Well I had a go, but some background first.
The record in question is an old copy of Led Zeppelin IV. It is on very thick vinyl, one of the thickest records I own. It is an old copy.
This record was cleaned with my usual method:
1) Steam the record and wipe the water off.
2) Apply cleaning fluid (one third isopropyl, two thirds water and a few drops of dishwasher rinse aid) with disc doctor brush.
3) Vaccum fluid off using a modified crevice tool.
4) Apply distilled water with a separate disc doctor brush.
5) Vacuum water off with a separate modified crevice tool.
This gave some improvement but it was still crackly. I should note there that this is all I do to 99% of my record purchases (I buy quite a lot of second hand) and it works very well, most records are quiet and fine after this. New records I do not steam, just a wet clean.
I then applied my method for really hard to clean records:
Using an artists' paint brush I apply straight isopropyl into the grooves while the record spins.
This is followed with the usual method.
This did improve the record quite a bit but still a fair bit of crackling. I should note here that it is very rare for a record to still have a problem after all this cleaning, but there is always one!
Hence the experiment with glue.
The glue went on easily. Getting it off wasn't quick or simple, but not too bad. It did all come off, especially after a wet clean as per my usual methd.
The result: the crackles remain on the record.
My conclusion: I actually think that the glue method probably does quite a good job. It just does not do any more than the other methods I have described above. The glue does get right into the grooves and I reckon would lift off any dirt. I would add, though, that the glue method does, in my opinion anyway, pose a bigger risk of damaging a record. I had to use fingernails to remove some of the glue. Now, in my opinion vinyl is quite strong and nowhere near as fragile as some claim, but, I would prefer not to do this.
As for the record, well it must be damaged. I recently bought another copy so that is fine and it means this copy was good for the experiment. Given that I already have a few methods at hand which, on the evidence of this record, can get out just as much dirt as the glue method, I will not be using glue again.
Good luck to those who use glue, I have heard quite a few people who find using glue a very good way of cleaning records. I will stick with my current methods as my experiment suggests they are just as effective and are more convenient for me.
DS
