The Big Dust Off!
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- čas přidán 20. 08. 2024
- Dry brushing a record before play is very important for both stylus and record longevity, not to mention getting a quiet play. This video shows and demonstrates 9 different brushes, plus a device called the Spindle Spinner that's used to manually wet-clean records with relative ease while protecting the label from getting wet. A more detailed write up will be on the analogPlanet website. NOTE: the AudioQuest carbon fiber brush says in tiny embossed letters to hold by the gold part to take advantage of its anti-static capabilities. Sorry I didn't see that when I did the demo. It works much better if you do! Also the BLACKAUDIO BRUSH is meant only for wet cleaning and it really shouldn't have been made part of this demo.
“Never touch the bristles.”
Proceeds to touch the bristles of every brush
I keep a toothbrush handy to clean the brushes between uses
Yes, for the sake of these videos I often do unrecommended things. It's kind of "poetic license"...
"you don't want to touch the brush because of the oils on your hands" few seconds later 2:18 Michael is fondling the SK2 brush.
Priceless.
Good video and look forward to the results and details on your website. You might want to vacuum your carpet 😉
The two things that really attracted me to vinyl were the expense and inconvenience
😂
Love records, but I’ll never get rid of CDs
A lot less hassle
Records aren’t for everyone but to me they sound the best and I enjoy the ritual of playing them.
On the plus side they get me off my arse every 18 minutes or so, and keep my manual dexterity skills up.
I have this tee shirt lol
Can't believe I watched the entire 20 minute video
This is fun! Records are so enjoyable to listen to, and I do some to keep my stuff clean. I didn't know about brushing my brush, I must admit I just rub the dust off the brush with my fingers... I will try a toothbrush... however, all of this makes me think of this: Guy scrubs up and goes into clean room to play a record.
Vs
Guy hangs with friends while playing a record and drinking home-brew kombucha
Wow, Michael - great demonstration of all those different brushes 😊.
@5:00 that Brush with the cord works great - used to use one for dusting critical components in the photography studio.
Can’t believe I just spent 22 mins watching someone wiping dust of a record, but it was far more interesting than watching darts or snooker!
Great video! I have a phobia of using Audioquest carbon fiber brushes ever since I used one on a white record and noticed minuscule black fibers scattered throughout the record. Always using the correct and gentle technique. The little bristles are obviously not visible on a black vinyl surface. Those little fibers now sound like little 'tics', exactly the sound I was trying to avoid!
I also recently noticed that my AQ brush was leaving tiny black hairs behind after using it, so I opted to buy the Kirmuss Audio goat hair brush that is similar to the furutech one in this video.
I'd never go back to carbon brushes after exactly what you've described. Nightmare!
Thanks for this, Michael - very informative. All the very best for 2022🤞👍👍
Really interesting 👍
I've found over the last 45 plus years that brushes (as your example illiterates) vary greatly in surface cleaning, but real deep down cleaning, absolutely not i.e. it doesn't really work.
If anything, you're pushing crap into the micro grooves.
I've found two things that work. From new the diamond stylus is a great general cleaner as long as you remember to wet clean the diamond when it's grown a fluff beard after playing dirty records.
To clean to new, my Keith Monks cleaning machine with a few drops of vinyl lubricant mixed with the cleaner gives near noise free silent playback with zero static.
I have several vintage Discwasher brushes and I still use one before every play. I still have two bottles of the D4 fluid (not sure what that stuff turns into after 40 years) but I never really used that stuff much. Occasionally I will use a thin bead of distilled water on the arrow side and use as normal. Has always worked extremely well. The brush is a bit heavy because of the walnut handle but you really only need to 'hover' over the record. "Three hairs and some air" - Bob Ross style.
Disc _washer_ is a very misleading name though. Probably should have called it the "DiscDuster" but that doesn't roll off the tongue as well.
That sure was an extreme test.
It seems the more rows of fibres the more it slows down the record.
Some prices are off the charts. Thanks 🙏
Stayed on topic. Informative. With just a touch of Fremer humor. A+ video. Wouldn't the spindle spinner just introduce more static and exposure to dust in the air walking it back and forth from sink to platter?
Thanks for the informative video, Michael. I’m sticking with my discwasher.
Damn you guys need to vacuum once in a while!
Had an AudioQuest carbon fiber brush since 2017 when I finally got my setup and it has served me well.
there is a particular method to increase the de-stat power of the carbon fiber brush using distilled water.. not by making it 'wet' just misting it. If you ever have some sneaky static that won't go away from the dry method.. works for me every single time. have never needed a de-stat gun or anything esoteric like that.. maybe if you lived in an arid region it might require something else. I'm southern ontario canada. It's basic science, the ionic quality of water eliminates static charge. - the static electricty in hair / wet brush experiment proves it every time.
I do the same. It's strange that people will spend so much money on the gun when a little water does the job so perfectly.
In fact, most of the static comes from you via the nylon content in the soles of your shoes, the nylon in any floor covering carpeting (I can't afford pure silk rugs) and even your nylon socks. I wear leather sole house slippers which eliminates the problem.
@@vinylholicsanonymous3871 I assume it's the fact people are mostly simply not informed about the simple approach. Cheers~
@@apollomemories7399 a grounding issue certainly could be a factor ! :) Nylon is terrible for Static.. I only wear Cotton and rubber soles.
Great video. I’ve found best results with an OLD Discwasher brush moistened with Mobile Fidelity One Cleaner, followed up with a pass using my Hunt brush. Works really well, but my records are periodically cleaned with a Music Hall machine.
Another comment from my days working at Capitol Records Toronto back in the early 80's. Unless you don't plan to play them, never buy coloured vinyl. What makes a black record black is carbon which is a conductor which helps mitigate static buildup. Coloured records do not have this and that is why they tend to get noisy very quickly because they become a real dust magnet.
Good tip, and explains why my blue vinyl records are so full of pops and tics despite constant cleaning.
As far as American attempts at our accent go, that was pretty good! 🙂 🇬🇧
No mention of the classic Disc Washer walnut brush with D2 fluid that lifts the dust off the record, with a rotating action.
We finally get the brush video! lol
Loved your method of testing. Love from Dublin Ireland
I have the first brush you showed, except the company is "boundless"! I find that does a really good job!
Fantastic. Was so entertained.
Ultra Sonic record cleaner really cleans my old Pablo record beautifully
I had been using the AQ brush for a long time but started to notice that it would leave some hairs behind in the grooves. Nearly impossible to see on black vinyl, but on white or other bright colors it was noticeable. Some other brushes I have tried also leave fine scratches, especially on the deadwax area. I was looking for an alternative and I decided to try the Kirmuss Audio KA-B1 goat hair brush that is similar to the Furutech one you have in the video, but smaller and has a thicker area of goat hair. After 1-2 passes on any LP I've tried so far, it's basically dust free. I know this brush is meant to help apply their surfactant solution during cleaning with the Kirmuss machines, but it works very well for dry cleaning before playback as well. I bought it from Elusive Disc for $18 USD and am very happy with it so far.
The snake oil flow deeeep in this one. And, alas, Mr Fremer does his part pushing it, no doubt in order to further feed his hunger for cables and stuff. Watching him reading off a script as he ”explains” how the gizmos work is like getting an explanation from a Target employee.
I'm currently looking into this very issue. I don't have a lot of income (being disabled) but I've managed to get an OkkiNokki vacuum cleaning machine plus work out the best solution for me, and use carbon brushes. That seem to work pretty well (plus I need to get a new Milty antistat too).
But I do get certain records that attract dust more or at least seem to pick up something that makes more noise than another record of the same age. I don't know what's going on but I've noticed some brushes don't work as well on these as others.
So I'm going to use this data to have a mess around - cheers!
I enjoyed that bit of information, I understand fully these are static dust brushes, Ursa mayor also Hart audio vinyl will be adding to my record care.
I’ve used ordinary water wipes (99c for a pack of 100 in the supermarket), like the type that are used to clean a baby’s backside, to very successfully clean my records as they spin on the turntable. Then I use a dry velvet/velour brush from Big Fudge Vinyl to dry off the spinning record before playing. As the record plays the needle in the groove also quietly picks out lots of other pieces of microscopic dust that have been dislodged by the above cleaning process. It all works for me.
@Nicholas : Yes that’s true. I should also have said that I have seen that gunk and I do gently clean it off every time it gets on there. The actual cleaning process gets most of the dust. But yes, there’s no doubt that it will not be good for the needle in the groove. That’s the trade off…..
Interesting demo. Michael was kind enough to demonstrate what NOT to do with the brushes regarding running your fingers over the fibers. Human oils/grease not so good for then running over the records.
Very interesting and informative video, Mikey! Ideally you would've demonstrated the efficacy of the Big Brush while being grounded as well as not grounded. Oh well...!
My thoughts exactly! I wonder how it compares, grounded vs not. I would assume it works better grounded, surely. 👍
thanks dishin the real dirt, Mike!
Great video! Thanks Michael! Did you perhaps forget to introduce Ramar's brush or I missed something? I would like to see more about it.
Now I use a nice horse hair paint brush
I dampen a micro fibre cloth with distilled water and wipe the record lighly clockwise and anticlockwise. Job done. Cheap
The Hunt brush is fantastic. It's been my main brush for four years.
A few things that I would like to ask is where's the discwasher and I remember year's ago Roy Hall was demonstrating the Hunt brush and he recommended that you use them perpendicular to the spindle from the outside of the record and sweep towards the spindle. That the spindle was to act as a ground of sorts
Ya but then all the crap is sitting on label only to be deposited back on the grooves once it’s slid back into sleeve. 🙄
OK...which brush is being tested at time 20:45 ??? Its not mentioned in the opening commentary (or if it is, I cant find it)
Seems none of these do any damage. I have bought several carbon fibre brushes that have put micro scratches on brand new records, the worst offender’s being the type that have carbon fibre brushes with the velvet sandwiched between them.
What I have always done since a teenager in the 70's is after one or two turns with the brush I lean in an gently exhale at the brush. This moisture causes the dust to stick to the brush where I can raise it straight up. When I sweep to the outer edge I tend to leave a spiral trail so I try to avoid that. Oh, I still have all those records.
The only problem I'm having with your test is that the abount of grit and dirt on the record calls for a wet cleaning first. A dry brush would possibly cause scratches, and possibly imbed dirt deeper into the grooves.
Since the record was dry and the floor was dry and the dirt was "new" and the touch was "light" I don't think that's a problem. However, this was done for the purpose of the demo but if I bought a used record that looked like that I'd still probably give it a careful light dry brush before a wet-cleaning regardless of which kind of machine I had. I wouldn't want to contaminate "velvet lips" or a cavitation machine tank with that much surface dirt.
Problem I have with carbon brushes, including the Ursa Major, is that they too easily leave hairlines on the vinyl, which I personally find quite distressing. Yes, user error most likely, but an error I seem to easily make.
Michael - Since that test record is from Rainbo, you may want to check for off center pressing. They are The Masters at non quality control. I shipped back 3 copies of the Beatles white album for that same reason.
Rainbo is absolutely horrible. I do not miss that company one bit! Lol. Nearly every pressing I have made by them has had some kind of issue. 👎
i would doubt if any brush alone would remove static completely, i would either use an antistatic gun away from the turntable or wash the records in a VinylShelter fluid bath and wet brush with a goat hair brush, i use a microfibre brush for dry brushing on the turntable. i don't like the spindle spinner, much better to clean the record on a flat table.
It's too bad there's no links in the description or in a pinned comment.. Kind of pain tracking it down, pausing, then typing it all out, hoping you've got it right, but otherwise a decent shootout. 👍
I would love to see a comparison between record cleaning brushes and rollers.
I only use a brush to dust off my acrylic platter now. I feel that brushes sometimes push the surface dust down into the grooves. Now I use a sticky roller for surface dust and if anything ever gets into the grooves then it’s off to the Record Doctor.
Where's the "infamous" Disc Washer? I probably still have one around somewhere and always wondered if they're really any good - I do remember liking the idea that you could sort of "roll" the brush as you used it which picked up the debris exposing the record to cleaner bristles as you made a pass or two over the record - that is - instead of pushing the dust around and then off of the inner or outer edge of the record like most brushes do.
I still think it's the best approach for a simple brush arrangement, IMHO.
@@kenheitmueller69 Thanks Ken - I keep a pretty nice "Oracle" brush nearby my turntables for "touch up" - haven't used the disk washer in probably 15 or maybe even 20 years, just had a curiosity as to how it would stack up, always liked it though - - I have one of the Record Doctors in a closet somewhere which more or less replaced my disk washer - but I do think it's tough to beat the Ultra Sonic cleaners - I've been using the KLAudio 200 (I don't think they make this larger model anymore) for at least 5-6 years now, it seems to work fairly well. Happy listening.
Your records will never get that dusty if they are wet cleaned, stored in an anti-static sleeve and not left out longer than the playtime. Yes, they will attract small amounts of dust but nowhere near that amount. Therefore, these brushes are more designed to remove small specs of dust and to remove / reduce static.
I don't really feel like wet cleaning all my records.
@@hurkamur1 I can totally understand that as neither do I, but I do it because it makes a big difference that I deem worth the effort. If you don’t wet clean a record and it’s as dusty as the ones in the video, I’d say that in my experience a velvet type cleaner does a better job at removing the bulk of the dust and that these brushes are more for light maintenance and removing / reducing static. I use the velvet type on all records prior to wet cleaning. The one I use is the (yellow) Tonar Classic, which is convex, allowing you to rotate it during cleaning so that a fresh part of the velvet is used as the record spins. Works really well.
@@JamboLinnman I agree, i have a RCM and a ultrasonic cleaner. I like velvet or wet cleaning for a dusty record, and carbon fiber if the record is mostly clean. That big brush looks interesting though. I might one of those ground wire versions up.
@@JamboLinnman My friend has the tonar brush. Great brush. I use a vintage le-bo, but I have a bunch of different new and vintage brushes. I've been meaning to pick up that tonar brush though. It's one of the beat I've tried.
@@hurkamur1 which RCM and ultrasonic machines do you have and do you use the RCM then the ultrasonic (for dirtier records) or just the ultrasonic? I have a Watson’s vacuum RCM, which I like, but I’m very tempted by the Degritter ultrasonic machine.
Actually... the only thing this is good for is the 'comedy.' Your hilarious and this is kind of a satirical short (kind of like) on the proliferation of online Info-Programs.
..... Hey, I Love you, man! You're a good guy... funny sometimes, but good!
It's the Record that gets statically charged..........just taking a record out of its cover or replacing it creates static. MOST brushes create static, especially ones using man made fibres.
Put a plant, that needs watering regularly, close to your record deck. This will help dramatically with dry air/static problems.
Great info as always, and you saved us all a day’s time trying it for us. Have you ever used canned air for an initial dust off (before your brush of choice)or before a deep clean? I use it from a reasonable distance and it works well, especially used records.
Hello Michael ! --- Suggestion --- Why they don't invent a brush that we can connect to a home vacuum ? --- Do you think it would be a good and easy solution ?
Thank you for this video. Any chance for a stylus cleaner video soon ? Thank you.
The left hand is definitely biased. And most of us don't put records on that are so dirty.
You did not introduce the RAMAR Record Brush, but you used it at 8:40! Rangel says not to drag the brush off to the edge, like you did. You are trapping some dust in the grooves if you do that.
Fun torture test! The brushes seem to have varying ability to sweep the dust away, but none are great at actually removing it. It seems like the more bristles (and the finer they are) the better the sweeping. For actually picking up dust, I like to sweep into a line and pick up with a quick pass of a record roller. I posted a video that demonstrates this astounding innovation :)
I only use a brush after I fully clean a record. you are 100% correct.
I think I will stick to my Keith Monks Cleaning System. Brushes only move the dust around.
Amazing how dust gets into everything. No windows in Mike's HiFi cave and yet loaded with dust/dirt on the floor and in the air. How do you clean the dust off the brush? So much to think about when handling and playing LPs to eliminate those Rice Krispies snaps, crackles and pops! Thanks Mike for your video - so many products to choose for a simple function - boggles the mind!.
There are windows. One behind speakers blocked by Stillpoints Apertures and another in the rear corner.
Audioquest is what I use, after a wet machine clean and dry. If I get static I do a distilled water rinse and vac.
Michael, Did you see any surface swirls caused by sliding the brushes off?
That spindle spinner for almost $200 has to be the dumbest thing I've ever seen. For $200 you can get a Record Dr. I've cleaned 100's of records and never got any fluid on my labels. No sink necessary and a 90 second dry time.
I find it necessary to shine a very bright daylight white, narrow beam, LED torch onto the record to see all the dust. Daylight and normal room lighting is not sufficient.
You say keep you fingers of the brush,then you proceed to rub you fingers on the brush lol
“You don’t want to touch these brushes with your finger” -> proceeds to rub finger all over all of the succeeding brushes.
Don’t touch the brush fibers with your fingers!!!!!! 😀
I know! I said that but for the purposes of the video I did....
What should be the best way to clean the brush after cleaning a record then with all dust on it??, I know about the oils we have in our fingers, Can you reply please. Thanks
@@gerry1970may3 exactly what I would like to know please!
@@gerry1970may3 I think the common brushes with the handle are the best overall design since you can flip them in the handle to clean w/o touching them. I know some brushes have a separate holder/cover that you can use to brush/scrape off the dust.
@@wildstar41 thanks for the reply, in my case my brush is the one that Michael shows here, the Levin Brush don’t have anything to remove the dust,
I have come to reject the idea of any brush on vinyl records. Yes they'll pick up some dust particles but they will also drive others deeper into the groove. Better to blow the dust off with something like Giotto's Rocket Air Blaster Large Dust-Removal Tool.
I've used the AudioQuest carbon fiber brush for years but have not been all that happy with it. I have a Squeaky Clean Vinyl vac system for deep cleaning. But want to remove surface dust and destat before each play. My turntable is an ERA with very low torque and even the AudioQuest will stop it. So I twist my record weight to help manually spin the platter. But just like you, wind up with a line of dust after the first pass. Even second at times. And static is still a problem! Did you notice any reduction or increase in static as you lifted the record off the platter from brush to brush?
But based on this video I will likely be getting the Hart!
8:49
Ah! The Dutch "Sit 'n Spin!"
Pretty sure I did that in Amsterdam back in the '90s.
22 minutes to dust of a record. Amazing. Next video is how to put it in a sleeve
I do have a Groov Kleen that might be what the Hunt is. It's OK and I also have a record cleaner and a stylus cleaner 'pillow' from DS Audio. Because of this my records are usually quite clean to begin with. But some of those best brushes seems interresting. There's a serious Hi-Fi store in the next town so I will look what they have.
The Micro brush looks like the paint edger many use for wet cleaning. I do find they work well for that purpose. Very fine bristles to get into grooves. And soft so doesn't scratch the record. But not for dry cleaning really. I wonder what Mr. Fremer thinks of those sticky roller cleaners.
Nice to see them all side by side, but a pity you didn't have a Hunt EDA Mk 6 on hand. It's been my favorite for 40 years.
So, I guess the sleeve of my sweater could be improved upon...
@Nicholas Of course, I was joshing, but I have seen others do this. Quite what sort of results they were expecting only they will know.
One should avoid touching the brushes fibers so not to transfer hands grease to the them, and eventually to the LP.
I know that but for the sake of the video I touched them…
@@AnalogPlanet I thought so, just putting the caution here as I did not hear you say that in the video, unless I missed it?
Man, you need to vacuum your carpet… 😂
Would blowing compressed air do the same? I keep my records clean and in their sleeves all of the time except when playing.
far as what I saw... thicker is better than thin - more area in the wider thicker has more collecting bristles and tend to capture and hang onto the dirt, hair, etc.
Things I didn't think. are some material bristles actually better than the other?
... So I've been thinking about getting a 3rd brush. I have ideas now. :)
Which brush works best for lacquers
I think if you are brushing lacquers with any regularity, you owe it to yourself to have the German Ramar brush which costs more than some turntables. Did he cover that one?
Hi Michael I suggest your next video should be on the best vacuum cleaner fro clean your carpet it will need to be powerful 🤣
I have a Miele but I can't find the "on/off" switch
Great job
Hi , That's good, but I admit to being a little surprised that the Analog Relax brush AR-ASAB1 Antistatic brush is missing from your panel !
Super informative Michael, thank you. By any chance were you using an UberLight Flex for the test?
Yes of course.....best light as u well know!
One thing I’ve come to realize is that your brush is only as good as your light. A nice LED work light is essential.
The Man.
Don’t you ever vacuum your carpet?
You say Dyson I say Okki Nokki
Am I crazy or did none of those actually clean that record to a playable state. Every time you showed the cleaned record I could see white dots, hair, etc. left on the LP. I wouldn’t play that record in that state.
On another topic I have the Elvis 24 Karat Hits triple album. It has a special additive 317x that reduces static. I have played all 3 LPs 7 times since I bought it and I have yet to find even 1 particle on the surface of any side even before cleaning. Why don't more companies use this additive? I would pay $1 or $2 dollars to have it added to the vinyl used to press a record.
It doesn’t have that additive. It’s put on that package as a joke, it used to be present on RCA’s vinyl back in the 50’s/60’s. There’s no evidence it did anything anyway. Just more wonderful marketing from the folks that eventually got tanked by CED.
@@MrRom92DAW
I wish they would put that joke on every album I buy because there is no question that these are the most dust resistant LPs I own. So whatever it is I like it.
@@rickdrake9850 they’re just standard black vinyl LPs from RTI or QRP or wherever Analogue Productions was pressing vinyl at the time they reissued that set, but hey hard to complain about clean records no matter what the cause. Try finding some of those vintage red or black RCA LPs that do have the additive and I guess you can see if there was anything really to it. It was designed to increase the conductivity of the playing surface. Interestingly enough, the exact opposite approach AP/QRP takes with their Clarity Vinyl formulation
Can do the wet on a VPI 16.5 cleaner
"Dust" = Dog Hair
Mike where are you working now?
Hart SS MK£ shot up in price after this. Nice.
I’m astonished that the method of use demonstrated here for both the audioquest and the Ursa Major includes dragging the brushes across the record surface. This method contradicts the instructions of use from both manufacturers and, well, common sense. Dragging anything across the surface just sounds wrong. And don’t even get me started on applying ANY fluids to the record surface. A.P. already demonstrated the build of gunk on the stylus from those fluids.
What about using a Balloon make sure it's inflated rub it on your hair and then go over the record.
Great video. Why not do the acoustic sounds one with the grounding?
Some suggestions where some of these brushes can be purchased would be nice. Some of the "best" don't seem to be available in the US
I NEED THE DELUXE ONE!! =^__^=