2. analog
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storing vinyl, reducing damage over many years

Hi -

I bought 3 of these that I have stacked successfully one on top of each other and filled with albums:

http://shop.mapleshadestore.com/prodinfo.asp?number=RR-OAK-UN

(I didn't buy it directly there, I bought it on ETSY, but the etsy link no longer appears valid, so I am referencing this web link).

I was basically happy with everything, I did the assembly, everything is solid.

My question: will the lack of any support in the middle area of the albums, over many years, cause damage to the albums? I went through and find a certain percent of my albums were drooping down through damaged covers, so for now I have removed these. I don't know, some might say this is paranoid, but if they sit there for 10-20-30 years and ultimately some of them over time are damaged, it would bother me, so I figured I'd ask the question now.
joshl
dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
+1 to what Czarivey (and Saki70) said...

Besides preventing the LP from wearing through an unsupported record sleeve, another major risk of long term LP storage is warping. To minimize this, pack the LPs firmly together and store with the records standing straight vertical (never lying horizontal!). Loosely spaced records tend to settle at an angle, which inevitably leads to sagging and a warped LP.

Additional risks include mold, mildew and other microbial growths. The scum at the bottom of most used LPs provides fertile grounds for the growth of various micro-beasties. Some of these can be difficult (occasionally impossible) to remove if left too long.

Best practices include a thorough record cleaning plus a new inner sleeve, then a new outer sleeve over the record jacket to prevent dust infiltration and shelf wear.
minorl
1,018 posts
 
Dougdeacon; How often do you recommend going through the record collection and cleaning the albums and replacing the out sleeve with new to prevent this issue?

Thanks
czarivey
5,946 posts
 
My collection is near 10,000 vinyls. To clean them all is going to take a calendar year. Instead ones being washed only filthy ones. If they don't need washing/cleaning they stay dry.
It all depends how often you take vinyl out for the spin. Frequently listened ones may need occasional cleaning, but mostly cleaning is void unless it's indeed necessary. If simple sweeping with anti-static brush does not help, than VPI maybe turned on or any other available record cleaner. I don't beleive that cleaning before listening is good practice. Less stress longer life applies not only to vinyl. New vinyl out of the shrinkwrap is great to clean in order to collect any post-cutting debris, take outside of picture sleeve and place onto VRP or similar inner sleeve. Then KEEP IT CLEAN AND SAFE.
joshl OP
26 posts
 
The boards of wood that I ordered cost too much, and $30 shipping or so. Also, there is the expense of time and trouble. I will have to wait and see if the boards come with any assistance in fitting them to the units permanently and correctly.

I don't think I knew when I ordered the units that there were choices with the bottoms built in (I saw them ordered on etsy and did not see that option, that I recall).

In the end, I"ll work it out, but I'm wondering if there is a way to communicate to the company that they should simply stop selling the option with the bottoms not built in? It sounds like I'm hearing confirmation from you folks (unless I'm misunderstanding) that their shelving units will over time do some damage.
czarivey
5,946 posts
 
That is fixable relatively cheep by visiting Lowes or Home Depot and asking to cut certain size of the bottom plywood.
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