Deep Cleaning Records With Steam?

You people are driving me nuts!

I just bought a handheld steamer based upon this thread. I found an old junked TT at the kerb this week, stripped off/out everything except the platter, motor and mat. With the garment steaming brush attachment and microfibre cloths, I reckon I will have an excellent vinyl cleaning solution.

I would like to DIY record cleaning fluid but I cannot seem to find a surfacant, ie., Triton X-114, Monolan 2000 here in AU (Sydney).

Is there anyone in this forum from DownUnder that knows where I can find it in small quantities?

Thanks and regards,

Jan

Jan : The consumer hand held steam cleaners that most "steamers" use are of a different type ; they vagely resemble a tea pot with an elongated spout and are for sale all over the internet and local stores.

The garmet steamers can be used but with great caution because they spread the heated zone on the LP to the point that some folks have reported warping . The "secret" to the tea pot type is the fact only steam splashes the LP not excessive heat eliminating the warping factor. Now, I'm not saying several steamers haven't been sucessful with garmet steamers only that chances are that warping MAY occur.

As for DIY record cleaning fluids, the internet abounds with formulas. The important factor is water type. Jan, never put the cleaning fluid in the steamer , only "paint" the LP with the fluid. The cleaner the H2O (read reagent type) all the better. If you have not please read the complete thread , lots of important tips are shaired, the do's and don'ts of record cleaning. Also the water threads are important. Kinda like can't go fishing without a rod , line and hook, same thinking applies to record steaming.

Please remember steaming can not remove owner abuse or manufacturing defects that are at times very hearable with a clean recording. All the best

Thanks Crem1 for all of your comments and suggestions.

It was never my intention to put cleaning solution into the steamer. The one that I just bought is the teapot design with attachments. I mentioned the garment atachment as it seems to be wide enough to cover the tracks of the disc.

Do you advocate steaming with the standard nozzle?

It appears to me that that with efficent steaming and air drying no chemicals need to be applied to the vinyl.

And, hey if the steamer doesn't work for records, I have 1000 (1001 - 1) other uses for it - hahaha...

Regards,

Jan

FYI for those interested in buying the "Perfection Steamer" from Walgreen's. You have until March 29 to purchase this unit and receive the $10 rebate. I picked one up yesterday and began steam cleaning some LPs, and I have to say I'm very impressed with the results. I'm hearing a lot more clarity in the higher frequencies, and certain nuances within the music are more pronounced. I "paint" a solution on the record before steaming, consisting of 1 part distilled water, 1 part rubbing alcohol (70%), and a few drops of dish washing detergent. After applying the solution, I let it soak for 2-3 minutes, then blast it with steam, starting on the inside of the record and working my way out to the edge. I then put the record into my Spin-Clean unit, give it a few turns to remove any excess dirt, then flip and repeat. I then put the LP on a dish drying rack to allow it to air dry. I think in the future I am going to perfect this method by modifying a shop vac so that I can vacuum off the LP instead of letting it air dry. Once I begin doing that, I believe my results will be even better.

Does anyone know of the equivalent steamers in the UK? I have searched through those available in this country and although they look similar there are no steamers that look exactly the same as the SteamFast - I would order from the States but shipping / fitting a 240/120 V transformer are holding me back! I already have a VPI HW16 which I will use and some Disc Doctor brushes /fluid - all I need is a steamer. Any help would be appreciated.
Alan