The wood glue thread has me curious... What do you guys use to clean your records? I use a Spin Clean with my own home-grown solution and it's been very functional, but a couple times I've had records it couldn't clean. Is there a better solution that isn't thousands of dollars than a Spin Clean?
I use a drop of Palmolive original detergent in a lot of water, followed by a rinse under the running faucet. If it is a premium LP I follow with deionized water rinse. Not the detergent with the lye, which was the formula of Dawn and now one variety of Palmolive. My LPs weren't very dirty, I always put them away before a day or two.
I've bought a few used LPs that were stored in wet conditions and the cardboard sleeve molded. These require more strong solution plus some scrubbing with a soft brush.
I've bought a few used LPs that were stored in wet conditions and the cardboard sleeve molded. These require more strong solution plus some scrubbing with a soft brush.
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Mine aren't necessarily dirty, vut I clean every record before I play them. But every now and then I'll pick up a used record that needs help.
I use an orbitrac for scrub and rinse then a vac to dry. Generally if that doesn't shift the noise then the record is a wetplay only candidate.
The nonsense about using wood glue has been around for decades on the internet.
It's just another "fad" dreamed up and spread by goofy people with too much time on their hands.
Anybody using that on records is a nutcase, and doesn't care about their records.
For safely removing dirt on records I use a solution of 10 parts distilled water, 1 part denatured alcohol, and a drop or two of Dawn detergent.
I mix it in a spray bottle, cover the record label, and use it on my home-made record cleaning machine.
a soft camel hair brush in the grooves as its spinning, then use a vacuum nozzle to suck it all up and dry the record.
There is no real need to clean records before playing them, that's obsessive behavior, and accelerates the removal of the built-in vinyl additives from the factory that help protect the records from mold.
In fact, some of my older records are in beautiful condition since they're always kept in their jackets.
They only get a "dry" vacuuming on rare occasions.
It's just another "fad" dreamed up and spread by goofy people with too much time on their hands.
Anybody using that on records is a nutcase, and doesn't care about their records.
For safely removing dirt on records I use a solution of 10 parts distilled water, 1 part denatured alcohol, and a drop or two of Dawn detergent.
I mix it in a spray bottle, cover the record label, and use it on my home-made record cleaning machine.
a soft camel hair brush in the grooves as its spinning, then use a vacuum nozzle to suck it all up and dry the record.
There is no real need to clean records before playing them, that's obsessive behavior, and accelerates the removal of the built-in vinyl additives from the factory that help protect the records from mold.
In fact, some of my older records are in beautiful condition since they're always kept in their jackets.
They only get a "dry" vacuuming on rare occasions.
which isn't how vinyl works. If you leach additives from the surface they are replenished from the bulk material.
Moth vacuum record cleaning machine for the really dirty second hand stuff, ultrasonic for LPs that've not received cruel and unusual punishment.
The Moth is decades old and was going to be sold when I got the UC. But I found that there are some things (finger smudges) that ultrasonic cleaning struggles to remove and the Moth has stayed put.
The Moth is decades old and was going to be sold when I got the UC. But I found that there are some things (finger smudges) that ultrasonic cleaning struggles to remove and the Moth has stayed put.
Harsh. You can see why it might be tried though, but it isn't practical IMO and is risky too.
I can't speak much for new vinyl, but of the 1k+ LPs from the 60's-80s I have, those I purchased new that have surface noise were delivered pre-damaged and no amount of cleaning is going to make up for the poor pressings or the recycled vinyl used to press them.
Not "harsh" in my opinion.
I state things as I see them, tell it like it is, and don't mince my words.
I'm not one to 'walk on eggshells' in some stupid effort to avoid offending delicate minds.
Regardless of the acrimony in your statement, what you said simply is not true. You obviously have your opinions about what you should and should not use, but for you to make the statement that it's "nonsense" and a fad is pretty ridiculous. I have almost 400 records and I'm very good about cleaning them, and I've actually used "the wood glue" hack on 2 of my records that were otherwise bound for the trash, and it worked fantastically. I'm perfectly willing to debate whether or not it was worth it, but to make the statement that it's "nonsense" obviously shows your lack of knowledge. Even Discogs stated that it works amazingly well, but they debate whether or not it's worth the effort...
https://www.discogs.com/digs/gear/vinyl-record-cleaner-side-by-side-test/
For the record (pun intended), your method for cleaning records is not a very good one. It'll remove light contaminants but won't deep clean a dirty record. If you want to pitch a record because you feel nothing beyond water/alcohol/soap is a worthwhile option, that's fine, but don't make ignorant statements about methods being nonsense when you obviously don't know.
Also want to add that you're completely wrong about not cleaning new records, you should clean a new record.
LPs where I am the 1st owner don't need any cleaning. I just sweep the dust that settles on them while playing with a carbon fibre brush.
I clean used records under the faucet with mild detergent and lukewarm water. Then soak up the water with kitchen paper towel. Then use the carbon fibre brush before playing.
I am planning to build an ultrasonic cleaner, I already have the parts for it.
I clean used records under the faucet with mild detergent and lukewarm water. Then soak up the water with kitchen paper towel. Then use the carbon fibre brush before playing.
I am planning to build an ultrasonic cleaner, I already have the parts for it.
I have always been careful with my LPs, the first of which I bought in 1961.
It, and all subsequent purchases, have required no more than the gentle caress of a Watts Manual Parastat.
These are no longer made, but occasionally come up at auction.
I also have a Watts Hi-Fi Model Parastat which comprises only a nylon brush, but one with much finer bristles than the Manual Parastat's - see attachment.
https://www.vinylengine.com/library/cecil-e-watts/manual-parastat.shtml
Thankfully, I have no need, or desire, to clean dirty records! 🙂
Attachments
For a new record it depends on the pressing. For example, I see no need to clean most (if any) of the MoFi records I get, but I recently purchased this Police Greatest Hits record and it needed to be cleaned because it had too much residue on it.
Also, regarding new record cleaning, I have had fibers of vinyl in the solution I use to clean my records after cleaning a new record. That must be residual from cutting the new vinyl, and I imagine that wouldn't be good for a needle, which also is a promotion for cleaning new records. Again, I don't clean all my new records unless I see (or hear) an obvious issue, but I do clean new records on occasion.
Also, when I get a new (or used) record, I put the cardboard record jacket in a poly sleeve, then put the record in either a Diskeeper or a MoFi record sleeve. The paper record sleeves (even the ones lined with polyethylene liners) always have paper residue on the record when I take them out of the sleeve. Using the Diskeeper or MoFi jackets eliminates that problem.
Also, when I get a new (or used) record, I put the cardboard record jacket in a poly sleeve, then put the record in either a Diskeeper or a MoFi record sleeve. The paper record sleeves (even the ones lined with polyethylene liners) always have paper residue on the record when I take them out of the sleeve. Using the Diskeeper or MoFi jackets eliminates that problem.
Being 69 now, and having bought and used records since I was 15 in junior hgh school, and also being a long-time service shop technician in audio, I doubt that I'm "ignorant" of things.
I also doubt that I have a "lack of knowlege" as you seem to think.
I also don't rely on places online such as that Discogs site, as so many people might.
As far as ignorance, you've shown your side of that.
Push on... I've got better things to worry about besides arguing over stupid stuff.
First off, those carbon fiber brushes tend to leave minute scratches and break off bits of bristles.
Better to use a velvet fiber brush/roller.
And using tap water is also bad, because of chemicals and calcium in the water are not pure enough as distilled water is.
But do as you please.
Good debate, way to back your claims 🤔. "I'm older than you, I have records" is a fantastic rebuttal 👍
Until 2016 on my VPI HW-17 - I used VPI fluid cut 50% with distilled water for initial clean, and in some rare cases 2nd time was with distilled only. Zerostats and carbon fiber brushed did the rest.
A Spin Clean actually gives great results for around $60. I make my own solution using 1 part isopropyl alcohol to 2 parts distilled water, then a splash of jet dry. I'll clean them using that solution in the Spin Clean, then lay the wet record on a microfiber towel, wipe one side dry, flip, then wipe the other side using a different microfiber towel. You need to be cautious about the center label because it tends to run down and if you leave the water on a paper label it'll leave a mark on it. Works great most of the time, not too abrasive but still functional, but I have had a couple it wouldn't clean.
I was curious if anyone here had a cost effective, fancy record cleaning machine that possibly worked better than a spin clean.