Proper Use of Record Research Lab Cleaners

As many know, I use only RR fluids after having tried umpteen commercial and home-brew fluids. I have no interest or connection with RR except that of a satisfied user. I speak from my expereince, hoiping that others will have equal success. If you are happy with your own regimen, though, I am happy, too. This, in general, is how I proceed.

I nearly always use the Deep Cleaner first because it does the job on the pressing release agent on new records and most gunk on old records like virtually no other. I use LAST brushes. Using one, I saturate the pad so that it is good and soaked. Then, as I place the brush on the rotating record, I squirt a bit from a smaller squirt bottle in front of the leading edge of the pad. This ensures a good wet record bit is, perhaps, overkill. I then give it another pass using the same method with a separate brush, except this time using the Super Vinyl Wash.

I submit, though, that the directions could possibly stand a rewording. It does seem from an initial reading that one must wet the surface before using the fluid and that begs the "How" question. I think it just means don't start with a dry brush and then put the fluid on after you've started.

One school of thought holds that the entire record should be "flooded" so that liquid "stands" over the whole grooved surface in order for particles to be suspended and "float" out of the grooves. I use the RR fluids liberally, but not that liberally. In my experience, the vacuum pass is what really carries away the particles (making sure to vacuum the wand after each record. Using the RR fluids in this manner, I rarely have to wash an LP a second time and have no sonic signature when finished (something I cannot say about certain other fluids or especially when using distilled water. In fact, when I originally used distilled water as in a final "rinse" pass, I very often had surface noise to the point I thought the record was worn out. Using the Super Vinyl Wash in the final pass identified the real culprit.

Hi Brian,

First, let me say that I also love RRL fluids. I don't have a RCM yet, so I brush them on by hand, let them sit a minute, then vacuum off with a handheld wet vac. Is that okay?

Second, are you suggesting that even a filthy record should not be water-rinsed before RRL-ing? Seems like I should remove the worst of the loose stuff before brushing the deep cleaner on. I understand about not rinsing after, but won't the SVW remove any contaminants left by an initial water rinse?

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BTW and FWIW, here's the fussy English major's analysis of your instructions:

Peter_S is correct when he states that the phrase, "apply SVW with soft applicator brush to fully wet record", is ambiguous. It can be read either of two ways because a clarifying word is missing.

Since the SVW is meant to do the initial wetting, you should have written, "apply SVW with soft applicator brush to fully wet THE record." The placement of the article makes your intention perfectly clear.

Peter thought you meant, "apply SVW with soft applicator brush to A fully wet record". This of course implies that the record should already be wet. Since you didn't include either article in the sentence, we have to guess.

Proceeding madly, I might as well mention that another word is missing. The lack of the article "a" before "soft applicator brush" strongly implies that such a brush was included with our RRL fluids, which of course is not true. The best phrasing of all would be, "apply SVW with A soft applicator brush to fully wet THE record."

I can't believe I just wrote all this, in public. Feel free to ignore it and answer my first two questions if you'd be so kind!

Hello Doug,

My US Distributor, Garth Leerer made up the labels and instructions. I'll admit, the instructions could have been better. Unfortunately, Garth ordered another 15K labels for each product, so it may be while until the instructions can be changed.

To answer your first question, Doug: Your method works well, as long as you have a soft surface for the record contact area. I suggest white velvet in these areas, as white shows when the velvet is soiled much sooner.

Your second question: I normally dry brush a record prior to wet cleaning using a dual row carbon fiber brush. Don't use much pressure, you just want to remove the large particles. If you rinse the record with anything but RRL, the water you'd be using would likely allow more mineral contaminates to attach themselves to the record, especially if you do a follow up rinse. Remember, this fluid does not need a final rinse as others do.

To answer Peters questions: There are a variety of brushes that a guy could use. I've recommended using a dual row carbon fiber brush in the past. They work well for me and insure that little pressure is used to avoid harming the record. Last brushes, as 4yanx mentions, work well. Disc Doctor brushes are great, but rather expensive. A cheap alternative may be the foam style paint pad brushes seen in larger hardware stores. They will have foam padding and a velvet like contact area. Extra care will be required when using this type of brush, so be careful. You will need 2 application brushes, one for Super Deep Cleaner, another for Super Vinyl Wash. I'd avoid keeping a trough of fluid to soak the application brush. The trough will easily become dirty just with what is in the air and cross contaminate the record application brush, then your record. Every record cleaning fluid bottle that leaves our plant has a flip top cap that comes with it. The flip top cap should be flipped using a small stick pin, never your finger as you may cause cross-contamination. Once the cap is flipped, place enough fluid on the brush to soak it. If the brush is dry, you could scratch the record. If it is wet, there is enough surface tension to avoid scratches. Next you spray enough fluid to thoroughly cover the record and gently move the application brush around the record in a circular pattern. Then you vacuum and play!

I'll cover more on proper record cleaning machine maintenance, if you'd like.

Brian Weitzel
Record Research Labs

I, too, use the paint pad brushes that Brian mentions in conjunction with the Groovmaster (see E-bay) for washing filthy garage sale LP's in the sink prior to VPI cleansing. They work really well and are almost exactly as wide as the grooved area.
David

Thanks Brian. It's great to have your help here. Maybe I'll order 15K bottles right now and help you clear out those old labels!

Thanks to 4yanx I already use the white painting pad sponge/brushes you mentioned, a seperate one for each solution. Walmart sells Rubbermaid brand ones with replaceable pads. Good tip about saturating the whole surface to avoid scratching. I suppose the Last brushes must be even better. No thick sponge to absorb tons of liquid and hold onto contaminants.

I confess it didn't occur to me to open/close the flip tops other than by fingertip. I am ashamed...