[net.audio] To Dust or Not To Dust

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!spoo

saf@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