Brush/scrubbing ideas for VPI 16.5 record cleaner.

For $25 or less, give this a shot. Find and buy the absolute finest nylon bristle paint brush you can find (3.5" width, if possible; if not, then either 3" or 4" width). Try to find a brush with the smallest, finest bristles you can. Then, with a good razor, give the brush a "crew cut." Slice the bristles so they are about 1" long in the front, and angle cut it so the bristles are about 1.5" long in the back.

Wet the brush with your cleaning fluid even if you've flooded the LP with cleaning fluid first. Apply the brush with the short bristles leading ... the longer bristles trailing behind. What's called a "radiator" brush works well from an ergonomic perspective: instead of being straight, it's angled ... approx. 130 degrees between handle and brush.

I've found this to be effective yet gentle, and it gets deeper into the grooves than any other record brush I've used. (BTW, if you're interested, and if you reply with your email, I'll send you photos of my patent-pending homemade machine ... which I swear blows away any VPI or NG in its suction and cleaning power: 1 full hp vacuum motor).

Best regards,
Paul

I also believe that no fancy Disk-doctor type of brushes are needed. At the same time the supplied brush is realy bulky and might scratch vinyl.
The best result I acheived using a Last broomes that look like a window cleaner.

Thanks the all the ideas. I finding that cleaning albums is something that takes a touch. While I'm truely impressed with the 16.5, it also has its limitations. I think just using VPI cleaner and vacuuming is good for new and lightly soiled records. When it comes to 20 year old fingerprints, it time to pull out the detergent, mold killers, whatever.

The VPI brush is good, but do be careful. The tiny scratches I saw only showed up on the inside smooth groove and never dulled the rest of the album. I also read in another thread that someone had a similar complaint.

I'm going to experiment with some more cleaners. The VPI stuff seems to be a bit lite for the tough mold and finger prints. 5 minute soakings have helped, but the grunge is still there. DiscDoctor sounds good, but ouch, those brushes are expensive. I might just get the DiscDoctor goop and try the above mentioned brush.

Good luck,

Somehow I managed to use VPI for even stained and garage-acquired vinyls that can now easily can be graded VG.
I simply did a few cleaning cycles and it does the job.