LAST Record Preservative - Application Techniques

HI All,
I have been using Last Record Preservative since the mid-eighties to treat my 4500 strong record collection. I have learned a lot about Last, both the preservative and the stylus treatment.

To counter Ebm, this stuff is close to a miracle. It works just like the Last factory claims. Of course, washing and good liners are very important. Last takes record care to the next level. I have run carefully controlled experiments to try to refute the claims. All I accomplished was confirming the claims. Ebm, you should take a closer look.

Application for me is centered around my VPI 17 RCM. After I have washed the record, and while it is still on the platter, I use the eye dropper with about an inch of Last contained and apply it evenly to the Last applicator. I apply by turning on the VPI platter and pressing the applicator down on the revolving record. You can see the Last being applied and then it evaporates quickly.

Apply to the second side then you are done except for marking the jacket and you have a happy, static free, protected record. It only needs to be done once.

Karma 16, do you use Last products for cleaning records too?

HI,
No I don't. I use a home made brew that works very well. I have no reason to think the Last cleaner solution is anything but excellent. Maybe I should use it. But mine works well and is a lot cheaper. I developed my formula before Last had a cleaning solution for sale.

Hi.I see. I of course want to have clean records but even more important for me is safety to the vinyl. There are records that would be very difficult and expensive to replace. I would prefer to use only distilled water, but that's not good enough.

HI Inna,
I think your priorities are correct. I guess I don't understand your reluctance to use well proven cleaning solutions. Yes, distilled water is not very effective but if the record is clean to begin with water would at least remove the surface dirt. It would be better if mixed with a tiny amount of dish washing detergent to act as a wetting agent.

Why don't you call the Last factory and get their thoughts on the issue. Personally, I think you are making a big deal out of a non-issue. After all, I have many collector records that I would not think twice about cleaning. And, I haver harmed one of them since I bought my VPI 17 which was a long time ago.

Also, you should realize that if your record care habits are solid, cleaning is not often necessary.