CLEAN RECORDS WITH WHAT?????

Gmc...Dick Doctor?!? Ouch, that sounds like it's really for the Analog Freaks!

In addition to all the good, standard advice related here, Michael Fremer, in Stereophile this month (March), discusses using a Eureka Hot Shot 350A handheld steam cleaning device on LP's before cleaning them with Disc Doctor's brushes and fluids and a vacuum machine. He says it works real well, especially on mistreated and mildewed records. Read it for yourself.

Sorry about that typo. I have a mischievous fore finger.

The steamvac idea for tough jobs intrigues me, but one would need to be careful of heating/warping the record.

As far as formulations, mine is similar to SDC's but with half of the alcohol and one or two drops of dishwashing soap per pint. (Any more soap causes sudsing) It's cheap, so one can use a liberal amount. The VPI brush seems to work OK when used with the 16.5. I clean a second time with a few drops of Record Research Lab's cleaner.

Regards
Jim

Many years and thousands of records ago I found Torumat cleaning fluid really worked with my 16.5. The really dirty records may need a second cleaning. The Torumat cleans the record well and somehow nearly eliminates static electricity. While it's expensive when you figure what is costs per record it's nominal.

The people that pre clean are trying to keep the felt tube from getting contaminated with dirt. I've found that wiping the felt on the tube with a clean cloth moistened with Torumat does the job. I agree it's important to keep the felt clean.

Remember that the angle you set for the tube is critical and you should replace the tube once you see any worn felt. I've found that the suction slot should be very slightly tilted toward the front as opposed to vertical.