Unexpected anti-static device

[Pete The Cat]

I had a big record cleaning session (using a Moth RCM) the other day and found that towards the end I was building up a lot of static and new dust on the discs that I was cleaning. I don’t usually have this problem but maybe I was leaving the vacuum on for a couple of turns too many, wearing rubber soles while on carpet, who knows…

I looked to see how much a Zerostat gun costs these days and quickly decided that £65 felt wrong.

I came across this gadget, which has received a few favourable comments on a couple of other audio sites.


https://www.amazon.co.uk/RONXS-Electric-Rechargeable-Windproof-Fireworks/dp/B07HGVRDJD/ref=pd_lpo_d_sccl_3/261-4844124-0203811?pd_rd_w=aBDCK&content-id=amzn1.sym.bb13d3fc-af40-4fff-a822-e0e4c415da96&pf_rd_p=bb13d3fc-af40-4fff-a822-e0e4c415da96&pf_rd_r=Y3XHFYRFZ7B5PDG34BPP&pd_rd_wg=uuTLh&pd_rd_r=7073c87f-29f7-4132-a12e-9618af4b89fb&pd_rd_i=B07HGVRDJD&th=1

At £6.99 it felt worth a punt (NB today it is £5.99!) You spin the disc and waft it a few inches above for a couple of seconds. It’s a puzzle to me how an electric arc (which is what it produces - not a spark or a flame) would do this but maybe it messes with ions.

Using it on some of those discs yesterday and then playing them and the problem seems to have reduced 75%-ish. Of course that may just be complete coincidence, foo, ley lines or whatever…but I’m glad I got it. And even if it’s just a placebo then at least it’s cheaper than a Zerostat.

Pete

[Alex_UK]

Interesting, Pete, I have something very similar for lighting the wood burner, will give it a try!

[willbewill]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQy2aywt7_M

Just ordered one, worst case scenario you still have a useful lighter.

[Barry]

The device creates a plasma by ionising the air between the two electrodes by applying a high frequency (typically 15kHz) voltage between them. The ions are confined to the plasma, (the arc) only, and not outside it. Any ionised air outside the confines of the arc will very quickly neutralise. That is why the arc can't be "blown out"; any ionised air 'blown away' will neutralise and the arc current will ionise the air that replaces the lost air.

As such, the presence of ions further away than a mm or two will be non-existent and thus have no effect on your records.

[hifi_dave]

How can the aerostat be £65, that is a rip off and half. We used to buy those in boxes of 20, back in the day, because they were 'the latest thing but I can't imagine selling one at £65. I never found them very efficient anyway.

[Barry]

Despite my reservations concerning the efficacy of these arc candle lighters to neutralise static charge on vinyl records, I recently bought one for a couple of quid.

Ostensibly bought as a lighter for the cooker, I will report back as to its usefulness as a vinyl static neutraliser (not that I have ever been troubled by static).