Steam cleaning records 2

04-30-09: Crem1
Using water hydrates vinyl.

Really?

If the compounds that make LPs are proprietary, how do you propose proving this statement?

Tvad, a a Record cleaning fluid designer & I spent a day discussing LP compounds. She related that she interviewed nearly two dozen gentleman in Europe that designed and/or contributed to the formulations that make LP vinyl. Over hours of discussion, I learned that H20(water) was a "secret" to the mix of vinyl. Please read "Tracking Angle" a Ez-ine by Michael Fremer; An excellent article exists there to explain the composition of vinyl . Read it.

Crem1, water being a secret ingredient of vinyl does not prove water applied after the LP is manufactured hydrates vinyl.

Water runs off vinyl, as it does other plastic.

I doubt applying steam to clean an LP, or water as a rinse does anything to hydrate vinyl.

Whow -------- what a long thread!!!!
can this be SO deep a subject?

I have done all sorts of 'hand washing' and later steam cleaning also (a bit), I then had a Nitty and it was just to compare results. Steam cleaning "might" have helped in some VERY heavy cases --- but it NEVER got rid of what I thought might still have been dirt in the groove, causing groove noise. The record was just shot, pitted grooves, maybe the steam cleaning did the rest. Old Mercuries come to mind, hard and brittle vinyl. The more you clean them the worse they get.

I later got a Hannl MERA, the Nitty (top of the rage model)gave me some problems, and then some.

I cleaned all my records over (uff, eventually). The ones from the Nitty days, having been done, some of them 5x or more, BUT not steam cleaned.

EVERY record done with the Hannl (I don't sell the stuff or get commission) was sounding just clearer, a bit more transparent. BUT, there are always some that do not improve the way you'd like. So, I tryed to steam clean those after the Hannl had done its bit 2x - 3x ---- no further improvement.
Sorry to report: NO, zilch difference --- can't make a silk purse from a pigs ear, simple as that.
AND may I say, I have truly tried my share of cleaning concoctions. I'm back with ~ 1/3 Isopropyl Alcohol, ONE drop of liquid soap, a few grains of pool chlorine (kills the algae in the waste container) and the rest distilled water.

Sure you heard the recipe 100 times in a thread THAT length.

Best greetings,
Axel

Tvad, Do you own LPS? Do you actually Steam Clean LPS? Should the answer be no,fine, should your answer be yes than clean them & enjoy the playback experience.