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Record cleaning


After reading The Audiophile Man feature on vinyl cleaning wondering what Audiogoners think of his DIY cleaning solution (distilled water and alcohol solution with 7% alcohol). This is used as the cleaning solution in a Disco-Antistat record cleaner. Before placing the album in the disco-antistat,he brushes on a solution of a surfactant and glycol. After running album through the disco-antistat he then vacuums the residue with a RCM.

I was wondering if I could apply a solution of surfactant and glycol to an album with a stiff goat hair brush, then run it through just the US cycle of my HumminGuru US cleaner. Then rinse with distilled water by applying it on the album while on the Record Dr. using a second stiff brush to clean into the grooves, then vacuuming the residue up through the Record Dr?

thegreenline
thegreenline OP
53 posts
 

Thanks “flash56”. I think I’m going to try this method:

* Apply the the surfactant and glycol. With vials from dropper bottles

* Then clean in the HumminGuru plain distilled water no alcohol or surfactant also skip the drying cycle

* Then rinse with my Spin-Clean record cleaner with alcohol added in a 7% solution 

* then vacuum with my Record Dr RCM. 
I think this might get the job done.

Anyone see if there is a problem with this method or how it can be improved with the cleaning machines I have (HumminGuru, Spin-Clean and Record Dr. ver 6

 

thanks for all the comments and advice 

 

thegreenline OP
53 posts
 

Update. I settled on this method.

A solution of about 80% distilled water 20% alcohol on my Record Dr. 

then into the HumminGuru using their recommend surfactant. I stop the process when the drying cycle starts.

then into the Spin Clean with just distilled water

then vacuum the album with the Record Dr.

audphile1's avatar
audphile1
7,845 posts
 

@billstevenson I would advise against using alcohol especially in those ratios. 
That can do more harm than good. Alcohol can destroy pvc. Just my opinion. 

There are ready made solutions and concentrates you can use. I use a few drops of tergikleen with distilled water then second step rinse off. Then humminguru. 

billstevenson
1,166 posts
 

Thanks @audphile1 I agree.  My go to for most situations is 0.5% Tergitol 15-S-9 (0.5ml/L distilled water).  This works in my Nova and in my MW-1 for a lot of situations.  40 years ago I did use 80 proof vodka mixed 25% with distilled water and one drop of Dawn to the gallon in the mix for my HW-17.  I've learned a lot since then. ;-) 

Actually, I follow all of the suggestions in Neil's book depending on the situation.  The VPI gets used all the time, the Nova only on new or near new records.  Perhaps 5% of the total.  Lately, I have been cleaning and listening up to 5-10 records a day.  I will bin a record that I don't like before listening to the whole shebang, so it is not as much as it seems in print.  

 

audphile1's avatar
audphile1
7,845 posts
 

Sorry @billstevenson my response was meant for @thegreenline 

lol

I fat fingered that one…didn’t mean to call you out

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