Vinyl tip for static!

[struth]

you can buy cleanroom guns on ebay.

[Primalsea]

I have grounded the spindle and I find this helps a lot. Also if I have any issues with static caused by the carbon fibre brush I make sure That I touch something that is earthed, like the spindle, and that I am touching the carbon fibre of the brush. This seems to provide enough grounding to stop static building up. I also think that the platter mat is a big culprit, I have never got on with felt mats due to the static.

[walpurgis]

I have grounded the spindle and I find this helps a lot.

Assuming the turntable chassis is earthed correctly, surely the spindle is grounded through the bearing anyway. Unless it's a ceramic bearing or in a non-conductive housing?

[Breezy]

Interesting stuff, this. I also found that a carbon fibre brush tended to make things worse - weird! Also seems that some records are just inherently more staticky than others - sometimes it's a struggle to get them from the sleeve. Without a doubt, wet cleaning and anti-static liners make the most difference in my experience

[Barry]

I have grounded the spindle and I find this helps a lot. Also if I have any issues with static caused by the carbon fibre brush I make sure That I touch something that is earthed, like the spindle, and that I am touching the carbon fibre of the brush. This seems to provide enough grounding to stop static building up. I also think that the platter mat is a big culprit, I have never got on with felt mats due to the static.

That is the only way carbon fibre brushes should be used. If you don't 'earth' yourself, all you will do is induce static when cleaning a record.

The use of antistatic guns can do more harm than good if they are not used properly. Squeezing the trigger will generate negative ions which will help remove static build up on the record, releasing the trigger will generate positive ions which will simply undo the effect. So squeeze when the gun is pointed at the record and release with the gun pointed away.

A well-watered plant placed near the turntable works well.

[Jazid]

That is the only way carbon fibre brushes should be used. If you don't 'earth' yourself, all you will do is induce static when cleaning a record.

The use of antistatic guns can do more harm than good if they are not used properly. Squeezing the trigger will generate negative ions which will help remove static build up on the record, releasing the trigger will generate positive ions which will simply undo the effect. So squeeze when the gun is pointed at the record and release with the gun pointed away.

A well-watered plant placed near the turntable works well.

Funny that, when I bought my zerostat forty odd years ago the instructions stated that one should squeeze and release slowly several times whilst pointing the gun at the record from about 30cm IIRC. That is what I continue to do and it seems to work just fine, as does the zerostat. Forty years of continuous use, in my world, represents a good product priced accord to its utility value and not over priced.
I have had terrible trouble with cork mats in the past, and still experience static build up whilst the record plays, presumably from friction between the stylus and the groove. I use zerostat at the beginning and end of each side 's a result.

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[Haselsh1]

To keep some of the dust off mine I use an old unwanted white acrylic turntable mat that is never going to be used as it should be. Saves a bit of time but I still have to clean the whole thing on a regular basis. Another aspect of owning and using a turntable I guess. For me though it is worth it as only a month or so back I was contemplating getting rid of the bloody lot

[Jimbo]

Might have to put anti static gun on xmas list? Interesting other folk had issues with carbon fibre brush!

[Cas]

A cooker lighter is very similar, but dirt cheap. Just make sure it has no gas in if you try one. Both rely on a piezo element.

My original gun broke and when I saw the price that they are now I kept my money in my pocket.

Would a gas lighter piezo used in the same way have the same effect, how do we find out ?

[Barry]

Funny that, when I bought my zerostat forty odd years ago the instructions stated that one should squeeze and release slowly several times whilst pointing the gun at the record from about 30cm IIRC. That is what I continue to do and it seems to work just fine, as does the zerostat. Forty years of continuous use, in my world, represents a good product priced accord to its utility value and not over priced.
I have had terrible trouble with cork mats in the past, and still experience static build up whilst the record plays, presumably from friction between the stylus and the groove. I use zerostat at the beginning and end of each side 's a result.

Fair enough - I was assuming the gun worked on a piezoelectric principle, which generates a high voltage when the piezoelectric element is squeezed (or twisted) in one direction, this then creates ions of one polarity. When the trigger is released, the 'squeeze' is in the opposite direstion and so generates a high voltage of the opposite polarity, and ions also having the opposite polarity. Perhaps the Zerostat has a different ion generating mechanism.

I have to confess I have rarely been bothered with static. I don't use a fancy mat, relying on the carbon black loaded rubber mat supplied by the turntable manufacturer and use of a Decca carbon fibre record cleaning brush in the manner described above.