Record Cleaner Advice?
Finally listed the busted-MDF HW-17F machine I received last month. It was barely used and poorly packed by the inheriting granddaughter. Working perfectly. It's sad this is my first Audiogon listing, but an inexpensive alternative for garage or basement (or parts). My new record-cleaning spot is my kitchen, and I don't want this one on display, even if patched up. |
The Distilled Vinegar (5% Acid) with a few drops of Dehyphon has now been used as an additional stage for the Manual Cleaning Method as shown in the Aqueous Cleaning Guidance. The Record Drying Rack now has a Secondry Purpose as it is used to store the Vinyl LP undergoing the 30 Minutes of soak in the Distilled Vinegar. Due to the suggested Soak Time of 15 - 30 Minutes, I found oit best to prepare Eight LP's to receive the Vinegar Soak. When the Last LP is placed in the Rack, the first LP is good to go for the next stages of the Manual Cleaning. The Two Long Term Owned LP's previously referred to has been treated with a Vinegar Soak and follow up cleaning stages. I will prefer to suggest the Vinegar Soak has been responsible for the improvement to the Surface Noise being heard between tracks, other than the fact the LP's went through two full cleaning operations obver a short timescale. I say the vinegar is an important stage as a few other long term owned LP's from a similar era, have offered a similar perception of cleaness when replayed following one full cleaning operation. With a little alteration to the Time required to complete the Cleaning Operations, I will say it is a worthy additional stage to put into the Manual Cleaning Method. This only leaves me to trial a final rinse in a US Bath to see if there is any further changes to be heard in the Surface Noise. I used the Spindle Bar and Label Protectors supplied with my US Bath Rotation Motor to handle the LP's this time. It was an improvement in terms of feeling the mechanical fastening is more trustworthy than a Suction Attachment, as used in the previous handling and cleaning operation. I am still awaiting parts to be delivered for my other LP Handling Device. I will report on how this functions when all is up and running. |
@pindac, For routine cleaning, you do not need to soak the record with White Distilled Vinegar for 15-30 minutes. That time comes from the book "VIII.12. DESCALING: Occasionally when resurrecting a Goodwill™ or flea market record find, there may be evidence of scale – such as hard water mineral spots...". For routine cleaning - I only do 2-4 minutes. The following info is not yet in the book: After a chance review of this thread https://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php ... t-14577762 and while I question the validity of the source of the carbonates, it occurred to me that what I am seeing as ref PACVR 2nd Ed Chapter/para IV.6 & Figure 10 is very tightly adherent non-organic/mineral based particles. These type particles are natural to the environment; known as aerosols https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/globa ... 2_M_AER_RA. So its entirely feasible that these particle 'may' be in the ambient of record pressing factories (except QRP - http://www.qualityrecordpressings.com/i ... =standards which appear pressed in a very clean environment); and can be essentially be pressed into the record. These type particles are not going to be easily removed. Carbonates fluoresce intensely white and noting that I do inspect records with a 10 watt UV light, and it now occurred to me that the intense white specs that I am seeing on 'some' records may be inorganic salts/minerals. And, this debris that fluoresce intensely is not removed by multiple detergent washes and multiple rinses (with brush & flowing water). However, a weak acid can dissolve mineral type particles, especially very small (<5 microns) particles that can dissolve quickly. So after pre-clean with Alconox Liquinox I now do a pre-clean with White Distilled Vinegar (WDV) 5% acidity of which I add 4-5 drops Tergitol 15-S-9 to 1-pint WDV so that the WDV wets the record. I spray-on and gently agitate with Record Dr. nylon brush for 2-4 minutes. The results are good to excellent. WDV is unique - its a weak acid, its acetic acid that is fermented from ethanol and is also known as ethanolic acid and its very pure with almost no non-volatile residue (NVR); rinses easily and is cheap and readily available. After WDV pre-clean, I final clean and rinse. Otherwise, good to hear you are getting good results. Stay well, Neil |
