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Record Cleaning brushes - experimentation?

I know we tend to beat the subject of record cleaning to death (but we all love it so much) - yet I don't remember seeing much of a discussion of record cleaning brushes.

I scrub my records when I clean them. I use mostly MoFi fluids and brushes, but since I recently bought my 2nd VPI machine, I've been experimenting with VPI fluid and brushes. The VPI brush seems a little hard and bristly, but after going back and forth with it versus that MoFi brushes, I'm not sure it doesn't get a little deeper into the grooves and perhaps dislodge a bit more debris. But I only use the VPI brush with the VPI fluid...so maybe it's in part the fluid I'm responding to. However, the MoFi enzyme-based fluid seems to dissolve some debris that the VPI doesn't catch (as I've noticed when I go back to VPI-cleaned Lps and do them over with MoFi). (In fact, I can go back after a MoFi cleaning and get some improvement with the VPI brush and fluid, but also go back after a VPI cleaning and get some improvement with the MoFi brushes and fluids.)

Probably the answer is to continue to mix and match, and on really problematic records, use it all. But I'm curious to hear from record-cleaning folks that have experimented with different brushes. What do you like? One, or another, or a combination?

Thanks
eweedhome

Showing 3 responses by oilmanmojo

oilmanmojo
472 posts
 
Many types of brushes are out there and in my experience the microfiber type brushes are superior to the standard bristle brushes to get into the grooves. I do like a stiffer brush for the reason you state. I have used the vpi brush, mofi brush, bristle type brushes and some of the microfiber cloth and brushes. One of my favorite is a stiff microfiber brush that i use for wet cleaning that is very good as an initial cleaning brush to spread the cleaning solution and get some agitation into the groove. I use this in combination with a steaming step then reapply using a mofi microfiber brush with cleaner followed by a rinse with distilled h20 and clean mofi brush.
oilmanmojo
472 posts
 
The stiff microfiber brush i use for wet cleaning is one that is actually used as a lint cleaning for fabric. it is made by evercare and i found it a walgreens. The stiff microfibers (please recognize they are not metal just a stiff fine synthetic fiber) are directional and small enough to get into the groove. Some folks are a little afraid of it because of concerns of scratching the vinyl. I tested it many times on old vinyl and virgin vinyl without any scratching issues. Again i use it when i do wet cleaning. The mofi is a microfiber pad that glues to your applicator handle. It is a good brush and can be used for wet or dry applications. However when i used it on extremely dirty records, it took several cleaning to get the vinyl perfectly clean. The VPI brush i am talking about is a bristle brush. I use it to spread the liquid across the record surface. I have also used a high quality paint brush to do that also. I have not used the walker brushes though i have a friend that likes them a lot.
oilmanmojo
472 posts
 
nick
Sorry my recommendation impacted your vinyl. Do you use the brush wet or Dry. I have used routinely now for close to a year without scratching any record. I did a test on some blank vinyl as you did and did not have any problem. I only use the brush as part of a wet cleaning system with moderate pressure. I use a soft microfiber brush for sweeping a record prior to playing but even then i spray a light mist of distilled water and alcohol prior to cleaning. I still find evercare brush is the best brush i have ever used for the real grundgy records. i use a mitt made out of the same material with similar results. I have used it to clean my new David Gilmour Live in Gdansk and the record is flawless. Zero pops, clicks on every side.
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