Stltrains : What makes this thread "work" is that steam cleaning works and is a significant stand alone or adjunct to popular record cleaning methods.
According to my email most everyone hears improvements over conventional RCMs. Combo'ing Steam and RCMs is supported by most everybody that's tried it. I have a alot of email from those that use steaming solo and are estatic with the results.
The big Q's (for me) is whether newer/improved record cleaning fluids will make a difference , whether better perhaps safer more specialized steamers are possible/needed and whether specialized bacteria designed to consume contaminates on LPs is commercially plausible ,or are enzymes the way to go. Time will tell.
Oh & how I would like a respected University with a diverse resource base perform scientific studies / research to determine the most cost effective way to safely clean recordings. Johns Hopkins perhaps ??
The market place its hard to make that kind of assessment when so much money is at stake. Business (like life) is rarely rational ; its driven by profit and market share so lots of good intentions get swept aside for the $ or $$$$$. Kinda eat or be eaten. Not too much room for science in that lunchroom.
To be reflective , remember how this thread began ,in part questioning, do I the audio consumer need to buy a $150 "outfit" or is there an alternative ? As we all now know any of us willing to make the effort can "outfit" ourselves for far less , including the same exact steaming unit. Nothing wrong with spending the $150 but you can do it for less. I think we are evolving to the real grit of the matter looking for a little record cleaning grail here and there. So, lets find it if we haven't already.
