your opinion on the stuff I bought the sylus on my cart.
One is a Thakker Stylus Brush (I've seen the very same brush rebranded and costing more) and Audio Technica AT6012 cleaning fluid.
Here are the links for the products:
https://www.amazon.es/gp/product/B00008B5DP/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.es/gp/product/B00J28R0OU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Did I choose well? I received the items today and are still factory sealed so I can get a refund if products are not good, but keep in mind that getting records and stylus cleaning stuff from reputed brands at a reasonable price is very very hard but these were easy and cheap (I have Spanish Amazon Prime) to get here.
Thanks in advance for your replies.

 

Remove dirt at source by wet cleaning your records or a RCM & only need to clean your stylus once in a blue moon
or 20/25 euros gets a decent wet brush & record cleaning fluid

 

I'm thinking about getting these to clean my records. What do you think? (links to products below the pictures) Plattenreinigungsbürste Pure Groove – clearaudio analogshop
https://www.amazon.es/gp/product/B000T400ZC/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=AFE1GKO2WAR05&psc=1

 

Blu Tack and a stylus brush shoould be all you need.

 

Don't worry...You did fine. I still prefer the softer and more delicate stylus brush that Shure recommends.
Turntable Phono Cartridge Stylus / Diamond Needle Cleaning Brush Tool | eBay

 

Perfect combination of the AT fluid and the stiff brush. This is exactly what I use.

Use EXTREMELY little AT fluid (by wiping its little brush on the side of the little bottle before using) and ONLY clean the diamond tip (not the cantilever too). There is a rumour that you don't want the fluid to migrate up the cantilever to the inside of the cartridge.

Then right away use the stiff brush on the stylus tip, brushing ONLY back-to-front. Do this with the sound on, at low volume, so you can hear what you're doing.

No need to clean before every record. I play 10 to 20 records between stylus cleanings. My records are all clean from using a record cleaning machine, but the stylus needs occasional cleaning anyway.

But we haven't mentioned the most important thing. Before every play, each record side needs to be dusted-off with a dry record brush. I use the carbon fiber type, Decca or Audioquest. Maybe a felt brush works just as well.

 

Blu Tack? Gotta be kidding. How would I use Blu Tack on a Phono stylus?

 

How to Care for New or Soundsmith Rebuilt Cartridges | Soundsmith

 

Works the same way as a zerodust. Just lower the stylus onto a flat piece of blue tac about 3-4 times. Soundsmith recommend using this. Does the job for me, my stylus is spotless and it’s safer than using a liquid cleaner which can loosen the material used to bond the diamond to the cantilever.

 

Thanks for your reply. This combination was the best I could get on Amazon Spain from reputed brands and at an affordable price. The brush I got is also sold by Pro Ject (at a higher price) and regarding the Audio Technica stylus cleaning fluid, I trust Japanese products and this cleaner got very good reviews by US and UK Amazon buyers so it made sense to buy both. Of course I can get better (I think) and more "esoteric" stuff in Spain (most mid class Spanish are kind of posch, they like good looking and exclusive expensive stuff to show their friends,even if this doesn't get the job done),but their prices are crazy, the likes of 60 $ for a Stylus brush and 120 $ for a stylus cleaning fluid.

 

Try an Art Supply Store.

Every style of brush under the sun.

 

I haven't used Blu Tack in some time but I remember not being very soft or tender as to use it on a Phono stylus.

 

I use (with success) this Zerodust:

 

Soundsmith's instructions work well for keeping a stylus clean. If it is already mucked up, you might need brush or brush and sovent/cleaner.

I take a small piece of BluTack (pea sized) flatten it and then pinch the edge and draw it out into a strand and then use that to cean my stylus. It's not strong enough to do any damage, and gets super sticky when it's stressed like that.

Been doing it for a few years with great results.

 

It's soft enough, but it's the tackiness part that you are using to grab and hold onto any dirt on the stylus. Some people just keep a dab on a little block next to the platter, and cue into it before raising back up and cueing the record.

 

What's inside the pot? A goo like stuff? Is it expensive?

 

yep, only onzow for me. too easy not to use.

 

I think I have an unopened pack of Blu Tack in a drawer, I'll give it a try. Thank you for the advice!!!

 

The Onzow is nice, too. About $40 or so. Mine lasted a good 10 years.


*Note - It helps to make sure you plant a finger or two on the plinth as an anchor. Bracing like that is a habit I developed from fly tying. It keeps you steady when working with small / fine objects / materials.

 

Dry Magic Eraser plus soft brush are working nicely for me.

 

Too expensive for me now, it's 82.36 € in Spain. See what I said about "reputed brands at an affordable price in Spain"?

 

I reshape/reflatten it often so it’s doesnt get too hard and so the stylus can penetrate it better and it retains its ‘malleable’ feel. I think blu tac can harden a little if not reshaped often...but not enough to damage a stylus anyway.

 

This is a specialist cleaning compound that is used for mechanical watch parts by repairers and watch makers. Works in the same way as blutack for stylus cleaning, but better.

Bergeon 6033-1 Rodico One Touch - HR6033 for about UKP4

This is the same stuff that is sold by NorthWestAnalogue as "stylus cleaning putty" as a small piece Shop

There is also an improved version, the 7033, which is slightly more expensive - which I have not tried.

Bergeon 7033-1 Rodico Premium - HR7033 for about UKP5

Craig

 

L'Art Du Son is for use with an RCM (unless that was your intention), which you dilute into distilled water to go on records, I wouldn't use as a stylus cleaner as I'm not sure that is its intended purpose (unless someone can correct me?

I use a Vinyl Passion Buster which is similar to the Onzow that was mentioned before, just cheaper.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Vinyl-Pass...qid=1516184590&sr=8-6&keywords=stylus+cleaner

 

I have a question about the Blu-Tack. Shouldn't you keep from handling at much as possible? I mean, if you are rolling or manipulating it with your fingers, isn't there a good chance you could transfer oils to your stylus?