Ultrasonic record cleaners

I have modified my practice as a result of reading Neil's thoughts (I must have missed it in the book, if it was there). I now de-gas each morning before cleaning my first disk. And that is not some sordid reference to the bathroom.

So far, I can say it has done no harm. It makes good sense technically, so I shall continue the habit as it costs nothing and might add something important (like making my expensive Degritter work better!)

@livin_262002 

Thank you.

@terry9,

WRT to cleaning the Tiger-cloth - the only thing I do is once dry - I shake it out.  Used only during to assist with drying the record after DIW rinsing, the Tiger-Cloth only sees DIW.  So, after use, I hang to dry and then shake it out and store in clean bag.  The cloth is a very fine weave and anti-static, so it does not hold on to particles/lint - ergo a good snap-shake dislodges any lint/particles, and this has been verified with the UV light (the cloth does not fluoresce).   I have been using the same Tiger-cloth for >2yrs.  Otherwise, I periodically inspect the cloth with the UV light and someday when it shows that its 'dirty' I will just toss and use a new one; they are not expensive.  To me, it's not worth the effort trying to clean it and then use multiple DIW to rinse out the cleaner which if you do not, when you use the cloth to assist with drying the record, it will leave a very slight haze which is the diluted cleaner residue, which I have seen with those microfiber cloths with some nap. 

Note that I use a PVA sponge (as discussed in Chapter V of the book) to remove the bulk of the DIW; using the Tiger-cloth only for the final-dry which is not intended to fully dry the record, but to leave a thin-film that prevents any static being developed and then the record air dries in 3-5 minutes.  

@dogberry,

The book addresses Degas as follows:

XIV.2.1 Dissolved Gases & Degas: Fluids exposed to air will absorb air and the solubility of air in water is inversely proportional with temperature and can decrease by about 25% between 20°C/68°F and 40°C/104°F. Air that is dissolved in the fluid will interfere with cavitation. As the cavitation bubble forms, the dissolved air in the fluid migrates into the cavitation bubble preventing maximum cavitation intensity when the cavitation bubble collapses. The degas process operates the ultrasonics with a tank of fresh liquid to remove some or most of the dissolved air. Degas efficiency is dependent on frequency, power and volume. Low frequency 40-kHz and less can take 30 minutes or more to fully degas a large tank, while 80 kHz and greater can accomplish degas in as little as 5 minutes. During the degas process, bubbles may be seen rising in the fluid; the fluid may go from cloudy to clear; there may be a change in sound; and the surface can change to smooth with just a slight rippling effect caused by the ultrasonics.

The book does not state to degas each day if using the same bath although it is implied with the first sentence above. If the book is ever revised, XIV.2.1 will be revised to be more explicit.

With the Tiger Cloth, I have made a recent discovery that is not a concern, but as it is inquired about, it may be relevant.

The Tiger Cloth has now been used as Neil Described on approx' 70ish Albums.   The DIW Rinse is carried out with Pressurised Bottle with a Jet Nozzle, it does work sufficiently as a Blast Rinse. 

I too leave the T'cloth out to air dry and then in a sealed bag to store it.

Recently I purchased a Camera Lens that I have put through the wringer of learning its qualities over the past few months and only a few days ago decided to give the Front Protection Filter a Clean. My thoughts went to the Tiger Cloth which I utilised.

The cleaning was not successful for the Lens with the Tiger Cloth, as there was a new produced smearing showing on the lens filter that was remaining. I had to use my usual method that is a Lens Fluid Cleaner and Lint Free Paper Towels to clean the Lens to the standard usually achieved.

As said, this is not a concern, as I genuinely don't see the T'cloth as causing any cleaning issues with the Vinyl Lp's, it is very efficient at absorbing the thin film of DIW following a rinse and Sponging Dry.

 What the T'cloth is most likely also collecting, is a very miniscule quantity of a Solution, and after 70ish uses has enough contained in the proportion of the Cloth I used on the Lens to be detected on the Glass. 

Prior to using the T'cloth on a Lens in the future, I will soak it overnight in a distilled water and when dry, try it on a Lens to see if the smearing has ceased from occurring.