Precision Aqueous Cleaning of Vinyl Records-3rd Edition
https://thevinylpress.com/app/uploads/2022/01/PACVR_3rd-Ed_2022-01-17_Master.pdf
The "Very Best Record Cleaning Formulation"
The "Very Best Record Cleaning Formulation"
I am providing this formulation for all who are interested in the very best, and can be proven and demonstrated to be the "Very Best". It can easily be made from available ingredients. On the surface, it appears to be very simple. However, it is based on extensive complex chemistry along with precise mathematical calculations and verifiable data.
You may use it with absolute confidence and be truly assured that it is beyond doubt the "Very Best". You may use it for your personal needs. Or, archival entities may use it for their purposes with confidence. Or, you may choose to start an enterprise that makes and packages quantities as either a "ready-to-use" or a "Semi-concentrated" version for sale and distribution knowing that nothing better exists. You have my blessings and encouragement with one condition. And, that is, that the pricing represents a "fair margin", and, not an obscene gouging, typical for such products.
Initially, I had prepared a presentation that briefly introduced myself, and provided the thought processes, design parameters, and the necessary basics of chemistry, physics, and mathematics to assure you and allow you to be absolutely confident in this formulation. I made a considerable effort to keep it as simple, but, also as thorough enough to achieve this confidence. However, that presentation entailed 5,239 words, typical of such a requirement, however, unacceptable in length by this website forum.
I have no option other than to offer the formulation as a 100% parts by weight version suitable to produce 1 Kilogram of the cleaner, and, invite you to question me about any aspect of the formulation.
Professionally, I am a Chemist, more specifically a Polyurethane Chemist. I have a Doctorate in Chemistry as well as two other Doctorates and a M.B.A.. I held prominent positions in significant corporations before being encouraged to start our (wife and I) manufacturing facility servicing those I previously worked for. We started, owned, and fully operated this business. We eventually obtained 85+% Market Share in our sector in Medical, Automotive, Sporting Goods, and Footwear areas before retirement.
The Audio Industry is extremely technical and many brilliant minds have contributed their talents over the decades in order that we may enjoy music today as we choose. Like many other technical industries, those of lesser minds and values invade the arena with their "magical" inspired revelations and offer their "magical" ingredients and items to all at extremely high prices. They promise that if only we are willing to part with our money - they can provide these items to you that make your audio system sound as if the orchestra, or vocalist, is in your room with you. And, after all, "magical items" must be expensive, otherwise, they would not be "magical".
This disturbs me enormously, and, it is for such reasons, I feel compelled to provide realistic and truthful information that conforms to basic Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematical Principals in those areas with which I am very knowledgeable and familiar.
"Ultimate Record Cleaner Solution"
Ingredient Amount by Weight (Grams)
Distilled Water 779.962
Ethyl Alcohol 220.000
Tergitol 15-S-7 (Dow Chemical) 0.038 (Approx. = 2 Drops)
1,000.000
Important and/or Relevant Criteria
1.) Distilled Water ONLY. Do not use deionized, tap, rain, or spring water. Distilled Water is readily available in most grocery stores. Check labeling to be certain that it is distilled and not deionized. The pricing is comparable.
2.) Ethanol must be purchased at a "Liquor Store" or a "Liquor Control Board" that is suitable for human consumption, and the appropriate taxes must be paid. This assures that the alcohol consists of only Ethyl Alcohol and water. You need to purchase the 95+% version, also known as 180+ Proof. NOTHING ELSE is acceptable. (100% Ethyl Alcohol is not available under "normal" circumstances). Denatured alcohol from a Hardware Store or elsewhere is PROHIBITED, as well as ANY other alcohols.
3.) Tergitol 15-S-7 is made by Dow and is available on the internet in small quantities from Laboratory Supply Houses such as Fisher and Advance, etc.. I have no affiliations with either Dow Chemical, or Fisher, or Advance. You MUST use Tergitol 15-S-7 ONLY. No other Tergitol product is acceptable for this designed formula, and you need to acquire the undiluted form only.
4.) The above cleaner formula will result in a non-foaming (VLF) Surfactant Formulation that exhibits the following:
Surface Tension of 28.5 dynes/centimeter @ 20 C. (68.0 F.)
Surface Tension of 28.2 dynes/centimeter @ 25 C. (77.0 F.)
5.). A Surface Tension of 28.5 dynes/centimeter is Remarkable and will properly clean records of all organic soilings, and all oily substances, as well as very significant amounts of inorganic soilings. This available Surface Tension coupled with the Azeotropic Characteristics of very rapid evaporation and spotless drying occur because of the selection of Ethyl Alcohol and the very specific concentration determined as 22.00% p.b.w., further improves the products abilities. The "Ease-of-Use" and "Spot-Free" results are to be accepted.
6.). Be aware that an "ideal temperature of use" also exists for this formulation. And, that reasonable temperature is 40 C. (104.0 F.). Further increases in temperature offers no improvement, therefore, confirming the proper use of the term "ideal". I mention this not because of of any substantial improvement, but, only to be aware of its’ existence. And, if you have a choice to utilize a room that is warmer than another, select the warmer room closer to 104.0 F. There is no need to elevate the temperature of the records or the materials. Simply be aware that 104.0 F. Is ideal.
If interest is expressed in this submission, I am willing to provide additional submissions regarding other materials, and, other areas of interest. Such as"Best Contact Substance", "Best lubricants for turntables", " Better Dampening Materials" for turntables and tonearms, and, most significantly, "Best" material for "Turntable Platter/Vinyl Record Interface" usually called "Record Mats". The last item will certainly disturb many individuals and anger many suppliers.
Whatever I may contribute is substantiated by Science and Testing, and Verifiable. Science has no Opinions. Opinions in these matters are best reserved for those who rely on their imagination and wishful thinking.
Also, I have no vested interests in this Industry. Simply possess some scientific knowledge that also relates to some aspects of the Audio Area, and I am willing to share that information if requested!
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- 470 posts total
@jasonbourne71 @lewm
Good day sir,
Your had made posts to my submission. Although your posts somewhat deviate from my intended purpose, I am very willing to provide you with information that will properly guide you with your concerns. You had touched on 4 separate issues and I intend to address them individually as well as indicating a potential caution for you if it happens to apply.
1.). You mentioned the "LAST factory" and my familiarity and specifically you use of "Stylast". I am aware "Last". I recall when I purchased my first AR-XA Turntable in 1969 that I wast provided a sample of "Last". I do not recall if I ever used it or not. I was impressed with the AR Turntable that I decided to buy 6 others as presents. I was informed that if I purchased 10 I would receive a 35 % discount. And, that is what I did. I gave five away and sold the others to acquaintances at the price that I paid which. They appreciated. I was given significant quantities of "Last" cleaner and stylus brushes. I do not know why I mention this, but your question precipitated old memories. I was unfamiliar with your product "Stylast", so I went to their website and did some further investigating. Their website about this product is extremely misleading. It can not be interpreted any other way other than as it is presented. And, I feel sorry that you were misled. I had thought that they had a commendable reputation, and, again I find myself disturbed by some entities in this industry.
There are two separate parts to the knowledge that I will share with you, actually, three. The stylus is made of diamond, the hardest substance known to man. Other than a soft brush to remove accumulated debris, I do not see a need for a "Stylus cleaner". If you feel compelled to "clean your stylus" I can recommend the "Very best Record Cleaner Formulation" I provided, or, a product similar inn approach to the "Stylast" that you are using, only, that it is much better, much cheaper, and can be used for many other applications that you may come across. Your operative words and statements were: "claims", "apparently", and "some scientists.
Let me address your first question - "Does the application of Stylast to the diamond stylus actually reduce wear?" Answer, "Absolutely NOT!" Thank you for a good question and you have a precise answer. Now you share your practical experience about lubricating a drill bit - and, you are absolutely correct in your thinking. I am a member of STLE (Society of Tribologists and Lubricating Engineers), as well as previous involvement in Argonne National Laboratories and continuing interests. A Cutting/Drilling fluid is applied continuously, or, as frequently as necessary. And, you are correct, it is not only for cutting but for cooling as well, however, a "one-time" application of anything means nothing in relationship to this analogy.
I do not know what cartridge you have mounted on your tonearm, so I will make some assumptions. The following list is a number of styluses and their configurational dimensions:
Micro Line 2.5 x 75 Microns Micro Ridge 3.8 x 75 Microns VanDenHull 4.0 x 70 Microns FritzGeiger 5.0 x 70 Microns SAS 2.5 x 75 Microns Paratrace 4.0 x 70 Microns
I could have selected just one Ortofon Stylus, but I thought it best that a full cross section well better demonstrate my point.
Using these dimensions as an average, it can be determined that if you use 2.0 grams to obtain your desired tracking. Force the pressure exerted by the diamond stylus on the record is 10,811.7 pounds per square inch. Your application of Stylast or anything else for that matter is GONE within the first few millimeters. There is NO further cleaning effect. The Stylast presentation is extremely misleading, even absurd. I am as. Disappointed in them as you may be. This is a terrible abuse of marketing ethics.
Further investigation reveals that Stylast is more than 90% perfluorotributylamine, and they claim about 10 % proprietary ingredients. Which is nothing more then a deceptive method of implying the necessary solvating ingredients and covalent ingredients. At least they supply a S.D.S., give them credit for that for supplying information which is a commendable 95 % accurate Data Sheet. Most. Of the "charlatans" do not even trouble themselves, or simply supply a two page "Proprietary Data" sheet containing nothing. Do not ever purchase anything from a company that does not supply a proper S.D.S.
What this product is a very common intermediate compound, 3tributylamine, and substitute the Hydrogen atoms with Fluorine atoms. It makes an excellent agent for specialized soldering techniques, and an excellent electrical contact cleaner. It has recently found a important medical imagining material that allows itself the be encapsulated in lipid microspheres thereby cheating an image enhancing compound for echocardiograms. A specialized individual must inject this in you blood to present an ultrasound image that is far superior to a typical echocardiogram.
But that is of no interest to you. The CRC corporation uses perfluorotributlyamine in their premium contact cleaner along with other superior electrical contact cleaning ingredients that is superior. If you insist on sticking with Stylast type materials, I suggest that you rather purchase the CRC material. It is better as a contact cleaner and has many other uses at home, your computer, your automobile. It is available at Industrial supply houses such as Grangers, and Fastenal, or at automotive supply houses such as NAPA. It is expensive, it costs about $50.00 for a 13 Fluid Ounce can. Although expensive, that is ridiculously cheap for what you were paying Stylast for almost next to nothing, relatively speaking.
Also, on a very serious note! If you a re a smoker, or someone in the household is - DO NOT use either Stylast or the CRC electrical contact cleaner while smoking. IT is Extremely Dangerous! Depending upon your genetic make-up, it may even be Deadly, And, I am NOT exaggerating!!!
Using a simple brush on your stylus is all you really need to do. But, that is only to remove the debris from the stylus. If you need to clean your records, I suggest you use my formulation |
I do not know if you are being a "Smart Ass" with your mention of two drops of urine, nor, do I know who you are addressing.
If you are addressing me , I do not care what you use. I provided a formulation for "The very best record cleaner", and am willing to answer questions about it, and I also offered to to provide other scientific based truths and knowledge about about other areas such as record mats, lubricants, contact materials, dampening agents, etc., if such interests exist.
Proper etiquette requires that I allow myself to believe that you have some interest however you may have expressed yourself. It does not address any questions, therefor, I will make some assumptions and address your posting.
Distilled water at 20 C. Exhibits a surface tension of only 72.72 dynes/centimeter. Dawn is a very powerful surfactant and is excellent for washing cooking and eating utensils, as well as being mild enough to wash your vehicle. However 2 drops only reduces the surface tension to 42.82 dynes/centimeter. A very far cry from the 28.5 dynes/centimeter of the formulation presented. It is also intended to be a high-foaming surfactant - the exact opposite in what you are looking for in a record cleaning formulation.
Dawn should absolutely not be used on records. It contains 8 ingredients in addition to water. A significant portion of the surfactants are "Anionic" surfactants which are forbidden in such applications. I will gladly supply you the list of ingredients if you are serious and how they behave. The addition of two drops of urine is the puzzle! If you are meant to be serious, it offers no benefits. Most people realize that urine is sterile upon release, however, it is also that aspect that eventually makes it conducive as an excellent bacterial and mold growth medium. Its addition offers no benefits only potential problems. |
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Thank you for your significant, detailed, and meaningful submission.
Although it somewhat deviates from the intent of my Forum Post, it, nevertheless captures the spirit of my post, and, is very detailed and meaningful and an appropriate ADDITION to my post for those who are interested in a somewhat different approach to my exclusive designed selection method. My intent was to present only one formulation that is determined to be "The very Best", and to present a document that entailed 5,239 words supporting that determination. Which, as of this writing, and, on the response posts I have received, I am glad that I did not squander my time doing that presentation.
However the document you presented only substantiates my initial intent, and also demonstrates the complexities of developing meaningful products.
I sincerely appreciate your post of this comprehensive publication that permits others to review very viable alternatives.
Thank you very much!
Dr. S.N.W. BA, MA, MChem, MBA, DPhil, DSc. |
- 470 posts total