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LP care

I've made the commitment to get back into vinyl, purchasing a VPI Classic 'table with Lyra Delos cartridge. routed through an ARC PH-5 to Ayre amplification and on to Vandy 5A's. Recognizing the importance of a quality RCM, I also bought a VPI 16.5, so all the basic elements for vinyl enjoyment are there. (Approximately one week until everything arrives and can be set up!)

With all that lengthy background, my question is: what are the most effective record cleaning fluids. I have to admit that I am getting high-centered over the range of choices: regular cleaning fluid, "deep" cleaning fluid, enzymatic cleaner, rinses, etc. etc. etc.

This is especially topical for me, as 80+% of the albums I will be playing have been in storage (and not always perfectly clean storage at that) for 2-3 decades. Plus other music I want to acquire is probably only going to be available used, so good cleaning is important for that, too.

Second question: I assume that once one has cleaned a record with a vacuum RCM, that it remains relatively clean and doesn't need RCM treatment for every listening; instead, it simply needs to be wiped with a brush to remove dust and static before playing (assuming nothing odd happens). True?

Sorry for the long question, but figure the more detail I give, the more useful input I'll get. I'm hoping to tap the expertise of those on this forum -- and please feel free to simply point me to existing material, either in the form of previous threads here or other on-line resources.

Thanks to all, and happy listening!
dawgfish
paanders
43 posts
 
I started with Disc Doctor Extra Strength Cleaner, and Distilled Water, Disc Doctor brushes, and clean baby clothes (super soft cotton) for small wiping of drips.

I found this method helped, but too often the rinsing and brushing didn't remove the DD cleaning fluid (which I was mistakenly using at full-strength).

I then graduated to a vacuum machine the VPI 16.5, which certainly makes possible a better rinsing away of the gunk and crud in the vinyl grooves.

I then diluted the DD cleaner with Aquafina water (a recommended cheap tweak here and an affordable replacement for ultra pure water). This allows for very generous rinsing, which is so important.

I then moved to Audio Intelligent enzymatic cleaner (at urging of audiogon forum commentators), and Audio Intelligent Archival record cleaning formula (much more watery and less sudsy than DD extra strength, even when diluted).

And of course one needs better inner sleeves for the record. I bought a boatload of MoFi Original Master sleeves, which are supposedly anti-static, and highly recommended. They are plastic (vinyl?) and with some rice paper-like paper to offer stiffness. That said, I feel that I would have preferred stiffer sleeves with paper outside and vinyl inside.

And, here I get controversial, I bought gruv-glide II (for anti-static, a real problem in my house) and apply a very very small portion via the two pads.

And then I label the inner sleeve with: AIVS Enzym / RC/ GG and date.

And no I haven't been to the office for weeks....
paanders
43 posts
 
And of course steam-cleaning the dirtier records. I couldn't find the highly recommended steamer noted in threads here, so I bought a Rowenta hand steamer at Target (a bad company to workers, unfortunately), albeit with a heavy heart.

Again the steam-cleaning allows for heavy rinses, and I add steam to enzymatic cleaning as well, when it seems 'like the thing to do.'

I can't believe how many people complain that the vpi 16.5 is too noisy. The turntable motor is not loud. And the vacuum motor. Well, umm, it IS a vacuum cleaner. AND you only need have it on for about 3-6 seconds at a time (two or three rotations of the LP). I found it hilarious that folks sometimes compare it to a plane taking off, or require wearing earplugs. I dunno, maybe mine's unusually quiet, but I use it on the floor atop a carpet.

The pain is in emptying the dirty fluid from reservoir. BUT it looks like really dirty water --or fine amber-color, peat-flavored smoky scotch--depending on how you view brown water-based liquids.

wolf_garcia
6,635 posts
 
That vacuum thing is like the din of armageddon...like a thousand thunderclaps in your hat...Niagra Falls next to your lounge chair...Joan Rivers living in your eustachian tube...my ex wife in the passenger seat...
dan_ed
2,451 posts
 
That will never work, Wolfy. Every knows that when you spin the record it creates its own gravity field and that holds all of the particles of crud tight to the surface.

MAkes about as much sense as your "Nature abhors a vacuum" statement. ;-)
headsnappin's avatar
headsnappin
295 posts
 
Wolf,
Have you ever compared a vacuum cleaner to the Spin Clean? I rest my case.
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