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White residue on stylus

I have found that when i look at my lp under a 30x microscope i can see what looks like a clear liquid or maybe a crystal like substance in the grooves . This is in a very small area but there are a number of these throughout the album. The album has been cleaned 6 times using the following process with AIVS cleaning system.
Enzyeme formula ,light scrub and soak for 30 min. then steam and vacuum.
Super clean formula , light scrub soak for 30 min. and steam and vacuum.
I have repeated this 5 times, with an inspection with the 30x microscope each time. After each cleaning the lp is getting cleaner but the clear substance in the groove has only reduced by about 50% . On the last clean i lightly scrubbed for about 5 min which did reduce it a little more. I have noted the location of these deposits in relation to the label and i am able to view it after each cleaning to monitor the progress so far. I am sure the pops i here are these deposits.
I notice when i play the album i have a buildup of white powdery residue on the stylus that is easily brushed off or removed with a Magic eraser lollipop.

Does anyone know what these deposits are or what is the best way to remove them?

The albums are New old stock direct to disc that have been stored sealed for about 27 years.
tshulba

Showing 3 responses by tshulba

tshulba OP
41 posts
 
Thanks guys for the info ,will check to see if i can find Premier locally. I think if i scrub the lp anymore i could start doing damage.
tshulba OP
41 posts
 
I have been using the Mint strips for about a month now and cannot recommend them enough. Over the past six months i have aquired about 20 new old stock sealed direct to disc lps. I have not been able to get them perfectly clean. After playing one side of the lp i found that my stylus had a white powdery build up on it and the highs would suffer greatly after playing a couple tracks. I have tried AIVS single step, AIVS 3 step, VPI cleaning solutions and one other cleaning solution . These were all combined with steam cleaning and i was not able to get rid of the powdery residue. I talked with the very helpful people from AIVS and they suggested soaking the lp for a few hours , this did very little to help.
I now use steam ,vaccuum, MINT cleaning solution ,steam ,vaccuum, AIVS 2nd step,steam,vaccuum, then double rinse of AIVS ultra pure water, vaccuum.
The vaccuum is done with a VPI 16.5 with the Mint strips installed with the slot reduced to 50% of the normal width. Now my lp's are perfectly clean except for the
occasional piece of airborne debris that lands on the lp during playback. I view the stylus through a 30x power microscope after each play and the stylus is perfectly clean. The only change i have made in my procedure is the Mint Strips on the suction tube and my lp's are perfectly clean. One draw back is i now find that due to the higher suction rate if i vaccuum more than one revolution on the final rinse i get a considerable static charge build up on the lp and sometimes have to go back and re rinse and vaccuum to reduce the static build up. I will have to invest in a machine to reduce or eliminate the static build up next.
I am not sure what is causing my lp's to be so clean now, it might be the thinner and finer Mint strips or the narrower slot creating more suction at the lp grooves, but it works great and i replace the Mint strips every half bottle of cleaning solution and i am sure fresh clean strips help too.
Just my 2 cents worth.
Todd
tshulba OP
41 posts
 
Headsnappin - I called them Mint strips the manufacturer calls them Mint Stripes, they are just replacement strips of a soft fabric used to replace the cleaning fabric on the suction tube on the VPI 16.5 record cleaner. Since you are not using a VPI record cleaner i don't think they will do you much good. I have been using their cleaning fluid too and seems to work very well.I believe the only way you can get the Mint Stripes is to purchase the cleaning fluid. Here is the link www.mintlp.com.
After many many hours of trial and error and 4 different cleaning fluids including steam it seems this is the only way i have been able to remove the white residue from my lp's. I feel that it could be the stronger suction that is removing the residue. Hope this helps.
Todd
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