Proper Use of Record Research Lab Cleaners

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?

---
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...

Hi Doug,

Thanks for the info on the Rubbermaid paint pads. I'll check them out later today. Garth Leerer, my distributor, always wanted me to sell an application brush. I just couldn't see re-inventing the wheel. There are so many household and hardware based products out there that work very well.

Remember to always keep your brushes in a container of some sort, so that the brushes aren't exposed to dust and other contaminates. Keep those vacuum tubes clean, too. Rinse them off every 3 to 4 cleanings, or as needed. Keep an old ruined record sitting on your record cleaning machine while not in use to help keep the record contact area dust/contaminate free.

Oops, I almost forgot. I'll process your order immediately, Doug. Which shipping company do you prefer?

Brian Weitzel
RRL