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Cleaning vinyl - am I using this thing right???

I have owned a VPI 16.5 for a couple of years, but only in the past two months have I been (re)immersed in vinyl. Now I'm wondering just how to get rid of all that junk in the grooves. I spin each side in the 16.5 with a few drops of RR Vinyl Wash, then use the VPI brush to spread the drops out and hopefully disloge the junk. Then I run two revolutions with the vaccuum on and repeat for the other side.

The problem is that there are STILL pretty fair ticks and pops, and sometimes I can actually see the junk. It just doesn't get the junk out (and neither does the Hunt fibre brush). I *thought* I was using the VPI per directions - is there some other secret handshake necessary to get these things cleaner?
blw

Showing 1 response by ncarv

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ncarv
983 posts
 
I use the VPI 16.5, but only after cleaning with the Disc Doctor fluid and brushes. I really use the VPI just to dry the records. The Disc Doctor brushes and fluid give a much deeper and better cleaning.
For records with a lot of dirt or mildew, I picked up, as per Fremer's recommendation, a Eureka Hot Shot Enviro Steamer. It really works well to loosen up dirt and wash the record (use distilled water) and there is no danger to the vinyl. You can pick one up for $89 new, or $49 factory reburbished (which I bought -- it's like new), delivered, from:
www.abc-vacuum.com
After the steamer, I go through the whole Disc Doctor and VPI routine, as well.
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