When using VPI 16.5 - how do you

I am anal,cheap ,and a slob.Let me expliajn that.Mike (head tech at VPI) knowing for gummy really grungy LP's I used LAST power cleaner and for lack of wear (I hear Touramat kept things a bit more quiet) he suggested I saved money by eptying a galon of distilled water into a large bowl,next I added 2-4 drops of dishwaher fluid (and though it may "leave ,more rsidue than say Ivory soap read on.I use Dawn since there are no ones with no die(reemmber when there was that big "clear" kick a few years a go-that might have been beter).Lastly to break up water tension I use 2-3 drops of Kodak "photoflow" which makes everything spread nicely into the bowl.I use the mix in my 16.5.In the beginning my "slob" comment because I put too much on.All the seams of the box split .I sent it to VPI and without charge they very cooley gave me a new one (I explained that that unit was only a few months old.Nxet to remove the cleaner I once again use a new Alsop pad (or a cleaner one for enmdings) then put on the LAST preservative.When I got my 16.5 back I followed somebodyy's suggestions and applied Valspar marine shellac with a small brush to all the seems in the box and around the switch plate.No more problems if I "splash" to much liquid on and have had unit for a d\few year with nop damage at all.It ain't cheap but neaither is your 16.5 or your LP's so i suggest Alsop saves a lot wear on felt tubes and as Fremmer pointed out does not spread crap from LP to LP.At end of all of this I use pain water to clean off re-cleaner,cl;eaner,and bad magic spells with hot watter only on the machine of a new Alsop pad.ASftyer all this is done the Lp's need just the Alsop every few cleanings an LAST cleaning for the few Lp['s I gte to playu 50 times over a year or so.Anal yesbut you ccan eat a can of Spppegehettio's off my LP (my g-D whay\t a thought!!!!!!)
Clean on
Chazzbo
P.S Don't freak when you see the price of LAST power cleaner ( get in touc if you want a small discount I get froma buddy) but the Mike at VPI said he has had folks at shows ome up and say the LP had been treated from new and when played it sounds like it hjas been played half a dozen times.At something crazy like $175 a pint (I dropped a bottel one time with 1/4 left and I thought of those Chivas Regal commercials where they ask "Ever see a Grown Man Cry?"
G'luck
chazzbo

P.S from Chazzbo
O course all of that suff mixed ain bowl I would forget the second most important ingrediant other that the surficant (the dish liquid.soap) but take the empty jug and and a pint of rubbing alchohol thne afte mixing it a bit pour all back into the jug.Of course you will be left with a point of liquid to dumpo i the drain but it might make mold spores immune (kind of like Alligators in NYC sewers) so I would say put it inpint bpttle and use as stopping stuffer.I have heard froma number of froma number of sources that alkcohol isgoiing to dry out but others including chemists have said "B.S>"Anyway this is a aslo a good reason with a new LP to do the final wash.I hope I said I only do all this B.S on new LP's ones picked up at tage sales or Ebay where they maybe gummy ans smoky,After that I just use 16.5 or Alsop evry few playes (I avoid dry brushes-cheap but just puch crap arounf even the best of them,).And if someone goes throughmy ritual or even 2.3 or it hit your LP with your Milty Zw\erostat to stop a charge from building up.Probaly do it about every 2-5 plays anyway,.Indespensible.
Chazz

I have tried many of the other fluids and like the Art du Son a lot. The cost for Art du Son is quite reasonable. It is sold as a concentrate that the user mixes with water. Cost as I recall was $45 for a quantity that makes 1 gallon of cleaner. I also like Disc Doctor fluid but it requires a little more work.

Joe in Seattle

Chazzbo
Again an insomnia response that probably was best ubnexcuted (though I would swear on a Bible or ina deposition I am this anal at least when I first get LP"s used or ven new ones to rid release compounds).Please excuse ANNOYING typos in my P.S>.Were so horrid I didn't even check my main note.
Chazz