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Record Cleaning Again

I found the following interesting article on Michael Fremer's site:

http://www.musicangle.com/feat.php?id=54

I thought my record cleaning routine was fairly thorough. After reading this article I realize its possible to get much more involved, anal actually. I use RRL SDC followed by SVW on new records. On my older records or used ones I buy, an enzyme cleaner, either VinylZyme Gold or Audio Intelligent precedes those steps. Flip caps are not opened with fingers; a pin or end of a paper clip is used. Separate brushes and vacuum pickup tubes are used for each step. The felt strips on the vacuum pickup tubes are cleaned after each record by holding them over the vacuum port and vacuuming the contaminants off. After every 4 records, the felt strips and brushes are rinsed with their appropriate fluid (except the enzyme tube and brush are rinsed with SVW) and then vacuumed dry. Tubes and brushes are stored in a box to keep them away from dust and other contaminants. Anyone go to the extremes outlined in the article? The idea of spreading contaminants from record to record is plausible, and I hope my method limits that.
jeff_ss
sean
6,229 posts
 
Fremer's article

I've been using a similar method for quite some time. Three different record cleaning machines for each disc. Machine one ( VPI 16.5 ) is used to scrub side A of the disc with cleaning solvent and then i vacuum off the sludge. Machine two ( VPI 16.5 ) is used to scrub side B of the disc with cleaning solvent and then i vacuum off the sludge. The third machine ( Nitty Gritty 1.5FI ) is used to rinse side A with distilled water and then vacuumed and then the same procedure is repeated for side B i.e. rinsed with distilled water and then vacuumed. The fact that i've got less money into these three machines than what i could buy one VPI 17 for makes it all worthwhile in my book.

In case your wondering about cost, one VPI 16.5 was purchased from Music Direct, the NG 1.5FI was purchased from Audio Consultants and my other 16.5 was purchased used from a local here in Chicago that advertised the unit on Agon.

I just purchased another used 16.5 off that i found advertised on the net. After one of my friends heard some of his discs before and after cleaning using my method, he couldn't believe the difference in sonics or how good vinyl could actually sound. He asked me to find him an RCM ( record cleaning machine ) and this recent purchase is for him. At the same time, i talked him into purchasing a new stylus for his TT, so between cleaning the records and a new stylus, he can't wait to start playing records again. He has many hundreds that have gone unlistened to for over a dozen years. He's got a lot of discs that i'd like to record, so let's hope all goes well : ) Sean
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dirtyragamuffin
213 posts
 
Wow. Frickin' wow.
winegasman
100 posts
 
"...anal actually." Exactly. If this kind of compulsive behavior works for you, take the time and do it. For me, life's too short -- I prefer to listen to the records I have.
dan_ed
2,451 posts
 
I find if you do one good "anal" cleaning on a record, you don't have to worry about it again. Just an occasional quick rinse with the RRL SVW. So, it's not much extra time really.

Wow! Three different RCMs? Wow! I don't feel so anal retentive anymore.
sean
6,229 posts
 
I sometimes buy a small stack of discs at a time, making "assembly line cleaning techniques" very handy. In fact, i just bought 17 discs yesterday, which all need to be thoroughly cleaned. For the cost that i have in the three machines as compared to what one automated machine would cost that won't do as good of a job, it was a no brainer for me. Sean
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