Record Cleaning Thread?

[Marvelmania]

Wasn't there a thread here once about cleaning records and the different devices to clean them that some members are using? I've searched but can't find it or maybe I just imagined it.

[HardyGirl]

If that thread was on before the change over, you won't find it. Most of my old threads are gone.

[Blue Meanie]

The really good machines are a bit pricey. I got my VPI 16.5 used for about $450. If you want a truly cleaned record these are the way to go. If you want a quick cleaning machine so that you can get a lot of surface dirt and dust off of a record you can go with a spin clean machine and they cost around $80 +. With the spin clean you need microfiber towels etc to dry them where as the 16.5 machine it does the work for you. Only thing you really have to worry about the 16.5 is the amount of static build up there will be on the record. There is a process that I use that is a lot different then those seen on the 16.5 You tube videos. One thing that irks me with those videos is that you see the person using 99% Isoprophyl alcohol in there "home brew" of cleaning liquid. Also, they use the cleaning liquid...but don't do a second clean with just straight distilled water. The home brew that they use will sit in the grooves of the record and may damage the grooves. It's a lot more than just using cleaning liquid once and calling it a day. This is my home brew:

4 parts distilled water, 3 drops of unscented detergent preferably the clear All laundry detergent. It's clear and perfume and phosphate free.

The other thing is that I do to spins with just distilled water so it get's literally all the remaining crap out of the grooves. Sort of like a flush.

Hope this helps. If you are getting into records/vinyl you may want to check out the Steve Hoffman forums:

http://forums.stevehoffman.tv/

[Marvelmania]

It helps a lot and thank you so much. I'm using a similar home brew like that using a manual spin clean machine that I got for about $130 and also got a cleaner/ dryer that I put the LP on after a spin clean, turn it slowly while hooked up to my shop vac. That ran about the same price as the spin cleaner so really I'm not in too deep. It did a nice job for the price and my first attempt at cleaning my own. I even double distilled the water lol. Thanks again and for the link too!

[Blue Meanie]

It helps a lot and thank you so much. I'm using a similar home brew like that using a manual spin clean machine that I got for about $130 and also got a cleaner/ dryer that I put the LP on after a spin clean, turn it slowly while hooked up to my shop vac. That ran about the same price as the spin cleaner so really I'm not in too deep. It did a nice job for the price and my first attempt at cleaning my own. I even double distilled the water lol. Thanks again and for the link too!

Glad I could help. The thing about records that helps is that you need to find early pressings of records to get the best sound quality IMHO. The guys and girls over at Hoffman have been a big help with the threads they have about what to look for in a record to determine first pressings and also give information on the best Master Engineers when it comes to pressing records. The biggest tip I can give is to always look at the inner groove to get all the specifics. Any record with Sterling or Masterdisk stamped in the inner groove is usually a first pressing. Also, in a lot of people's opinions on the Hoffman site is the best master engineer is Robert Ludwig. You will usually see his initials next to sterling and Masterdisk. His initials will be etched and not stamped. He actually IS Masterdisk where records are mastered. He started off working for sterling back in the late 60's early 70's. You may even find out that a nice clean first pressing of a record will usually sound better than it's CD counterpart. I can tell and I have a low end system hooked up through my computer Enjoy re-discovering vinyl.