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I have taken steps to preserve my spare.

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In Reply to: Preventing cantilever rubber suspension from aging. Is it possible for my Shure V15 V? posted by Kuja on June 5, 2005 at 11:32:27:

"1.) Does anybody know how sensitive Shure V15 V stylus is in this aspect?"
Shure cartridges are subject to degradation with age, like all cartridges. IME a Shure holds up longer than a Grado or an AT.

"2.) How long can it be stored unused."
Forever I suppose. But Shure has stated that 5 years or so is OK.
"3.) What causes suspension aging?"
The suspension reacts to the atmosphere around it, hardening with time and exposure. Ozone is probably the worst, but any exposure to hydrocarbon vapors is a bad thing also.
"4.) Can aging be prevented or postponed? Let's say, keeping stylus in an airtight container in a refrigerator?
Or even vacuum sucking the air from the container? I know of some kitchen appliance that can do this, it's called VacSy."
I personally have a brand new in the box Shure VN5xMR stylus vacuum packed with a kitchen appliance called a Food Saver.
Shure has recommended that an airtight container will work. I just took it one step further.
Hopefully in a few years (5 to 7) when I want to use that stylus it will still be factory fresh (fingers crossed).
Good luck

--
Alan Gallacher
Born to Tinker!

Follow Ups:

Re: I have taken steps to preserve my spare. - John Elison 14:01:21 06/05/05 (7)
I think you should check with Shure about vacuum packaging. It just seems to me that vacuum packaging would ruin rubber, but I don't know this to be true. It will definitely ruin vinyl records as proven by vacuum hold-down platters that apply any more than about 1-psi vacuum.
Best regards,
John Elison
- What's the mechanism? - Mark Kelly 16:51:50 06/05/05 (1)
  John
  Any idea what the mechanism that reduces vinyl quality under vacuum is?
  
  Non est ars quae ad effectum casu venit - Seneca.
  "That which achieves its effect by chance is not art"
  Mark Kelly
  - Re: What's the mechanism? - John Elison 19:54:22 06/05/05 (0)
    The vinyl out-gasses. This causes noise. According to SOTA's specs, they use electronic-sensing, which limits LP clamping vacuum pressure to 3.0� Hg, +/- 0.2� Hg. I guess this is about 1.5-psi. So far I haven't noticed any problems with my vinyl. On the contrary, it sounds better than ever with vacuum hold-down.
    Best regards,
    John Elison
    - http://www.sotaturntables.com/Millennia.htm (Open in New Window)
- I was thinking the same thing.... - subcoolman 14:21:31 06/05/05 (4)
  When you lower the atmospheric pressure you also lower the boiling point of a substance. Were someone to subject a cartridge to a deep enough vacuum, they may run the chance of boiling out the oils and gases present within the rubber suspension, thus considerably shortening the life of the unit.
  I have a V15 myself, but IMHO, when they are gone, so be it, and I'll just find something else to use.
  
  Jim
  Audio Apprentice
  - Re: I was thinking the same thing.... - mosin 19:00:57 06/05/05 (0)
    Rubber, by its nature, continues to cure until it is hard. It seems to me that there should be a way to revitalize it. But how? Most chemical restorers swell the rubber to make it more pliable, but then it simply dries out again, only way more quickly. Is silicone the answer? Would a coating protect the suspension without affecting the performance enough to be noticed?
  - Well, - anumber1 14:34:31 06/05/05 (2)
    I did give that some thought also before I did it.
    The food saver gizmo, when hooked up to my AC manifold/gage set (I checked), only pulls about 2Hg of vacuum, which Subcoolman can verify, is not much in the way of a vacuum. I think it may be just slightly better than sucking the air out of the bag with my lungs (grin).
    I figure it was a cheap-N-quick way to effectively seal the stylus assembly off from the atmosphere and maybe just a bit of insurance that I didn't seal it up in a pocket of ozone (another grin).
    I guess I will find out in a few years eh?
    --
    Alan Gallacher
    Born to Tinker!
    - 2" Hg? Is that all those things pull? - subcoolman 14:46:50 06/05/05 (1)
      I guess I'm a little surprised, considering some of these units are labelled as "dehydrators", are they not? Given that, I doubt whether a 2" vacuum is going to do anything to the rubber itself, except for maybe dry the surface a little. As such, I remove my apprehension.
      It should be interesting to see how they are affected after "a few years" storage. If I'm around ("Good Lord willing", as my Grandfather used to say), let me know how they turn out!
      
      Jim
      Audio Apprentice
      - The model I am using is the cheepie. - anumber1 14:52:15 06/05/05 (0)
        
        In Reply to: 2" Hg? Is that all those things pull? posted by subcoolman on June 5, 2005 at 14:46:50:
        
        I was a bit suprised also by the results.
        Kinda lame I thought...
        --
        Alan Gallacher
        Born to Tinker!

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