What is the best record cleaning solution

[Timbo101]

I have a poll, but speak up if I didnt list ur favorit
cheers, Tim

[classicstylus]

Tim, I have experimented with many different magic potions but keep coming back to the following:- One fifth industrial meths, four fifths distilled water plus one drop of washing up liquid. I use this in my Knosti Disco Antistat and with my Loricraft RCM. In the UK, you need need to contact HM Customs and Excise to get permission to buy the industrial meths. Best wishes, Michael.

[edd9000-us]

I used to use the standard isopropanol. Ive recently started using pheonix from sleeve town with very good results. Its nicely priced too.

edd

[Timbo101]

Thanks for the replies, but what should I use to wipe the records down with? and what is Industrial meth?
cheers, Tim

[fittedshirt]

I just got this Vinyl Zyme wash from Todd the Vinyl Junkie online, I have to say the stuff works pretty great. The price is pretty stiff, $50 for the concentrate, but that makes 2 - 4 gallons of solution depending on the strength. Spray that stuff on, use a light dust brush to spread it around, let it soak in for 30 sec. - 1 minute, then hit it with the mobile fidelity sound labs brush also available from ttvj.com, and you are golden. I don't work for the guy or anything, but i am pretty stoked with the system, it is really cleaning up the old vinyl.

[classicstylus]

Tim, industrial meths is pure alcohol. Don't confuse it with methylated spirits, which has been adulterated to make it horrid to drink! The advantage of getting permission to buy industrial meths is that it works out much cheaper to buy than isopropanol and is absolutely pure. Using it on its own on an LP is serious overkill, although it evaporates quickly. Using my mixture with the Knosti, you don't wipe the LP dry after it has been twiddled and brushed in the Knosti bath. You put it in the supplied rack to drip dry, which doesn't take long in a warm room. Best wishes, Michael.

[edd9000-us]

Over here in the usa, im pretty sure Methylated spirits is called denatured alchohol which ytou dont want.

As for pure methanol, im not sure what that is refered to here.

edd

[Alec124c41]

Denatured alcohol is ethyl alcohol, with methyl alcohol added to make it undrinkable.
Methanol is sold as lacquer thinner. I have read somewhere that it is not recommended for vinyl records, and certainly not for 78's.

Cheers,
Alec

[classicstylus]

I have tried homemade alcohol free mixtures, including "Sea Clean" from James Products Ltd.. This is designed for ultra sonic cleaners, but I tried it, heavily diluted, with some success. It's OK with the Loricraft, but seems to leave a slight residue if used in the Knosti. I see elsewhere that some Vinylista thinks I was suggesting that an LP should be wiped with seaweed from the beach! I don't think I'll be lending him any vinyl! "Sea Clean" contains an extract of seaweed, among other things. All good wishes, Michael.

[TheChairGuy]

I use this stuff from LAT International right outside of Philly: http://www.latinternational.co.....-disk.html

It's about half the price of the Vinyl-zyme, which I have bought and didn't find the Vinyl-zyme to be any better, offhand.

I also use LAST Power Cleaner before applying the Kleer-Disc....it seems to remove lone more layer of grime that the general cleaners cannot. Most of the vinyl I have that has been treated with both are among the quietest and best.

The LAST stuff is pricey....US$40 and it only treats maybe 60-70 album sides. The LAT makes enough for a gallon and enough to treat hundreds of albums sides (in fact, I am just running out now after 4 years )

To me, the LAST stuff is worth it as it does offer something further in the cleaning process I have not heard with any other (and I have tried several). I tried a similar pre/power-cleaner from Microsorb and I think the LAST stuff works better: http://www.needledoctor.com/Mi.....rd-Cleaner

John
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[fatal]

I generally get a spray bottle 3/4 water 1/4 alcohol and a few drops of dish soap and a good velvet brush or microfiber towels seem to take the snap crackle and pop out of records when they recieve a little maintenance before use i believe record cleaners are over priced and do far less than this solution that is described here

[Timbo101]

Well, now that I have my solution down, post some links to good brushes

[Freds]

I have had a bash at quite a few different ways of cleaning records.

The BEST way I found is using a VPI record cleaning machine, VPI brush to scrub the record and a home brew cleaning fluid consisting of isopropyl alcohol (about 20%), distilled water (about 80%) and a few drops of PURE detergent (Extran) and photoflow. Using the vacuum to suck the fluid off the record gets it dry real quick. New inner liners are Nagoaka 102. Records are stored inside zipsealed plastic outers (HDPE, not PVC), except boxed sets.

Record noise on cleaned records is almost non-existent. And some of the records I have bought second hand have had mould and dirt stuck to them. Now they look almost mint.

Not the cheapest way to go if you buy a record cleaning machine (it helps to have a share in a hi fi shop which bought one), but I reckon the best way by far.

I had built a homemade machine out of an old turntable and a vacuum cleaner with a specially modified cleaning nozzle covered in velvet ribbon. A large unwieldy contraption, but it worked well. Of course the VPI machine is way more convenient.

[1200y3]

Distilled water with a 50% isopropanol mix was pretty standard and it will guarantee dry inner grooves, killing molds or bacteria. Distilled water with a drop of Electrosol just enough to wet) works too. Don't try too many sophisticated chemicals unless the record needs deep cleaning. Vacuum dryers are a great idea if you have interest in clumsy products. I use an upholstery brush with a 1/16 inch slot and its as simple as that! The groove mask from Old Colony makes the record the deepest black shiny disc you will see, but proper use requires multiple thin coats and a week. It even pulls off some of the mistracking chips, quieting the buzz. D4 works best if the instructions from the first years are used. It warms and lubricates the grooves according to some theories. Velvet and corduroy brushes can be built for wetting discs, or building stylus cleaner brushes.(After 30 years of wasting money on this hobby!)

[Ianmac]

Am I out on my own using an ultrasonic cleaner

Ianmac