why do we clean stylus with acetone?

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tragwag
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why do we clean stylus with acetone?

Post: # 44464Unread post tragwag
Sat Oct 22, 2016 12:11 pm

I haven't come across a scientific discussion about why we clean sapphire/ruby stylus with acetone.
Is acetone chosen for it's effect on the stone, or it's effect on any built up lacquer pieces?
from what I gather from tradition, acetone melts small pieces of lacquer, and retains a clean stylus face for cutting.

Now in the case of diamond stylus cutting plastic, we don't use acetone, it's some other substance.
Is this because of the diamond itself? or do we need something else to melt the plastic pieces?

would it be useful to use acetone on a sapphire stylus that just embosses plastic?

just some thoughts
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The Shank
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Re: why do we clean stylus with acetone?

Post: # 44465Unread post The Shank
Sat Oct 22, 2016 12:39 pm

I clean all diamonds with acetone...

Acetone will erase the glue of the heating wire, also, I propose an other product that clean plastic on stylus but doesn't attack the heating wire glue...

Nothing esoteric here :)
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Soulbear
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Re: why do we clean stylus with acetone?

Post: # 44466Unread post Soulbear
Sat Oct 22, 2016 1:06 pm

Hi Tragwag,
tragwag wrote:Now in the case of diamond stylus cutting plastic, we don't use acetone, it's some other substance.
The Shank wrote:I clean all diamonds with acetone...
At 18mins 15 sec here in Todds "Plastic Cutting Guide" :- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dGU79-1DYM
He too mentions "Plastic Chip" and its removal from the Diamond with Acetone. I think if both Myshank and Opcode endorse the use of Acetone for cleaning Diamond Styli, then I think it's a given that it should be OK, or am I missing something???
Regards :wink: :P :D Soulbear

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The Shank
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Re: why do we clean stylus with acetone?

Post: # 44475Unread post The Shank
Sun Oct 23, 2016 3:33 am

You read everything? I speak about diamonds... I'm not saying stylus.

Btw I'm not selling the same products than Opcode.
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tragwag
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Re: why do we clean stylus with acetone?

Post: # 44490Unread post tragwag
Mon Oct 24, 2016 1:47 pm

definitely not trying to question the practice, or the products that folks are selling.
just a little curious about the science.

I guess my main question is, does the acetone clean the stone? or dissolve the debris?
is there a difference?
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The Shank
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Re: why do we clean stylus with acetone?

Post: # 44495Unread post The Shank
Mon Oct 24, 2016 5:50 pm

tragwag wrote:definitely not trying to question the practice, or the products that folks are selling.
just a little curious about the science.

I guess my main question is, does the acetone clean the stone? or dissolve the debris?
is there a difference?

both ;)
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Snug Music
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Re: why do we clean stylus with acetone?

Post: # 44719Unread post Snug Music
Fri Nov 11, 2016 5:51 pm

Hey Steven,...

So acetone does not attack the diamond! Correct? So you can still clean the diamond with acetone and be careful not to touch the heating wires! Did I understand that correctly?

Greeting Scotty :wink:
I'm still not a professional, but I learn pretty fast. especially with my eyes and ears!

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emorritt
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Re: why do we clean stylus with acetone?

Post: # 44729Unread post emorritt
Sat Nov 12, 2016 8:57 am

Most chemicals won't harm hard jewels, genuine or synthetic; they're too hard. The reason acetone is used to clean cutting styli and advance balls is that the material lacquers are coated with is essentially nail polish. If you buy a bottle of nail polish remover, you're buying acetone. It quickly and effectively removes any lacquer residue stuck to a cutting stylus or advance ball (which helps prevent advance ball scoring). Acetone will also dissolve polycarbonate and PVC, but not as quickly as they are harder materials. Primarily, acetone is used in removing markings and bar codes from PVC pipe, which the brief exposure won't harm the pipe.

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Snug Music
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Re: why do we clean stylus with acetone?

Post: # 44737Unread post Snug Music
Sat Nov 12, 2016 3:04 pm

Thx...

Well, then I'm on the right side! Hihii ... I'm perhaps a bit too careful about cleaning the diamond! I always stand against masses (statics!) And also I go with the diamond carefully! Hehee, .. my cuts also sound good accordingly! 8)
Thank you ... Greeting Scotty :wink:
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opcode66
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Re: why do we clean stylus with acetone?

Post: # 44741Unread post opcode66
Sat Nov 12, 2016 11:14 pm

I use acetone. 100% pure.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Klean-Strip-1-gal-Acetone-GAC18/100141096
aa196b05-2d47-407d-9cf0-51696f97e155_1000.jpg
More importantly, I have stopped using Q-Tips to clean any stylus (diamond or sapphire). They are too rough on the polished surfaces. I now strictly use Pith Wood. Trust me, make the change. You'll notice a difference in your groove walls. They will stay cleaner longer. It is the same thing jewelers use to clean the tips of their tools. It is actually interesting how many of the tools and methods used by jewelers were appropriated by cutterhead manufacturers, be it precision (and miniature) grinding, forming or machining.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pithwood-Discs-for-Cleaning-Tweezers-Oil-Pins-Screwdriver-Blades-Wheel-Pinions-/272272113729?hash=item3f64aec041:g:YnEAAMXQ83xSG~az
s-l500.jpg
Apply a small amount of acetone to the Pith Wood button. Plunge the stylus tip into the Pitch Wood button in the area with acetone gently and only deep enough to submerge the stone tip of the cutting stylus. Do not push the Pith Wood button into the stylus hard. It will sink in easier than you may expect. Do this once or twice. When you can plunge the stylus into the Pith Wood button, remove it, and you do not see any discoloring from the lacquer or plastic chips then you know the tip is cleaned thoroughly.

Hope this helps.
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The Shank
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Re: why do we clean stylus with acetone?

Post: # 44743Unread post The Shank
Sun Nov 13, 2016 4:27 am

opcode66 wrote: I have stopped using Q-Tips to clean any stylus (diamond or sapphire). They are too rough on the polished surfaces.
Absolutely no damage can't be done with a Q-tip on a polished diamond surface. IT'S IMPOSSIBLE.
Using Q-tip reduce drastically the risk to damage a cutting edge.

Test done with electron microscope up to 7000X ( yes 7000), Nomarski to 1000X, and polarized mode same magnificence.
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Phinster
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Re: why do we clean stylus with acetone?

Post: # 44744Unread post Phinster
Sun Nov 13, 2016 6:42 am

acetone/mek 50/50 cotton bud, no problem!

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emorritt
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Re: why do we clean stylus with acetone?

Post: # 44745Unread post emorritt
Sun Nov 13, 2016 9:08 am

I agree with Todd about the pithwood. That's all I use. Any material - cotton or otherwise - will leave "hairs" (you can see them under a microscope) and while they probably won't seriously affect groove formation there is a possibility of some sort of malformation if they somehow get "run over" or otherwise collide with something (stylus or groove) during cutting. Probably not an issue with dubs or plastic discs, but for a lacquer master you want everything as clean as possible.

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