Cleaning Vinyl

Discussion in 'Music and Recordings (vinyl , 8-track, etc.)' started by JK47, Sep 29, 2015.

  1. bixby

    bixby Friend

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    Last Factory cleaner and preservative back in the day
     
  2. PoochZag

    PoochZag The Shadow knows - Friend

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    Got a Spin-Clean yesterday, and did my entire collection, which is 28 "vinyl discs" (18 albums but 10 are double LP's). It took me 2.5 hours, which wasn't as bad as I thought. The rate limiting step was definitely drying, if I had more microfiber towels than the two included plus two small ones I had around the house, probably could have done it in 1.5 hours. Put everything into new MoFi sleeves.

    I have no experience with fancier methods, but would recommend as a cheap solution for someone diving into all of this like myself. Before/after thoughts are tough as I just switched out a lot of vinyl components, but background does sound a bit quieter.
     
  3. Johnman1116

    Johnman1116 New

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    I had heard of this before but saw it again recently;
    what are people thoughts on using wood glue to clean records?

    seems pretty objective to me :)

     
  4. OJneg

    OJneg The Most Insufferable

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    It works really well for stuff that's really mucked up
     
  5. abernardi

    abernardi Friend

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  6. Wfojas

    Wfojas Friend

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    I've done the wood glue thing too. I once made the mistake of putting a record cleaning bonding agent that was supposed to peel off in one piece, but it left residue. Wood glue took them all out. I don't know if it leached the vinyl formulation though. And I must really care about the vinyl to do this again.
     
  7. JK47

    JK47 Guest

    Here's another budget rotisserie add on for an ultrasonic cleaner, with single record and multiple record models, as well as a dryer attachment.

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  8. Chris F

    Chris F Boyz 4 Now Fanatic - Friend

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    It seems nicely made but I don't think it will work well.

    My understanding is that for best cavitation/cleaning you need to have a distance between the records at least equal to the wavelength. About 1.4" (3.6cm) for 40Khz and half that for 80Khz.
     
  9. Joseph_P_Brenner

    Joseph_P_Brenner New

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    I actually just bought the CleanerVinyl Pro, but am wondering if I should have bought the Vinyl Stack ULTRA Sonic Spin Kit instead. Let's consider the advantages and disadvantages between the two:


    _________________________________________________


    CleanerVinyl Pro

    Advantages
    • 12-month warranty
    • Weight distributed on two resting points
    • Tiny enough to store in the ultrasonic tank itself
    Disadvantages
    • Fixed RPM (looks like the RPM is too high; is there a DIY solution to make it adjustable?)
    • Record label is not protected
    • Stuck with 6L tankincompatible with larger tanks
    Vinyl Stack ULTRA Sonic Spin Kit

    Advantages
    • Adjustable RPM
    • Record label is protected
    • Compatible with tanks 6L and larger
    Disadvantages
    • 6-month warranty
    • Weight distributed on only one point—the motor end—causing much more stress on motor
    • Massive so takes up a lot of space
    _________________________________________________


    The CleanerVinyl Pro's one disadvantage may be a deal breaker because the RPM may be too high. Is there a DIY solution to make it adjustable? For example, would somehow lowering the power accomplish this?
     
    Last edited: Oct 22, 2016
  10. Joseph_P_Brenner

    Joseph_P_Brenner New

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    So I've been communicating with both CleanerVinyl and Vinyl Stack. Here's what the latter had to say about their shorter warranty and their motor potentially prematurely wearing out:
    As such, I've updated my above list of advantages and disadvantages for the CleanerVinyl and Vinyl Stack systems. For me, the Vinyl Stack system will provide more value. While the smaller footprint of the CleanerVinyl system is great in that you can store it in the ultrasonic tank itself, its disadvantages are deal breakers.

    P.S. I responded back as follows:
     
    Last edited: Oct 22, 2016
  11. Thad E Ginathom

    Thad E Ginathom Friend

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    I don't know about those carbon-fibre brushes, but I doubt that they have either the reach or the pick-up power of microfibre.
     
  12. Wfojas

    Wfojas Friend

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    Just curious, do you use the microfibers dry? I use them exactly as @Franco72 describes, well sorta.
     
  13. Divad al-Rahsir

    Divad al-Rahsir Facebook Friend

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    This one has saved a few of my Goodwill rescues. The entire process takes a few days though. I wouldn't personally bother with it unless nothing else was working, and then only as a last resort.
     
  14. gaspasser

    gaspasser Flatulence Maestro

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    @Merrick is a genius! Thanks, man, this is exactly what I am looking for. Why pay for a built-in vacuum when you can use your own? I am ordering one direct from him so hopefully a little cheaper without eBay fees for the seller.
     
  15. gaspasser

    gaspasser Flatulence Maestro

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    I would like to get an idea of what record cleaning solutions you folks are using? I am going to do wet and vac dry. I read though and see Homebrew (photoflo, dishwashing detergent, isopropyl alcholol, distilled water); L'Art Du Son; DiscDoctor; etc.

    I am leaning towards homebrew because of my geeky sciencey predilections...

    Edit: any suggested ratios for homebrew?
     
  16. Wfojas

    Wfojas Friend

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    @Gaspasser I see flavors of the moment for vinyl cleaning, and this is the latest. Very thorough, but I do shy away from mixing alcohol and vinyl, both for imbibing and cleaning. Once you've lunched a pricey cart that way, you sober up fast.

    http://positive-feedback.com/audio-discourse/rushton-paul-diy-approach-ultrasonic-cleaning-lps/

    and the anti dish wash soap thread

    http://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/record-cleaning-youre-doing-it-wrong.689430/

    If I was gonna have a lost weekend, make it due to overly long vinyl store crawls.

    Also, remember that dirty records mean your stylus has to drag through them, and the costlier the cart the higher the cost. Marv (I think) hit it on the head, its like car payments, you chose how much you want to pay per mile, and clean vinyl is like changing oil every 7.5 K synthetic.
     
    Last edited: Nov 27, 2016
  17. Wfojas

    Wfojas Friend

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    You know how you clean records for play? If you're like me you zap it with a Milty Zerostat, drag a carbon fiber brush, and then zap it again. But if you look closely you'll see dirt lined up, and you vainly try to lift it. Well, this is for that, I think.

    http://www.analogplanet.com/content/groove-record-cleaning-roller#pCCQmRMssLZBztKP.97

    I haven't tried this, so proceed with caution if you do. Mikey Fremer does get some stuff wrong, though, so YMMV.
     
    Last edited: Nov 22, 2016
  18. bazelio

    bazelio Friend

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    Yeah, this seems like a valid point. The idea of multi cleaning is appealing, but I'm not sure this one would work either...
     
  19. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

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    He didn't get this one wrong. I've had one for years and use it on every record before it plays. It's great, I prefer it over brushes.
     
  20. bazelio

    bazelio Friend

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    So this guy seems to use a brush, followed up by this thing. But you avoid the brush altogether, eh? Cool, cool. I'm just picking tips as I go....
     

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