Mr Angry
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Anti static arm - Any tips on optimum set up?
dbowker
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Off hand I say ditch it! I guess in my opinion, if it had any real benefits, you'd see it used on more setups, which you literally never do.

Static, if truly a problem would best be addressed by an anti static gun, wet cleaning with anti static solution or a humidifier in the room. Adding on of these arms is just asking for trouble by adding vibrational noise into the record, added pressure to the records and, well causing the issues you mention.

Jan Vigne
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To begin with you have it improperly set up. The disc must rotate under it in the same direction as the disc rotates under the tonearm. Move it from a "6 OClock" position to a "3 OClock" position.

It still won't track the disc in the same method as your tonearm and it will pick up a lot of dust which it will then redistribute across your LP and the next LP and the next and so on. I'd throw it away and use a vaccum record cleaner and a damp microfiber towel for the occasional cleaning prior to playing a disc. If you need anti-static control, use a ZeroStat.

rvance
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This brings back the memories! Back in '74-'75, around Long Beach, CA we'd wash our records in the sink when they got grungy. Between dishloads (way between) we'd Decca brush them while spinning on the table. Last we'd drop a similar device, except it had a little velvet drum that dragged- it was meant to pick up extra dust and dirt.

Jan is right, as he so often is. You mount it along the back of the TT and put the head in the 2-3 o'clock position. But that brush does look like it would spread dust rather than hold it.

Mr Angry
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Cheers guys - one and all.

I've now hooked it up as suggested and I'll give it a while to see if there are any benefits to be had.

Once again, many thanks.

Paul

Buddha
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Quote:
This brings back the memories! Back in '74-'75, around Long Beach, CA we'd wash our records in the sink when they got grungy. Between dishloads (way between) we'd Decca brush them while spinning on the table. Last we'd drop a similar device, except it had a little velvet drum that dragged- it was meant to pick up extra dust and dirt.

Jan is right, as he so often is. You mount it along the back of the TT and put the head in the 2-3 o'clock position. But that brush does look like it would spread dust rather than hold it.

Watts Dust Bug?

Audio Technica made one with an actual little velvet drum at the end, but I can't find a pic!

loonykev
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Mr. Angry, This looks identical to one I found on e-bay from an Italian supplier. I've set mine up the same way as you have yours, and have been using it as a record brush. What I do is stand a large fan on a table next to the TT, engage the brush but leave the tone arm in its rest, and give the record a clean before playing it. The fan dumps the dust somewhere else. It seems to clean well, not sure about the anti-static ability though.
Regards, Loonykev

rvance
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Hi Bude,

Same drum/brush mechanism, but it had a tubular metal arm and rounded triangular (?) base. You are such a reservoir of knowledge! r

Jan Vigne
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Quote:
What I do is stand a large fan on a table next to the TT, engage the brush but leave the tone arm in its rest, and give the record a clean before playing it. The fan dumps the dust somewhere else. It seems to clean well, not sure about the anti-static ability though.

My question would be how you isolate the turntable from the vibration caused by the large fan.
Regards, Loonykev

WOW!!! That must make the sound of a vaccum hold down pump seem quite innocuous. Considering the fan is blowing across the record surface, where the fan's air stream deposits the dust would be simple to deduce. The disc surface becomes a revolving static charged dust collector.

My question would be how you isolate the turntable from the vibration caused by the large fan motor.

loonykev
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How I isolate the fan? Easy, I switch it off before I put the needle in the groove. Oddly enough, it seems to work, the dust when loosened just blows in the wind. My TT is not that great anyway, I now regret buying it, but it was a stopgap so I could play my vinyl after many years of not doing so. BTW, the brush is downwind of the centre.
Regards, Kevin Hall

Jan Vigne
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In that case I'd suggest trying a 220MPH leaf blower before you play your records. That will dislodge some dust!

On the serious side, I'd have to agree with Roy Gandy of Rega that any piece of dust large enough to see - or be blown by a fan - will be pushed aside by the stylus. It is not the crud you can see that causes the problems.

loonykev
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Hi Jan, All I can say is that I have noticed a difference having brush-fanned my vinyl. When I first played these records that had been gathering dust for twenty years, there was a lot of hiss which seems to have been greatly reduced since I used that brush, and I thought the fan would disperse any dust that was loosened. It works for me. If I stick with the vinyl I think that I will have to buy a proper record cleaner, but that decision is a way off yet.
Regards, Kevin Hall
p.s. I am not known as loonykev for nothing.

Jan Vigne
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I sort of figured as much.

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