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!

128x128wizzzard

@wizzzard

To the contrary - I know exactly what I am saying.  I am the author of this book - Precision Aqueous Cleaning of Vinyl Records-3rd Edition - The Vinyl Press with over 20-yrs experience in developing precision cleaning processes for ships and submarines.

Otherwise, the source of the data for Ethanol is specified in the book in Chapter VIII with appropriate references with links to the data.  Additionally, maybe you missed the fact the person was going to use your formula in a ultrasonic tank generally heated to 95F with often upwards of 200-400watts electrical power.  And, if you look at the phase diagram for ethanol & water at any significant concentration it does not form an azeotrope so the vapor concentration will be > the liquid concentration.  In the US, NFPA-70 and National Electrical Code (NEC) has strict requirements for electrical equipment use with anything flammable that is classified as >100F.  

That all being said, I do not know about you, but I do not drink my wine in a 1L glass at 95F and I do not have any significant ignition sources at mouth noting that a lit cigarette is not a credible ignition source - the book addresses.   And cooking with wine is at relatively low volumes and often with good ventilation.  

In the meantime, if you are who you claim to be - prove it.  Full name with something that verifies you are who you say you are.  If you read my bio that is as much as I will specify and most of what I have written is not in the public domain.

Neil Antin

@antinn 

@drkingfish 

@lewm 

I intend to get back to you later after I respond to others who have posted earlier.  I do promise to get back to you, it is simply a matter of priorities.  But, I have read Drkingfish's post to me, and I do not see any reference to his specific purchase of an ultrasonic cleaning machine, only his possession of an AR ES-1 and a Thorens 160.

I did no insult you as Lewm suggests, I merely asked what your Academic Qualifications were, and suggest that you relax.  However, you very emphatically stated that ethanol/water "does not form an azeotrope" !  Really? In the interim, please refer to any High School Chemistry book.  For that matter, I believe that this subject is now covered in Grade 8, and possibly Grade 7.  If ethanol and water do not form an azeotrope, you have just eliminated all the distilleries in tho world actively producing Liquor for human consumption, and ethanol for chemical reactions and other uses.

I stated my background at the very onset (perhaps, you missed that).  As I stated I will get back to you later.  Suggest, you relax, perhaps have a massage, but don't forget to warn the masseuses (male or female) not to rub to vigorously because rubbing alcohol usually contains anywhere from 70% isopropyl alcohol to 75% with water( which has a Flash Point that is more than 2 degrees lower than ethanol and burns at a considerably higher temperature than ethanol) , and you do not want to explode on the massage table.

In the meantime, stay safe till later.

Thank you for your comments!

@wizzzard,

If you carefully read @drkingfish he mentioned ’us’ that is a common abbreviation for ultrasonic (tank).

Otherwise, here a phase diagram for ethanol-water - Ethanol-Phase-Diagram.jpg (800×695) (moonshinedistiller.com) and distillation discussion - Test01 (queensu.ca), it forms an azeotrope at about 95.6%, noting that I did not say that it did not form an azeotrope only implying that at any significant concentration in the context of your formula.

Otherwise, instead of keeping this professional, your immature attempts at insults I perceive only as an insult to your advertised intelligence; that’s a shame. But you are a world away, someone behind a forum handle and have no meaning or significance to me, and I will not waste any more of my time with you so and I suggest you do not waste yours.

The Last line of record/stylus/tapehead products were not available in 1969. They were introduced in the early 1980's. Just the facts, mam. ;-)

I for one am sticking with Neil's (@antinn) method of LP cleaning, and his usc formula.