"Cleaning" Vinyl Makes It Worse Not Better!

@elliottbnewcombjr 

Thanks for the info on where to buy the mirror.  I have two slightly different ones on order from Temu, and Amazon will be my backup plan.  i have had varying experiences with Amazon.  Say no more!

Ultrasound bath is the way to go.  And perhaps a rinse and vacuum after.  But ultrasound is a total game changer for cleaning LPs.  A revolution.  A breakthrough.  A paradigm shift.

I could go on but you get the idea...

@unclewilbur 

everyone

I made a Virtual System called MISC on this site, just to upload pics from my computer that I want to show here. Once there, do just as noted by dogberry above;

IMAGE: any web image, right click, copy image address. in your post window, click the 6th icon from the left, paste the image address in the URL box

IMAGE SIZE: I was getting distorted pics inserted, a member here had me simply enter the width box, enter 555, click OK (it automatically retains the aspect ratio of the original).

Hit return after you insert, that moves the insertion blinker below the photo in case you want to add more text, or other links, images.

LINK: any web address, you copy it, then in your post go to the 4th icon from the right, (right of the smiley) (it's a symbol of a chain LINK). click, paste the full address in the URL box, then you can name it anything you want in the top box 'display text'.

@whart I agree with you about Neil Antonin. He has developed a very good manual cleaning method which no doubt does an excellent job. But if you have many records to clean it will take forever.

About five years ago I hooked up with Rush Paul, via the VPI forum, whose technique for US cleaning you also published. The biggest expense of that method is the Vacuum RCM. I use a VPI MW-1.

Neils statements about US and Vacuum RCMs are based on readings, not practical experience. With all of the research that went into the chemical formulations before Rush settled on his mix was done with chemists and audio engineers. I am skeptical that Neil can provide any more favorable methods for the US/Vacuum RCM technique.without that experience.

His tome contains a wealth of knowledge and has helped me better understand the value of the Rush Paul method. So far Triton-X100, which Neil said was being taken off the market years ago, is still available and all of the other ingredients are easily obtainable, even the 200 proof ethyl alcohol, which Neil said is not available. That has fueled my skepticism.

My system is very unforgiving to record noise. I went through half a dozen different methods. Since I have used this technique I am pleased to report complete silence with a black background.

’Nuf said.

@tuberculin- I have great respect for Rush and corresponded with him at one point. I think several people have put Neil's ultrasonic work into practice, using Elma machines in cascading baths with cooling systems and have reported on their results. If I were to paraphrase Neil, it would probably be to say "there is no 'one way'' to approach this. I'm not going to play the role of apologist though my interest as publisher of the work (at no charge and with no advertising income) does not make me a disinterested observer. 

I personally use a hybrid approach of manual cleaning w/ vacuum and a US with no chemistry. I think the ultimate goal here is to share knowledge, not to make ultimate declarations. And in that I am biased too- since both Neil and I have welcomed comments and criticisms, largely through the audio fora where people reached out with questions, comments and improvements, including the availability of certain chemicals. I'd like to think we are all in this together. 

Regards,

Bill Hart