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When playing a side of an LP, I get a gradual static charge build-up by end-of-side, which results in the felt mat "sticking" to LP when lifted off the platter. If pre-amp not set to "Mute", there are little "pops" from the speakers that are generated by static discharge from TT to hand.Plan A is to get some double-sided Scotch-tape to "lock" the felt mat to the platter as a way of stopping the "lift-off syndrome".
For Plan B, there must be some way of grounding the LP to the chassis of the TT (which is earthed to the amp via the "earth terminal").
My somewhat vague recollections of Physics 101 and the theory behind the Van Der Graaf generator, indicate that some form of conductive "brush" - grounded to the chassis - should pick up any charge from the LP surface and dissipate it to ground.
The theory being based on charge collection by smaller radius of brush-tips...
If anyone knows of any product available that addresses this problem, I would be grateful for any links/etc.
Its summer here in S. Africa and its also been a bit dry - so static is a major hassle and is causing me to spin more silver than black... :-(
DE
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than any other table. I eliminated my static altogether - year round - by simply grounding the Turntable Bearing (HW-19)
"Man is the only animal that blushes - or needs to" Mark Twain
It happens to me all the time. Now, either get an antistatic 'gun' or a conductive brush, or both, but DON'T get a dust bug. You will hear it, according to Ivor (the terrible) of Linn.
Also, make sure that your TURNTABLE (the rotating part) is grounded to a 3 wire ground and the preamp chassis.
I have the same turntable the same felt on the platter. You have mold release on the records. Once you get this off you won't have the problem.
... "MOULD" release and that the older LP's were releasing mould which was limiting the static....Oops... Maybe I should RTFSL properly next time... :-)
But I had the same thing happen to the felt mat on my LP12. That's what it is. It isn't the weather. Here in Minnesota I probably have the same weather you do, only opposite. Cold, dry periods and hot, humid weather. You need to cure the problem or you could potentially wipe out a stylus. I know, I've come close to doing that very thing. You don't need a Zerostat either. I've read about people who treat their records with this only to have it come right back at them. Why? You never removed the source of the problem. If you do a search I'm not the first to realize this. Some other guy a few years back said the very same thing.Records pressed by RTI are the worse offenders. You can really get some audible improvements once this stuff is off. I've cleaned records over and over (up to several times) to get it off (RTI). But it does come off with the right materials. Some probably work better than others. I have found Disc Doctor, RRL, not as good as other stuff out there to get this stuff off. It is a good test to make sure your records are clean though. When the felt doesn't stick your records are pretty clean. The felt itself isn't a problem.
Last Power cleaner (way too expensive for me !) Micro care Premier or the virtually identical less expensive Micro care Contact Cleaner
(The active solvent is DuPont Vertrel) works as good as Freon did
back when we still had an Ozone Layer ;-) the stuff evaporates incredibly fast so if you use it as directed you'll blow away an entire can on less than 20 or as few as 10 LP's easily, spray it on a cotton ball or bit of Microfiber cloth and immediately scoot it along the record surface then immediately do the otherside you'll need to dose the applicator again but not as much as the first shot, any of the crap still there will be easily eliminated with RRL Deep and the stylus and CF brushes in the next couple of plays.
I had one record that defied belief. I ripped the inner sleeve just trying to get it out, and no amount of scrubbing on the VPI or zapping with the Milty could stop the cling. It played fairly quietly, however.I think Devillears was making a joke that he misinterpreted your post to be about moldy (British sp., "mouldy") records releasing spores or something as the cause of the static charge.
Mold Release is the real deal ! and I'd be really indignant, angry
perhaps even bitter over the situation, if I hadn't scammed as many
used wonderful expensive Audiophile pressings so cheap because of the
intolerable mold release induced sonics the original owners foolishly
discarded when repeated normal cleanings and a Zerostat were of no avail !
so an opportunist like myself saves the $30 and ends up with a mint recording for $3 to $5 :-O
If you read some of the posts below you will find that the 200 gram records are causing the biggest problem. Who presses them? RTI that's who.A good solution to clean this off is Petsmart's Simple Solutions "Stain and Odor Remover". It may not be the best, but it's economical and doesn't evaporate on you. It really cleans the records well, with no damage to the vinyl. On RTI stuff I buy I sometimes have to clean several times to get it all off. I cut it 50/50 with distilled water. Please no dog jokes. It really works.
I looked at the Last stuff that is supposed to do this. They want too much money for it. Probably will evaporate on me anyways.
nt
the contents of my sand box with kitty litter.
Sand might scratch those valuable Tonka toys of yours. Kitty litter less so. Good thinking on your part.
Just when I thought I had heard everything :-)
Read some of your tweaks: superballs, hockey pucks
You'll buy anything won't you?
I switched to a Herbie's mat on my LP12. Otherwise put some moisture in the house (the same room as the TT if possible). I love winter here in the midwest, but it keeps the heater or fireplace going most all day, so I even stopped using the bathroom fan when the shower is on. Also, there's less static after using the RCM.
Standard "Way Excellent Turntable Mat" (1.96mm thick)
or
de Luxe "Way Excellent Turntable Mat" (2.75mm thick)I can't find any reference to how thick the standard Linn felt matt is and whether or not I will need to adjust VTA.
Any further suggestions welcome... :-)
Thx
DE
I use the standard one. I tried a Ringmat too but the sound was so bright my ears bled for a couple of days ;-))
Herbie's mat is "Way Excellent" on my LP12, as is the donut mat with the skin. The felt mat is a static generating beast and doesn't sound that good either.
I use the old Oracle grounded brush and it doesn't seem to help with this. I have tried anti-static spray on the felt mat, which seems to help for one or two records; then you are back to the "sticky situation". I am reluctant to put double stick on the platter/mat..I'm not sure why I just don't want to. I live with it.
Have you tried a zerostat pistol ? Or you could cannibalize a carbon brush & an old dust bug & make a conductive earthed dust bug......
... both before and after - it does help a bit...What's strange is that the static charge level varies from LP to LP...
Older LP's give less hassle, while new 200gm virgin vinyl LP's really build up a charge...
(thinks: time to deflower virgin vinyl? But how?... :-)
DE
I have the same issues with new records (the ones that won't slide out of the damn sleeve).
Nagoka anti static sleeves help a great deal too.
I notice static build up more in the winter than in the summer. Dry heat in the house. I run a humidifier when I'm not home and this has virtually eliminated my static problem. The felt stays on the platter and I don't get that dreaded discharge. Just an idea.
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