VPI cleaner clear tubes cracking

Bottom line: If the tubes are cracking, you've either got a problem with physical stress to the tubes or the chemical cleaning agent that you are using is eating them up / breaking down the plasticizers which keep the tubes flexible.

The physical stress part should be easy to verify and correct. As to whether the chemicals that you are using are eating up the tubes, i would try replacing the tubes and at the same time, try a different cleaning solution. What would scare me is that, if the tubes are getting eaten up, what is it doing to your vinyl ? While it is true that the tubes see a LOT more chemical solution than what any individual piece of vinyl would ever see, the initial and residual effects are probably not good to begin with. Sean
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I am starting on my 3rd tube in about 5 years. I think it has to do with the alcohol. I use a solution of 1/3 alcohol, 2/3 distilled water, a few drops of PhotoFlow surfactant and a few drops of Windex. Maybe I should cut down more on the alcohol :-(

Mike

I would

Mine has never developed any cracking. I don't use alcohol-based solutions, nor do I add any to the VPI solution. VPI actually suggests that adding alcohol is OK (up to 25%, I think)! So, they don't see it as a problem, but it might be worth asking them.

While I have the floor: I use the VPI cleaning solution. Are there real merits to using a different one or a homebrew?

Hi CPD: regarding different record cleaning solutions: Record Research Labs Vinyl Wash was compared to a number of others (not by me, another member ran the test) the findings were that the RRL did not leave behind its' own sonic signature, compared to the others tested.