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Stylus cleanliness
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philipb31 View Drop Down
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    Posted: 03 Feb 2025 at 9:19pm
As some of you know: I installed an Ortofon 2M black last week, with the Shibata stylus and I have now got a new OCD focus… keeping the stylus in tip-top condition.
Ortofon supplied a fine carbon (I think) bristle brush and the recommended direction of brushing is effectively reproducing its direction of travel on vinyl.
I wonder if brushing away is better at removing anything that might have become attached, but clearly the stylus is designed to ‘resist’ movement in only one direction and I definitely don’t want to bend anything.
I also have the AT pot of glue, or is it gel, or silly putty.
Brush direction? Gel or not? All recommendations and advice, please.
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Fatmangolf View Drop Down
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Points: 9695 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Fatmangolf Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Feb 2025 at 9:34pm
I am glad your 2M Black is doing so well. Definitely a good investment.

I aways brush the stylus from back to front i.e. the same direction as the stylus runs on the revolving record. I also use one of those gel pads, I release the cueing lever and let the stylus land gently then lift off with the cueing lever. I hope that helps and think others will share their tips too.
Jon

Open mind and ears whilst owning GSP Genera, Accession M, Accession MC, Elevator EXP, Solo ULDE, Proprius amps, Cusat50 cables, Lautus digital cable, Spatia cables and links, and a Majestic DAC.
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Mikeh View Drop Down
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Points: 617 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Mikeh Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Feb 2025 at 9:45pm
Definitely only brush on one direction, from cantilever to stylus tip ( same as when playing). Additional cleaning methods come with differing opinions. 
Fluids such as one from Nagaoka come with a potential risk of displacing glue attached stylii, I have some and use it very sparingly.  
Purpose made cleaning 'putty', come in various makes and seen to be effective but some say can leave residue. Personally I haven't seen this. 
 An alternative is to use 'magic cleaner' and white fibre cleaning pad. Cut off small piece an lower to stylus onto it, in the same manner as the putty material.  It works well in my experience but come with the warning to take extra care not to move the cartridge sideways on the cleaning pad.
All in all, many options, all with good and bad points. One essential is to use a good optical inspection magnifier.  I recently purchased a Nessie magnifier, its very small but really excellent for close inspection.
Hope it works for you.
Mike

Technics sl1210g with Victor U-2 or Technics EPC-205C mk4
Accession MM, Majestic + Proprius, Solo ULDE
Innuos Zen mini mk3 streamer
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philipb31 View Drop Down
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Points: 82 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote philipb31 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Feb 2025 at 10:18pm
Nessie magnifier…? Is that a brand or style? Presumably not some ethereal, legendary monster of a thing?
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Mikeh View Drop Down
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Points: 617 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Mikeh Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Feb 2025 at 10:41pm
Originally posted by philipb31 philipb31 wrote:

Nessie magnifier…? Is that a brand or style? Presumably not some ethereal, legendary monster of a thing?

Nothing so interesting, just a brand.
Mike

Technics sl1210g with Victor U-2 or Technics EPC-205C mk4
Accession MM, Majestic + Proprius, Solo ULDE
Innuos Zen mini mk3 streamer
Harbeth P3ESR XD paired with 2x REL t5x
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Bi-wire View Drop Down
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Points: 330 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bi-wire Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Feb 2025 at 12:27pm
Ultra soft sable brush, used gently in the direction of record rotation only. No gunk, no gloop of any description ever! (dismounts high horse Wink )
Peter

Satisfied user of: Revelation M, PSU1-Enigma, Solo SRGII and lots of CuSat50
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lfc jon View Drop Down
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Originally posted by Fatmangolf Fatmangolf wrote:

I am glad your 2M Black is doing so well. Definitely a good investment.

I aways brush the stylus from back to front i.e. the same direction as the stylus runs on the revolving record. I also use one of those gel pads, I release the cueing lever and let the stylus land gently then lift off with the cueing lever. I hope that helps and think others will share their tips too.
I do the same on both accounts. I will use the gel pad on first play and then use the brush after that. I don't know if makes any difference but it's something I've been doing since I got the brush.
Reflex M, Solo (both with PSU-1) CuSat50, Lautus, Spatia & Spatia links cables. Ortofon Bronze.
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