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
"...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.
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.
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
>
Great, now I have to get two more brushes and two more heads for my VPI 16.5 and clean all my LPs again. I thought having two brushes, three fluids (yes I cheat and double uo two fluids on the same brush) and a mat was enough. Can't believe the article did not mention wearing white lint free cotton gloves while handling albums too.

Good thing football season is over, looks like I got some work to do.
DLwask:

Funny thing you mention the white cotton gloves-- I am on my way to the photgraphy store for just that! Pretty cheap insurance for $2.00 a pair.

(I have finally decided that I am tired of getting the jackets all fingerprinted etc.)

Happy listening

Richard