Disc Doctor cleaning fuid is supposed to be the best.I make a home brew given to me by one of the engineers atVP.Empty out 1 Gal of distilled watter into a bowl or two.Add I pint rubbing alcohol into jug.The add 2-3 DROPS of clear dish liquid (rember the "clear" product craze a few years ago?Evrything including clear cola!):ast 2-3 drops of Kodak Photoflow which is a chemical which breaks down fluids (any fuid including plian water) surface tension therby making it flow across surface more easily.Works great.Wheras I haven't used Disc Dr. I have used Tourumat fluid with my VPI 16.5 vaccum machine.Seemed to soften pops on beaters.But the single mostimportant accessory is the LAST record preservative.Again the chief tech at VPI said it this way "I don't sell it so make nothing out of recommnding it.But I wouldn't go without it.Folks bring me LP's at shows where wqe demo our machines and when they use a cleaner to get rid of residue from the release compounds off the LP than just clean it with water and use the LAST preservative ,well I have heard Lp's with 500 plays that sound like they have been played 10 times!!!!"It's expensive when you look at what the price per Oz. is but is one of the very few TRUE bargains in this overpriced hobby.Oh yeah don't forget your VPI Rice paper Sleeves!!!lastly I have myeye out for very fine sand paper to clean styli with as the one thing that does make me nervous is that fluid cleaner could loosen the bond between cantaliever and needle and I don't want it to "creep" up the assmembly and gunk up my coils.
Cheers!
Chazzbo
