wjm@whuxk.UUCP (12/17/83)
I thoroughly agree with Greg Rogers @ Tek's comments about keeping the dust cover down while playing records. The electrostatic force upward can not only exacerbate feedback problems, but can also cause mistracking (since it lowers the effective vertical tracking force) that can damage your records. Bill Mitchell (whuxk!wjm) Bell Laboratories (CSO after 1/1/84 Whippany, NJ
dmmartindale@watrose.UUCP (Dave Martindale) (12/18/83)
Aren't there any antistatic coatings available for Plexiglas? What did people do in the days of analog voltmeters, where a static charge on the plastic meter face would produce an inaccurate reading (and the meter needle is much closer to the meter's face than a tonearm is to the dust cover!). I remember seeing advice about applying a coating of dishwashing detergent to eliminate static in meters; surely there are chemicals specifically intended for this around? Could they also not be used on dust covers?
spoo@utcsrgv.UUCP (Suk Lee) (12/19/83)
In the "good old days" (I wasn't there), static buildup on voltmeter
faces was avoided by coating the surface with a *THIN* film of
liquid detergent and letting it air-dry.
More easily, there are various anti-static sprays meant for records
that work just as well on plexiglass covers.
From the pooped paws of:
Suk Lee
..!{decvax,linus,allegra}!utzoo!utcsrgv!spoosaf@floyd.UUCP (Steve Falco) (12/20/83)
The great dust cover debate is back on the net. As I recall, we did this a year or so ago but "oh well"..... There is a company called "Old Colony Sound Lab", box 243, Peterborough, NH, 03458 (phone (603) 924-6526) which distributes (among many other useful products), something called KM-9S De-static liquid. This is a concentrated anti-static chemical that is to be added to a 50-50 mix of isopropanol and distilled water. (About 1/2 teaspoon per 500ml - hows that for mixed units...) Anyway, the stuff was mainly intended for application on records to prevent static attraction of dust but it can alco be applied successfully to DUST COVERS. If you want to try this, I recommend first applying a small drop to an inconspicuous part of the cover to make sure it is safe - i.e. doesn't fog or disolve the plastic. Once you have assured yourself that you won't botch the cover, simply use a perfume atomizer (dept. store item) to mist both sides of the cover. If you apply a fine enough layer it will be invisible. Too heavy and it may look spotty. BTW, do this with the cover removed and on a towel or something. Don't use newspaper because the ink will likely stain the cover. (Alcohol - remember?) I have sprayed my Technics dust cover and it works quite well. When one considers the amount of dust which falls on a record surface in 20 minutes, the dust cover is absolutely essential. Steve Falco BTL WH, NJ (201) 386-4865
filed01@abnjh.UUCP (H. Silbiger) (12/21/83)
I always keep my dustcover down while playing records. I have a Denon servo controlled arm, not affected by electrostatic upward forces. HRSilbiger AT&T-IS Morristown