Record Cleaning Using Vacuum Machine for Cleaning and Ultrasonic for Final Rinse

@antinn Thanks for the details.

With pure T density rho of 1 (close enough, easy math) 1g/mm3, 0.3 mg have volume of 0.0003 mm3 = 3 x 10e-4 mm3. Record surface ~ 0.3 m2 = 3 x10e5 mm2

3 x 10e-4 mm3 : 3 x 10e-5 mm2 = 1 x 10e-9 mm = 10e-12 m, which is subatomic. (Angstrom is 10e-10 m). So you have scattered molecules of T on the surface, not even a film. Thickness of impurity is that of the size of the molecule, ~ 1 nm.

As an upshot of this, rinsing with distilled water to get concentration of T down by factor 10–100x is a non-issue. It does not matter. At 100x higher concentration, "film" thickness is still in Angstrom order of magnitude, so still scattered molecules. 

Even if my calculations are not precise (record surface is 28 cm2 minus center label area guesstimated 20 cm2), our calculations give different result by factor of 10'000x, which is pretty significant, IMHO. My math skills are not that great, still don't know I passed calculus, but this looks pretty straightforward to me. 

I think the problem step is going from weight to thickness, which IMHO is not supported. Going from weight and density to volume, and volume/area to thickness is more direct. my 2c.

@oberoniaomnia,

The density (rho) of Tergitol is not 1, its specific gravity is essentially 1, so it's the same as freshwater which is 62.4-lbs/ft^3, convert to mg/cm^3 = 28,304,164-mg/28,316.85-cm^3 = ~1-g/cm^3 = 28,316,846-mg/ft^3.

How did you get only a surface area if 20-cm^2.  The record is 12"-D (113.1-in^2) minus the 4" D label area (12.6-in^2) = 100.5-in^2 = 648.4-cm^2.  Plus, you have to add the area of the grooves.    

1-micron (0.0001-cm) thickness across a 1-cm^2 surface = 0.0001-cm^3.  

1-micron (0.00000328-ft) thickness across a 1-ft^2 surface =0.00000328-ft^3.  

1-micron of surfactant with density of 1000-mg/cm^3 spread across 1-cm^2 surface = (1000-mg/cm^3 x 0.0001-cm^3) = 0.1-mg.  

1-micron of surfactant with density of 28,316,846-mg/ft^3 spread across 1-ft^2 = (28,316,846-mg/ft^3 x 0.00000328-ft^3) = 92.879-mg.  

So, my calculation is off by a factor of ~10.  In my book, I show 1-micron to be 10-mg/ft^2, when in fact is ~100-mg/ft^2.  So, 1-mg/ft^2 is not 0.1-micron but 0.01-micron.  Reviewing the NASA document I found my error.  They show 1-ug/cm^2 (1-mg/0.1-m^2) for contaminant 1-g/cm^3 = 10-nanometers = 0.01-micron; and 1-mg/0.1-m^2 = 1-mg/ft^2.

Take care,

Neil

@antinn 

Otherwise, assuming you bought a 6L UT tank reducing the number of records to no more than three and space them out about 25-cm and slowing the rotation speed to about 1.5-2-rpm should provide you with a cleaner record

Yes, the cheap Chinese machine I bought has a 6-litre tank.  I have not measured the record rotation speed but it is quite slow.  The unit is very noisy when operating.  I have been using two 30-minute ultrasonic sessions for each batch of records, set to a maximum of 40 degrees Celsius. 

I read version 2 of your book pretty much cover to cover a few months ago, and have not had time to do more than dip into version 3 (looking for dilution ratios)!

Before my new ultrasonic cleaning regime, I had to clean my stylus every few sides (new records left whiskers) but now it stays much cleaner.

So the records look sparkly clean, almost all my known clicks and pops have gone and the stylus stays clean.  Thanks again!

@lewm 

my RCM is a VPI HW17, not a US machine

You might have picked up that I have a problem with TLAs!

In this context, does US mean useless or United States?  I thought the VPI was built in New Jersey?

By the way, I now enjoy my meagre collection of records as much as playing CDs.  The physical effort does make vinyl more involving!

Now when I am buying music in physical formats, I buy the SACD version if there is one, then vinyl if there is one, then CD if that is the only option.

Now to try to reduce the residual noise in my venerable Garrard 301.  It is not really audible at my normal listening position, but close up it is there!  Hard to know what comes from the vinyl ...

@richardbrand,

If you are spinning 9-records in a 6L tank, there are 2-problems - too much mass in the tank and you are overloading the tank, and even at a slow spin speed you are developing enough fluid flow/motion to pretty much kill most cavitation energy.  As the book addresses, if the flow in the tank is >50% of the tank volume/min, the ultrasonic cavitation energy drops quickly.  Try 3-record space ~25-cm apart and spin for 20-min.  I suspect you will get good results, and the time to clean 9-records would be the same at 1-hr.

As far as dilution ratios, it's in Chapter XIV, but it's a bit spread-out, but here they are for Polysorbate 20 and your 6L tank

• No rinse, wetting only:  0.0035 to 0.0050% (0.2 to 0.3-ml).  Adding 2.5% IPA has some limited benefit in getting a little better wetting, but add the IPA after adding Polysorbate 20 or the Polysorbate will not dissolve quickly
• No rinse, with some detergency 0.008% (0.5-ml).  Adding 2.5% IPA can help with the getting a bit better detergency but add the IPA after adding the Polysorbate 20 or the Polysorbate will not dissolve very quickly.
• Rinse recommended, full detergency:  0.0150% (0.9-ml).  Adding 2.5% IPA to this has limited benefit.

If you can buy the Nalgene Dropper Bottle at a low price - Nalgene Drop Bottle (2-Ounce) : Nalgene: Amazon.com.au: Sports, Fitness & Outdoors, it delivers 0.04-ml/drop.  Otherwise, assume an eye drop will deliver 0.05-ml/drop.

Good Luck,

Neil