Snap, crackle, pop

Forgive the long post but maybe as a used record buyer and Spin Clean owner myself, some of the below will help...

I use a Spin Clean and actually find it a pretty effective record cleaning system. Just don't try and clean 50 records with one solution like the Spin Clean people say you can. I usually clean no more than 10 because by that time, you can start to see the dirt settling at the bottom. Time to change the solution to a fresh bath.

I also buy a lot of used records and my number one rule is that I have to inspect it first. So that confines me to record shows and shops and never, never Ebay. You can't take the record out of its jacket and inspect it.

Here is what I learned about buying used records with regards to rice krispies (snap, crackle and pops).

1. Make sure your not confusing it with static.
2. Its often more a case of the vinyl being worn rather than dirty, especially after a good Spin Cleaning.
3. Records, particularly those from the early 70's, were pressed on cheap, recycled vinyl due to the OPEC oil embargo. This exacerbated the problem with records wearing prematurely.
4. Vinyl was the only source and everyone had a turntable so there was a flood a cheap players with equally cheap ceramic cartridges that gouged the crap out of these records.
5. The use of automatic changers or stackers did not help the problem either and Garrard and BSR sold a ton of them. Records slapping down on one another is not a good thing!

So, how do you find good, used records to avoid a lot of the damage that was done? Here are some tips that work for me.

1. Use a Zero Stat along with your cleaning rituals. I find that they really do work especially in the cold, dry climate I live in 6 months of the year. Its a necessity.
2. Carefully remove the used record from its sleeve and inspect it. If there are scratches, pits, or severe warps avoid it. I have found a little dirt of dust is OK, especially if I can blow on the record and it moves off. The Spin Clean will take care of the rest.
3. Look at the label on the record. Does it have a white ring starting to form on the paper label? If so, good sign it was played on a stacker and the ring is from the labels getting slapped together. Avoid it.
3. Not much you can do about an album you really want from the early 70's as most were pressed with the el-cheapo vinyl. Just try and find the best one you can. If you can get a Japanese pressing, 1/2 speed MoFi or Nautilus, your chances of getting a good copy go way up. Most of these types of records were expensive back in the day and usually only audiophiles bought them. So they were played on only very good equipment.
4. Inspect the album jackets. Is a white ring starting to form on each side of the cover? Just like the labels, this is an indication that the records were stored flat, stacked on top of one another for the last 30-40 years. Avoid them. A pristine jacket usually indicates a pretty good record inside as the owner thought enough about both. And probably had very good equipment. If the jacket had the original cellophane on it and the opening was sliced with a razor - even better! I have found several of these and what was inside was like new.
5. Once you score a few using the above guidelines, still give them a bath and bag them in poly lined, anti-static sleeves and discard the paper sleeves as 30 plus years of dirt has accumulated in them. If there are liner notes on the sleeves however, save these but still re-bag the record.

Hope some of the above helps

Thanks for the responses. I do inspect before I buy, but the "white ring" is a new for me to look for.

Usually what I do with all my used records is I first fill the sink with warm soap and water. While the water is running I dip the playing surface in the water and with a large super soft water color brush I use circular motions in both directions to pre wash the lp before I go into the spin clean. Of course I rinse the soap off first. I always dry with super soft cotton towels and then I always use a new anti static sleeves.

As for static, I've never really had an issue, but I live in hot humid louisiana, so static doesn't really present itself.

Yeah, considering where you live, you don't have a static problem. So my guess is the rice krispies come more from worn vinyl than dirt.

Glad to help with the "white ring". It is a telltale indicator that the records were not taken care of, either on the tables they were played on and how they were stored.

Just keep hunting down the best copies of a particular title you can and enjoy the music Brother!

The better the cartridge and arm, the fewer snaps, crackles, etc.

IME, an enzyme-based cleaning solution is the best cure for most snaps, crackles and pops. I have a $2K Loricraft RCM (one of the best) but cleaning with just surfactants ("soap") and rinsing does not remove everything.

The grunge in LP grooves provides a breeding ground for microbial growths. Many of these (or their carcasses) are not easily dissolved by surfactant action alone.

Enzymes, however, are chemically designed to break down organic matter. They will attack and help dissolve stuff that soap and water will not.

Having compared 4 brands, my best results come from AIVS solutions, with their Enzymatic being the most effective for removing snaps/crackles/pops.

BTW, having dissolved all the gunk in the grooves you still need to remove it. A Spin Clean, while economical, will not remove all the grunge-laden liquid before evaporation begins. Allowing the grungy liquid to evaporate leaves the grunge behind, probably broken into smaller particles that may be even harder to remove.

A vacuum-based RCM is the only way to quickly remove grungy fluids before evaporation undoes the work you began with the cleaning steps. You needn't spend $2K, but if truly clean records are your goal, you need to do more than spin.

My experience and $.02...