Flux HiFi Ultrasonic Stylus Cleaner

Discussion in 'Vinyl Nutjob World: Turntable and Related Gear' started by luckybaer, Jan 18, 2023.

  1. luckybaer

    luckybaer Friend

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    Stuff to buy and prepping for cleaning:
    01. Purchase vacuum-style wet/vac cleaner with one vacuum nozzle for sucking up the cleaning solution and another for sucking up the rinse water.
    02. Goats' hair brushes to spread/clean cleaning solution and rinse solution (one brush for cleaning solution, one for rinse water)
    03. Distilled water - found at most grocery stores.
    04. Squirt bottles - like the ones found at hot dog stands containing ketchup or mustard (get clear ones, and if buying used from hot dog stand, clean thoroughly).
    05. Tergiclean for the cleaning solution (10 drops or so to a gallon of distilled water).
    06. Fill one squirt bottle with cleaning solution. Fill a second with distilled water for rinsing.

    An attempt at describing my workflow:
    07. Put record on cleaning machine and start the rotation.
    08. Squirt cleaner on the record.
    09. Use brush to gently work fluid into the record while it rotates on the cleaner. I usually go about 5-10 revolutions.
    10. If record cleaner rotates both clockwise and counter-clockwise, use that function to work cleaning solution in both directions.
    11. Vacuum cleaning solution off.
    12. Swap out nozzles (nozzle for cleaning swapped for nozzle for rinse).
    13. Repeat 08-11, but instead of using cleaning solution, use distilled water.
    14. Flip record and repeat the process 08-13.
    15. Record won't usually have any moisture remaining, but if it does, let it air dry. If the moisture is on the edge of the lp, but not in grooves, you can use a microfiber cloth - sometimes I do this while it rotates on the cleaning machine.
    16. Whether the record came from a crate dive, a reputable used record shop, a great seller on Discogs, or was purchased brand new, I always put the clean record in a new MoFi inner sleeve.

    Lots of ways to keep the stylus clean (not recommending anything):
    01. Carbon fiber brush each record side prior to playing.
    02. Use brush to clean stylus between sides.
    03. Another possibility is Onzow ZeroDust, which I use with good results. It is important to clean the Onzow with water and soap from time to time to keep it clean. I like to use the brush before each side and the Onzow after I've finished with the record. Note: Lightly tap the stylus on the Onzow, don't shove it into the gel. <-- seems obvious, but you never know.
    04. Some folks swear by using a brush with a little special cleaning fluid applied to the brush to clean the stylus. I do this from time to time.
    05. I did some research and purchased an ultrasonic stylus cleaner. We'll see how that goes.
    06. I also purchased in inexpensive USB microscope so I can actually see the crap that may/may not accumulate on my stylus. I don't want to take any of the methods above as being effective on blind faith alone.

    I purchased a Flux HiFi Sonic stylus cleaner and it arrived today. There is a similar sounding product from Hudson HiFi at about 1/3 the cost, but my nervosa got the best of me and I spent on the higher-priced product. One thing that did impress me was an article on Analog Planet where the article's author used the Flux HiFi on a Lyra Atlas with good results. The unit also vibrates at a lower frequency than earlier units - supposedly safer than higher frequency vibration.

    I took the unit out of the box, put in 2xAAA batteries, and wandered over to my set-ups to fiddle around. I didn't have any encrusted styli to do before and after comparisons, unfortunately. Under a microscope, the worst I had was one or two lint strands stuck to the stylus. I didn't bother taking a snapshot of the fuzz, but I was curious to see if the Flux HiFi could get rid of the fuzz.

    I tried it on my Soundsmith Otello, since it was the unfortunate cart to be burdened with unwanted fuzz. I placed the Flux HiFi on the platter of my SL-1210GR, added a drop of the included cleaning fluid (it has an interesting odor - somewhat cloying, not very alcohol smelling at all, so I have no clue what the ingredients are), and carefully lowered the tonearm + cart onto the little cleaning area. I pushed the start button and let it run for 15-20 seconds. I detached the cart, stuck it under the cheap USB microscope, and noticed all the fuzz was gone. It doesn't do anything for the lint on top of the cantilever, though. I may need to get at that with a stylus brush - or, better yet, say "f**k it. That shit won't touch the record anyway." Yeah... that's what I'll do. Here's a picture of the Otello stylus:

    [​IMG]

    I'm satisfied with the cleanliness of the stylus - although I'm taken aback by the fact that the stylus looks less like a diamond and more like the tip of a small metal nail.

    I also cleaned the stylus of my Audio Technica VM750SH. The unit cleaned it safely and didn't tear off the Shibata stylus. haha... only funny until a stylus or cantilever breaks, but I think the risk of that happening is extremely low, unless I try this drunk or stoned.

    [​IMG]

    I'm not too anal about much in my system, but I am pretty serious about keeping my records and styli clean. I put my cleaning process, etc. up above - hidden in that clever "Spoiler" function of this forum.

    One thing I wish the Flux HiFi did have was a cover for the cleaning brush/area on the unit. Since I am - a little, anyway - anal about keeping record-related stuff clean, I fret about dust gathering on the unit. So, until I come up with a more elegant solution, I toss the unit back into the nice magnetic sealing box it came with. It sits on top of my Singxer SU-6 for now.

    I also was reminded why I like my SL-1210GR a lot more than my KD-2070. Outside of the fact that the SL-1210GR is just a better turntable, I have to unplug the KD-2070 in order to use the Flux HiFi cleaner. With the KD-2070, I have to turn it on to cue up a record and to lower the tonearm. Naturally, that sets the platter spinning - making it impossible to use the Flux HiFi cleaner while the unit is plugged in.

    I thought it might be easier to just take the headshell off the KD-2070 and put it on the SL-1210-GR, but then I'd have to futz around with tracking weight, etc. in order to get the tonearm to sit on the cleaning pad and not poke up towards the ceiling because I didn't adjust the tonearm weight. heeeeeh... #firstworldproblems baby!!

    Anyway, I think this Flux HiFi ultransonic cleaner is a luxury. I think one can get just as good results using one of those brush and cleaning fluid systems - unless the ultrasonic cleaner does a better job of getting sticky crud off the the stylus. If I made it a habit of using my stylus as part of my record cleaning process (i.e. spraying cleaner on the record, running a black linty brush over it, and playing the record to let the stylus dig all the shit that stupid brush/pad left in all the grooves), this thing would be indispensable. As it is, I don't really need it, but I do like it. It is very convenient, and seems to do a good job. It is easier than the brush/cleaning fluid system, and just as safe if not safer.
     
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  2. shotgunshane

    shotgunshane Floridian Falcon

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    Did you consider a Humminguru S-Duo ultrasonic stylus cleaner before buying the Flux HiFi? The Humminguru is supposed to be a true ultrasonic bath stylus cleaner, versus a mechanical vibration cleaner of the Flux HiFi Flux-Sonic.
     
  3. luckybaer

    luckybaer Friend

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    I did not know the Humminguru had a stylus cleaning product! I had only heard of their record cleaner.

    Sadly, I have no need for the S-Duo at this point. It looks like a good product, and since when has “need” determined everything in this hobby?
     
  4. luckybaer

    luckybaer Friend

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    I've lived with the Flux HiFi for about a month now, and I find I only use it with my SL-1210GR (see original post for an explanation). It does a good job, but if you have a nice gentle brush and fluid system that does the job for you, you really don't need this.

    I've cleaned styli that had sticky crud on it from the Onzow ZeroDust along with fuzz and other crap. The brush and fluid method does just as good a job, and it also gets the crap that can accumulate up the cantilever from the stylus.

    The Flux HiFi is a fun tool, but by no means necessary.
     

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