How to use Record Cleaning Brush?

Bob Stenger

unread,

Sep 6, 1997, 3:00:00 AM9/6/97

to

What is the correct way to use an audioquest anti static record
cleaning brush (or for that matter any other record brush)?

With brush on spinning vpi record cleaning machine, I slowly tilt
brush up before removing. However this sometimes leaves a line of dust
where brush was removed from record (especially on dirty garage sale
finds).

Should I slowly drag the brush across the disk until it is off the
disk? I'm afraid this will drag new dirt into the outer grooves.

Thanks.
--
Bob Stenger
ste...@dreamscape.com

Curtis Leeds

unread,

Sep 9, 1997, 3:00:00 AM9/9/97

to

Bob Stenger wrote:
>
> What is the correct way to use an audioquest anti static record
> cleaning brush (or for that matter any other record brush)?

This sounds like one of the carbon fiber brushes, which is of the sort
that I prefer.

> With brush on spinning vpi record cleaning machine, I slowly tilt
> brush up before removing. However this sometimes leaves a line of dust
> where brush was removed from record (especially on dirty garage sale
> finds).

To the best of my knowledge, the carbon fiber brushes are for "dry"
cleaning only. They are not designed for use with fluids.

> Should I slowly drag the brush across the disk until it is off the
> disk? I'm afraid this will drag new dirt into the outer grooves.

It sounds as though you do have the idea. I hold the brush
perpendicular to the grooves with one end in the groove lead out area.
After the dust is all "lined up", slowly drag the brush towards and
past the lead-in groove, while maintaining the brush perpendicular to
the grooves. This will push the dust off of the edge of the LP, where
it will accumulate in a nice little pile on your turntable.
The only real way to get a record clean, imho, is the use of a
wet cleaner such as the VPI, Nitty-Gritty, or Record Doctor. But once
properly cleaned, the carbon brushes to a good job of routine,
clean-before-each-play maintenance.

--
********************************************************
Curtis Leeds cle...@idt.net
"A man hears what he wants to hear, and disregards
the rest."
********************************************************

SDuraybito

unread,

Sep 9, 1997, 3:00:00 AM9/9/97

to

In article <5v2h76$m...@canyon.sr.hp.com>, ste...@dreamscape.com (Bob
Stenger) writes:

>What is the correct way to use an audioquest anti static record
>cleaning brush (or for that matter any other record brush)?
>

>With brush on spinning vpi record cleaning machine, I slowly tilt
>brush up before removing. However this sometimes leaves a line of dust
>where brush was removed from record (especially on dirty garage sale
>finds).
>

>Should I slowly drag the brush across the disk until it is off the
>disk? I'm afraid this will drag new dirt into the outer grooves.

Hold the brush gently against the record and allow the dust to
collect. Then slowly slide the brush towards the record label until
the entire brush is resting on the spinning label. Then remove.

Some years ago, J. Gordon Holt (original editor of Stereophile
magazine) experimented with sliding the brush off the edge or towards
the middle. He determined that sliding the brush off the edge only
allows the dust to be attracted back to the record. By sliding the
brush over the label, some static is minimized and more dust stays on
the brush.

Siegfried
Siegfried

-- My bark is worse than my bite --

Pinderz

unread,

Sep 9, 1997, 3:00:00 AM9/9/97

to

>What is the correct way to use an audioquest anti static record
>cleaning brush (or for that matter any other record brush)?
>
>

After a few revolutions with the brush perpendicular to to grooves, I
put a slight angle on the brush and drag it to the outer grooves and
off the record.

This method has been quite effective for me. I play LPs daily.

Bob

Bob Stenger

unread,

Sep 11, 1997, 3:00:00 AM9/11/97

to

In article <5v469g$f...@agate.berkeley.edu>, cle...@idt.net wrote:

> Bob Stenger wrote:
> >
> > What is the correct way to use an audioquest anti static record
> > cleaning brush (or for that matter any other record brush)?

> To the best of my knowledge, the carbon fiber brushes are for "dry"

> cleaning only. They are not designed for use with fluids.
>

To clear up the original post:

I do use the audioquest record cleaning brush "dry" prior to using the
vpi brush "wet" on the vpi 16.5 record cleaner. The problem was how to
remove the dry brush from the record without leaving a line of dust on
its surface.

Thanks to all who answered my question.

Regards,
Bob
--
Bob Stenger
ste...@dreamscape.com