Well I have been playing around with my steamer setup and a finding a general level of it working. Albums I have cleaned are sounding a little quieter, most are used and steam cleaning does not repair groove damage but dirt and dust can be alleviated.
The technique I have adopted for now goes like this.
1: On a terry cloth bath towel I lay the album down. I take a dessert dish and cover the centre label.
2: I take my home made cleaning fluid, about 80% distilled water, 20% of 99% pure alcohol and a drop of Ivory snow in a spray bottle. I wet the album and have a dedicated 2.5 inch wide paint brush to push and lightly scrub in the direction of the grooves the liquid.
3: I take a dedicated micro fibre cloth to wipe the solution up.
4: I take my steamer and in smooth circular motions at about 4 inches above the album spray a blast of vapour evenly as I can to cover the album.
5: I let is sit for about 10 seconds then with another micro fibre cloth wipe in in circular motions until the album is dry. I then repeat the process for a second time. I dry the album side as best I can then flip it over and do it all again on side B.
6: I let the album sit on its edge so that both sides can air dry a bit more for about 15 minutes before I put it back into its sleeve and jacket.
7: Prior to playback I run my carbon fibre brush grounding it wit my body to help give the LP a quick wipe and a bit of a cut in static. I ned to get me a ZEROSTAT.
My first few LP's have come out quieter for the most part. I can do about 10-12 LP's in a 1/2 hour or so.
The technique I have adopted for now goes like this.
1: On a terry cloth bath towel I lay the album down. I take a dessert dish and cover the centre label.
2: I take my home made cleaning fluid, about 80% distilled water, 20% of 99% pure alcohol and a drop of Ivory snow in a spray bottle. I wet the album and have a dedicated 2.5 inch wide paint brush to push and lightly scrub in the direction of the grooves the liquid.
3: I take a dedicated micro fibre cloth to wipe the solution up.
4: I take my steamer and in smooth circular motions at about 4 inches above the album spray a blast of vapour evenly as I can to cover the album.
5: I let is sit for about 10 seconds then with another micro fibre cloth wipe in in circular motions until the album is dry. I then repeat the process for a second time. I dry the album side as best I can then flip it over and do it all again on side B.
6: I let the album sit on its edge so that both sides can air dry a bit more for about 15 minutes before I put it back into its sleeve and jacket.
7: Prior to playback I run my carbon fibre brush grounding it wit my body to help give the LP a quick wipe and a bit of a cut in static. I ned to get me a ZEROSTAT.
My first few LP's have come out quieter for the most part. I can do about 10-12 LP's in a 1/2 hour or so.
