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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
whart's avatar
whart
2,971 posts
 

I was a student of intellectual history long before I became a lawyer and am now retired from that and have been back in academia for the last ten years. One thing I learned along the way was that most successful learning processes were collaborations and despite the personalities involved, most of the successful collaborations were amicable. This particular discussion is an offshoot of a hobby for most of us-- the chemistry of record cleaning-- which is a niche within a niche.Presumably, this thread was begun by someone who wanted to contribute knowledge to the community. For some reason, it is turned into a pi**ing match. That is not the spirit in which I like to see the quest for knowledge pursued.

If you look at the history of scientific societies, they were non-profit enterprises that involved like minded individuals, sometimes from different fields of endeavor, sharing knowledge, conducting experiments and engaging in study that was not necessarily offered in the more formal institutes of learning at the time. This became a core principle in what we consider to be science today-- applied learning. In the field that we are discussing there is very little attention devoted to the topic by industry or the trade, including the AES. It is not taught in schools as far as I know (such as graduate courses on preservation of media in archival studies). I learned what I did by exhaustive study of old papers, spending time with archivists and visiting the Culpeper facility of the Packard Campus of the Library of Congress where intake is done for the collection- to meet and ask questions of the various specialists there.

I met Neil several years ago because our interests converged on the topic of record (LP) cleaning. I was honored to work with him as a publisher of several editions of his work on Precision Aqueous Cleaning of Vinyl Records. He is knowledgeable, has enormous cross disciplinary knowledge of applied science and developed the Mil-Spec for cleaning 02 systems on submarines, a life-critical function of the U.S. Naval Fleet. He brings a lot to the table and does so without arrogance or rancor. He is inquisitive and quite thorough in his approach. He is also a nice man, pleasant to deal with and willing to spend the time to discuss and think through various processes and challenges in this area.

I would suggest to Mr. Wizard (unless he insists on being addressed by the honorific "Dr." which I find to be pretentious except when applied to medical doctors), that he find a way to discuss his findings without acrimony. Wizard is new here, and while I have no role as moderator, I can tell you that it is counterproductive to argue based on appeals to authority or snide insults. You can share your knowledge and can disagree in the pursuit of knowledge without rancor. That is, to me, the level of professionalism one should exhibit in any serious endeavor.

Respectfully,

Bill Hart

mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,207 posts
 

@whart , Overall I agree with you. However, it is important for knowledgeable people to point out errors when they see or hear them. Avoiding errors is a very important part of the learning process.  am extremely good at making them. For me the learning process is like bumper cars. Fortunately, I usually wind up at the right exit. You be right scientifically but very wrong from a functional basis. A great example of this is the Kirmuss method. The time involved in cleaning 3000 records that way is prohibitive. 

@wizzzard  Please take all the time you need. Please be well. 

whart's avatar
whart
2,971 posts
 

Thanks @mijostyn and I absolutely agree that it is part of the process- the science is never "settled" in a sense. What struck me as odd is that the potential hazards of using alcohol in a US machine are well known- an open web search (not relying on scientific papers behind paywalls) reveals this by a simple search: "alcohol and ultrasonic cleaning." If that's the issue, I don't see much room for debate but there may be more to this that I'm missing. 

regards,

ghdprentice
6,389 posts
 

@whart 

 

👍

mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,207 posts
 

I think an alcohol is a very important part of a proper record cleaning formula. I do not care for ultrasonic cleaning. It is messy, inconvenient and of questionable effectiveness. However, I do not think a 25% mixture of any alcohol in water is easily flammable if at all. Over 50% no question but 94 degrees F will not do it. I think most people will be in far more danger at their stovetop. 

My idea of a good record cleaning machine is the Clearaudio Double Matrix Sonic Pro. You put a record on it, clamp the record down and push a button. Come back 2 minutes later to a clean and dry record, both sides, with nary a drop spilled. There are many less expensive machines like the Nessie that are just as effective one side at a time.

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