I have a theory that my records get destroyed easily during winter due to the dry air situation. I live in the far north where the relative humidity indoors is usually only a few % in winter. The rotating platter(on my AR-XA) causes static buildup on the cartidge which then zaps right thru the vinyl and creates a hole in the record. The end result being 'pops' in the vinyl over time. This is not good. Anybody have any comments on my theory and how to prevent it? My records all have pops coming out of them because of this. Is there any way to add a ground wire to the cartridge?

Gee, I hope your house isn't carpeted!

Seriously, how about using a humidifier? Not only would your records do better, but also you and your family would benefit.

I would be interested to know if this is causing visible physical damage.

Doug

The rotating platter(on my AR-XA) causes static buildup on the cartidge which then zaps right thru the vinyl and creates a hole in the record. Wait...what?!?!? "Holes"?!?!? Static doesn't cause holes.

Just get a Zerostat Antistatic gun. "Shoot" your record before play it.

You should also make sure your record is clean -- the real problem with static is that it makes it harder to clean (the static holds it in the groove).

. . . Seriously, how about using a humidifier? . . .

Seriously! You can turn it off while listening if it is noisey. There are ultrasonics that make no noise. But buy one by all means!!!! :thmbsp: :thmbsp: :thmbsp: :thmbsp:

I let the wife put a couple of house plants near the TT (not too close), It helped tremendously, and made her happy :thmbsp:

It is really difficult getting enough humidity into the air up here. Anyone living in the south would not understand. To get proper humidity would cause all kinds of other problems. EG, I have a 'non-vented' gas fireplace I used for 5 years to heat my entire cabin. No chimney-no smoke-no fumes, lots of moisture. One day in March, after a very cold winter, I notice it's raining inside on me. Water is dripping out of the ceiling-a lot of water. Turns out I had an ice dam build up inside the attic all winter due to condensation. Then all that ice turned to water. So-the humidifier thing is not the answer here.
I alays clean the record before playing. The static buildup is due to the rotating platter gettting a static charge from the needle.

I think you may have some grounding issues...
Kris

Heck yeah run some wires around to kill off potential buildups.

A member on Vinyl Asylum who lives in dry Arizona suggested this solution for static. It's an anti-static spray called Gruv-Glide which can be purchased on ebay or online for around $30 and comes in a kit with applicators. Being cheap, my method is the same but it uses a product called Static Guard which is the same as Gruv-Glide, but costs only a few dollars. While you're at the drugstore or multi-store pick up a can of Static Guard in the cleaning supplies section and a couple of powder puffs from the make-up section.

The procedure is best done with an already cleaned record. Spray some SG onto a powder puff and then rub the two puffs together to lessen the amount and distribute evenly. Then run the puff over each side of the record for a few revolutions on the turntable. That's all there is to it. No more static, and all you'll ever have to do after that is to use a carbon fiber brush before each play. It doesn't appear to leave a residue and does not affect the record sonically. Here in the east it's humid in the summer, but very dry in the winter and this works wonders for me. Has really quieted down the vinyl.

Ditto, hakaplan. And Static Guard says it leaves no residue. Ground all your equipment. An antistatic turntable mat will work IF your spindle is metal or if it is somehow in contact with metal that is grounded. Check to make sure that your tone arm is grounded along with the platter. They must be at the same potential or you will get static discharge. Also I've never seen a static discharge burn a hole in a record and if it did, I wouldn't want to be anywhere near that while carrying a flamable substance, :no: such as record cleaner.

Anyone try to mix some in with the cleaning solution?

Anyone try to mix some in with the cleaning solution?
It's an aerosol dispenser, and the substance is highly evaporative. I don't think you COULD mix it into a cleaning solution.

How about using a fabric softener sheet and rubbing that lightly on the record? Anybody ever try that?