Anti-Static Brushes: to touch a spindle?

As a follow up to my video demonstrating that Anti-Static Recorder Cleaning Brushes do not in fact remove static from Vinyl. Many commenters stated that they believed that holding a finger on the spindle to create a ground was essential. Let's put the theory to the test!

[themusicdandy]

Your sane, practical approach is much appreciated.

[elliotcohen]

Touching the spindle with the brush will be no more effective than using yourself as a ground, by simply holding the brush. I noted that the method used to remove dust is wrong in my opinion. In the video, the brush is seen being pulled away to the outside of the LP. According to the people that invented the carbon fiber brush (Decca Special Products Division), the brush should be placed lightly on the LP, so as not to bend the bristles. allow the LP to spin 3-5 revolutions, then with a slow sweeping motion, bring the outside of the brush towards the center label. This will allow you to push whatever dust is not picked up and will work with the groove, not against it, bring it to the center label, then lift the brush.

[BiggestApple]

Zerostat gun and/or having a humidifier in the room have been the only things that make a difference for me

[jpanega]

I think the recommendation is to touch the metal of the brush to the spindle...

[CalaisV]

Static is omnipresent with turntables, even lifting off the platter carrying the vinyl to the inner sleeves etc all create static build up... I personally discharge my vinyl by touching the edge of the record onto the metal part of the tone arm.. an audible static click can be heard when the volume is on ... and no, it doesn’t damage the cartridge or preamp as your are shorting to ground. This alleviates static temporarily.

[dixielandfarm]

Great demo! I always wet clean my records (just once!) and that seems to get rid of any static for good.

[gregtapevideo]

Removing the record from the platter causes static.

[smashy]

Have you tried just brushing without the motor spinning or while holding the record off of the platter so the backside does not get charged

[engjds]

I have demonstrated that antistatic removal does work, I diy'd a arm that hangs above the record 2mm with Al curtain grounded, you can see the results with and without easily, there is audible crackling discharge when its not used compared to none with it above the record, so maybe its a dodgy brush with poor conductivity of the carbon brushes, OR the carbon brush is not making proper contact with the metal handle, either way, I can tell you grounding does work and has to work scientifically since this is the same principle as the Van Der Graaf generator that uses a metal comb to remove surface charge (that is then stored and discharged in the large sphere).

[JopieHaargel]

The brushes aren't meant to remove static, they just don't cause any extra.

[leon]

Nicely done. Now the only test left to make with the brush that I know of is to try holding a record in hand and dabbing the brush at several points on the record surface after brushing off the dust like normal. I wonder how well that technique fairs.

[elliotbuckingham]

Using something better than a felt slip mat reduces static

[Gigidag]

What about touching the grounding post of a preamp for instance?

[NiiOnLood]

If brushing touch the tonearm construction, this is where the ground wire is connected. Seems to end up with less static at least on my Technics. Center spindle sits on bottom base and is not grounded.

[williamr]

Someone once told me that if, after playing a record, you roll up your T-shirt and touch the edge of the record to your tummy, it will disperse all the built up static. :0)

[djpaul]

Great video I was looking at the Analog relax anti static brush wow £89

[CostaAzul]

the spindle must be ESD dissipative to remove de static, other wise the only way is ionize the spindle

[cyberswarup]

Somebody told me to use a carbon fiber brush with a barefoot. That will transfer the static through my body to the floor. But I have not tested by the paper trick though.

[coenheydenrych]

don't you think you should not touch the record with your bare hands? you're reintroducing static again!

[stingray]

Die Bürste muss die Borsten und den Griff in Metall haben sonst geht nix ... Antistatikbürsten mit Kunststoff oder Holzgriff haben keine Wirkung. Ich hab mir für meine Plattenwaschmaschine einen extra Arm gebaut ... etwas "Profi" Material ist noch übrig
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