How do I clean the stylus? Do I use a wet cleaner each time, or often?

The short answer is NO!!!

A DRY soft brush is somewhere between good and “OK”, but it is far better is to use some DAP Bluestik* – this is the blue clay-like stuff you get in the stationery department. Use it just before or after every play. Either make a “pedestal” of just the right height, and place a small squashed ball of DAP Bluestik* on the pedestal at the right height so that you can use the cueing mechanism  to allow the stylus to drop onto the fun tak. The other good option is to squash a small ball FLAT onto a quarter so that it is about half the thickness of the quarter.  Then place THAT on the platter.

Then cue DOWN and up on the DAP Bluestik* several times. Be VERY care full not to DRAG the coin or turn the platter when the stylus is down on the fun-tak or you risk damaging the stylus or cartridge.   

Do this several times, each time moving the DAP Bluestik* to a new spot when the stylus is raised, so that when it comes down it hits a new spot.

If you need to do this on a B&O table, make the pedestal JUST the right height so the DAP Bluestik* is JUST under the stylus position & push the arm down a tiny bit to have the stylus hit the DAP Bluestik* to allow the stylus to dig into the fun tak.

Using this method every record should eliminate the need to wet clean ever, BUT if this doesn’t cure a distortion problem due to debris build up, THEN either use the supplied brush and some RUBBING alcohol (70%, water 30% NO COLORING OR FRAGRANCE) and gently stroke the stylus back to front only. Only wet clean when the dry clean doesn’t work.

DO NOT WET CLEAN OFTEN - TO DO SO WILL POTENTIALLY CAUSE SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE STYLUS MOUNTING AND CAUSE THE DIAMOND TO COME OFF. USE THE ABOVE DAP Bluestik* METHOD.

 If you don’t have a good VERY SOFT brush, purchase a WATERCOLOR brush with non-synthetic fibers, one that has bristles that are about 1/8” in cross section. CUT the bristles straight across with a small scissors, making them about 1/8” long. Break or cut off the wood handle so the brush is VERY SHORT, and has very little wood handle. This will minimize accidents and reduce jitter when handling and using.

*DAP Bluestik aka Fun Tak, Blu Tack, etc CLICK HERE

Also – we are vehemently against ultrasonic stylus cleaners. They will damage cartridges and void our warranty.

They are NOT NEEDED. They are very damaging. HORRIBLE invention for styli.

Pay VERY close attention to our anti-skating instructions, and cleaning methods.
 
To clean stylus –
 
Our OCL stylus (SG-6 in our Strain Gauge and OCL in other cartridge models)  

To clean, get some BLU-TAK and press a thin layer out on a quarter or similar coin. Place on platter and cue down into it 3-4 times every play.
 
The OCL/SG-6 has a flat back and will tend to accumulate much more debris which will pile up and cake up on the back (polymerize too). The cleaning method above is good – but also do the wet clean below.  (BTW – do NOT use the clear GEL cue down into them type cleaners – too aggressive and will snap cantilevers)

For a wet clean – do NOT buy stylus cleaner liquids. Some are dangerous for elastomers. Find a record you DON’T love, (Montovani is a good choice) and cut a 1” square of paper towel and wet it with ISOPROPYL (rubbing) alcohol. Place the square on the record and cue the stylus down for 2-3 minutes, then cue up and down a few times. You are done. Apologize to Montovani.   Do about every 20-30 hours for the SG-6 and SG-5.
 
This will keep them spotless. I do NOT like wet cleaning often – so depending on condition of records, you will have to observe how often it is needed.

RECORD CLEANING:

DO NOT TALK towards your records. They are neither listening, not do they need a talking to. You need to listen to them. The reason is this: when you talk, you spit. Yes, even you. Fine drops. You cannot see them because the record is textured with grooves. When the stylus hits the dried spit, this GLUE then sticks to all the dirt and  dust in the grooves.  It only takes a few revolutions for this to happen, and so much debris can build up on the stylus, your will have worse than distortion – The stylus may not even track the record.

What do I suggest??  A record cleaner – It’s a MUST HAVE item for any record enthusiast. How much do you invest in one?? As much as you are able – the return will be many times its cost.

Cleaning your records well is the BEST investment you can make in protecting that great sound of your analog system.