Best cleaning fluid procedures with VPI HW16.5??

I do a 2-step cleaning process. First, a wash with a solution of 90% distilled water and 10% isopropyl alcohol (the 90% pure alcohol, not the 60% stuff) mixed in an 8 oz squeeze bottle along with two small drops of shampoo (DO NOT use the kind with conditioner!) Use a liberal amount of this cleaning solution (it's cheap!) in conjunction with the 16.5 along with the brush, then complete the first step by vacuuming dry. The second step is basically the same, except to use about 10 to 12 drops of the Record Research product that Kelly mentioned.

If the record is really grungy, repeat the first step a couple of times and/or use the Record Research Deep Cleaner per their directions before the second step.

Seems like we all do at least two steps and probably get similar results. Try a few of the ideas and see what works best for you.

Jim

Never use a volatile alcohol on a vinyl record. Alcohol can only hurt records not clean them; it will make them harder and harder to keep clean by attacking the vinyl's natural protectant. Alcohol is an organic SOLVENT. Unless you have spilled something like paint or glue or some other organic material, you don't need a solvent. For strong cleaners, there may be a 0.001 - 0.002% of solvent added, but this is to help the surfactant dissolve better in water, and we're talking 1 or 2 drops per qt. All you need for records is a surfactant in water. Even the most critical lab analysis equipment, which uses vinyl tubes to hold samples, uses a surfactant and water solution. The beauty of vinyl is that dirt is very easily removed, but if you damage the vinyl surface by drying it out and causing cracks. I make 3 strenghts of record cleaners. The first will clean 99 out of 100 recors. It contains a surfactant for vinyl and water. You don't need anything else, if people tell you otherwise watch out. A gallon of vinyl cleaner should cost less than $20. Detergents like dish cleaner, are good for really soiled records, completely cover the playing surface on your VPI and let it soak for a while. I use 2 VPI cleaning machines; one for really dirty records, and one for everyday cleaning. The really dirty records get a second cleaning on the every day machine. Again completely cover the record and let it soak, I use these white felt brushes that someone sells in packs of ten before the actual vacuuming. You need to clean all brushes including the felt on the VPI regularly. Dirt particles on there can scratch the records and buildup of the surfactant can lead to surfactant remaining on the record and hurting the sound.

Bluesman-

You are correct that alcohol dries vinyl. I use a small amount (<10%) to break down pollutants, skin oils, etc. A surfactant will not readily break these kinds of compounds down. VPI's own fluid has about as much alcohol (or more), or so I'm told. The Record Research Lab cleaner has some lubricating compounds added to it which restore any lost natural lubricants in the vinyl, making an assumption that some was lost in the first place by age or small amounts of a solvent. The RRL product also seems to pick up any residual surfactant.

I've been doing this for several years and have not noticed any drying of the vinyl and it has not affected sound quality. ("Dry" vinyl looks dull and somewhat grey and streaky. "Good" vinyl has an even, shiny black look.) The very first ones I did this way still look and play great!

Ah, but to each, their own.....

Cheers
Jim

I really appreciate all the feedback......I have to admit I didn't know what I was getting into tho when I bought my 16.5. (I actually bought it to save time over just getting an Orbitrac--little did I know!) Thanks, Steve

It does save time- time being frustrated hearing snap crackle and pop, and adds much more time enjoying records you bought sometimes 4 for the price of a cd. That's what I like. Once the new " old records" are cleaned good, maintainence with Orbitrac/16.5 will keep them going. I use clean new sleeves after cleaning as well. Excitement awaits at the "New Arrivals" bin at the used record store. Enjoy.