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Strange film on new records.

I have three records in my collection that were purchased new, but have a strange sticky film on them that I cannot seem to be able to clean off. This film appears like it is melted onto the surface. I’ve tried alcohol solution, tergitol, scrubbing, ultrasonic. Each cleaning seems to reduce this film, but it still remains. When I have tried to play them, they gum up the stylus. Does anyone maybe know what this film is, and more importantly, how to clean it off?
politics_junkie
asvjerry's avatar
asvjerry
4,598 posts
 
Some lp's are subject to demonic possession...the slime is a sign of such.

'It' goes for the ears...listen not, therefore.

Removal of possession is sometimes possible with an industrial Q-tip chucked into a cordless drill....

Ask kenjit....he knows the drill....;)
terry9
2,333 posts
 
Pol, if you are getting progress, that’s a good sign. Make sure that your chemistry is hot enough - about 45 degrees C ~ 115 degrees F.

I use 1:40 (distilled water to VersaClean) for most records, 1:20 for the worst. Why not try 1:20 and see what happens? Twenty minutes at 45C might just do it. If not, grasp at straws; maybe slop some VersaClean onto each side and spread with a cotton ball, leave it for 5 minutes, and try again.

Good luck!
terry9
2,333 posts
 
Leaving it 20 minutes - better make that 40C or 105F at 80KHz. Be sure to cool the record uniformly by spinning it in the rinse. And try one record first!

If you only have 40KHz, maybe even cooler ...
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,788 posts
 

Returning a new LP for a replacement will do no good if the film on the LP was there when it left the factory: the replacement copy will most likely be exactly the same.

One of the Last Factory products is named "Power Cleaner", and it was formulated for first time LP cleaning, to remove pressing residue (mold release agent). There is a lot of info about LP’s and their care on the company’s website.

Last also makes a great LP preservative, which many record collectors have used since it’s introduction in the 1980’s. The only LP treatment I’ll use, it is not a lubricant, but rather a bonding agent that prevents the "fracturing" of the LP's PVC molecules from one another under pressure from the stylus. Great stuff, used by The Library Of Congress.

uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz
13,381 posts
 
I run my US Cleaner at 42c for 22 minutes with them spinning all the time and usually just 3 records at a time even though it is capable of 5 at a time to give an inch spacing between the records.
I have not tried versaclean yet but use Kodak Photoflo which seems to work well for myself.

ymmv.

I am glad to see that the more rational amongst us fully agree that mold release agent is a very likely cause of this strange film! 
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