LAST Record Brush Single

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Replacement Brush for LAST stylus cleaner .
Shock Waves the Major Cause of Record Wear

The major cause of record wear/damage is "shock-wave fracturing" . A pressure wave is produced by the phono stylus (needle) as it passes through the record groove. Rapidly moving pressure waves radiate from the two areas of stylus contact on the groove wall. These pressure waves travel ahead of the stylus as it moves along the groove in the same way as a bow wave moves ahead of a boat.

When the pressure wave encounters a microcrack, flaws in the vinyl, or other surface imperfections, the energy builds up, forming a shock wave that can exceed the cohesive forces holding the surface together. When this happens, cracks occur in the vinyl and fragments can be blown off the groove wall. This kind of damage can occur on the very first play, and will increase exponentially as a function of both the number of plays and stylus loading.
Dirt is Still a Problem

Although a new record may look clean on the surface, it is not. Every new record has surface residues and record-pressing compounds left over from the manufacturing process.

From the moment a record is removed from its cover, dust particles in the air are electrostatically attracted to the record surface. Also, normal handling of records can add debris, fingerprint oils, salts and residues.

These surface contaminants are additional sources of wear. Dirt can be picked up by the leading edge of the stylus and dragged along, scraping a gouge in the groove wall. Alternately, the stylus can pound dirt into the vinyl where it becomes the center of a new shock-wave damage site.

Protect and Preserve your Records for Long Life

Your new records can be completely protected from wear damage. Further damage to your previously played records can be stopped. Shock-waves are the primary cause of record wear. Dirt and friction exacerbate the problem. Even new, clean records are subject to shock-wave damage.

LAST's scientists have discovered how you can protect your records from the damage caused by shock-waves, dirt, and friction
Four Steps You Can Take to Protect your Valuable Records from Wear
1. Clean the Record Surface

First Time Cleaning The record manufacturing process leaves behind pressing residues and contaminants on the record surface.These sticky residues are tightly bound to the groove wall and attract and hold dirt and debris. Furthermore, they build up on the stylus as the stylus traverses the groove wall creating noise, distortion, and damage from wear. The usual water or water/alcohol mix record cleaner cannot remove these tightly bound contaminants and residues.

LAST Power Cleaner is specifically designed to remove pressing residues and contaminants left over from the manufacturing process. Just one cleaning with LAST Power Cleaner results in a record surface that is pristinely clean.

Maintenance Cleaning Routine maintenance cleaning prevents abrasion damage that is caused when dirt and debris that have collected on the on the record surface are dragged against the groove wall by the stylus.

LAST All Purpose Record Cleaner is is the most advanced everyday record cleaning solution avialable. It is an economical and highly effective way for general purpose cleaning operations.

Or use LAST Record Cleaning Maching (RCM) Fluid with vacuum operated record cleaning machines.
2. Preserve and Protect Against Shock-Wave Damage

Once you have a clean record, you can totally protect it from the effects of stylus caused shock-wave damage by applying LAST Record Preservative.

LAST Record Preservative chemically enhances the molecular stability, and therefore the cohesiveness of the groove surface so that it completely resists the effects of stylus shock waves. The 30-second treatment affects the vinyl to a depth of about ten molecular layers and becomes part of the grove wall. There are no surface re