[nnck]

I've been picking up several used LPs that could use a little bit of cleaning. An actual record cleaning machine is an upgrade I hope to acquire soon.

But in the meantime, I have an old discwasher brush you manually use to clean vinyl - You know the kind: apply solution to one side of brush,  clean record with wet side of brush while its spinning on your TT, slowly rotate brush to the dry side to remove solution.

The cleaning solution for this system is running pretty low. My question is, can I just make something up myself to use with this? Does anyone know what is actually in the discwasher system cleaning solution?

Thanks.

[mhconley]

I imagine you could make the solution but I cannot answer your question about what's in it...  When mine ran low I bought from J&R on eBay (can't go wrong at $3.49 a bottle shipped)  I too want to buy a real RCM someday...

Martin

[nnck]

I imagine you could make the solution but I cannot answer your question about what's in it...  When mine ran low I bought from J&R on eBay (can't go wrong at $3.49 a bottle shipped)  I too want to buy a real RCM someday...

Martin

Ha. Didnt realize it was so cheap and easily obtained. Guess I should have bothered to look a bit first 

I'll probably pick up a bit of that. But maybe a better question is - is there something better I could make, rather than use the standard solution they provide?

[Wayner]

I've been making my own for years. 1 part 99% isopropyl alcohol, 3 parts water (reverse osmosis or filtered some how). Put that into a misting bottle and damp mist your brush to clean the record, while spinning. Works very well, no ill effects (40 years of doing so) and records become nice and shinny, free of static pops.

Wayner

[Delta Wave]

You can buy a 99 cent gallon bottle of De-ionized water at the grocery store, it's like reverse osmosis as Wayner said, but contains even less minerals... It's what any kind of laboratory will use for cleaning/rinsing instruments and containers where purity and/or contamination would be a factor.

[vinyl_guy]

You can buy a 99 cent gallon bottle of De-ionized water at the grocery store, it's like reverse osmosis as Wayner said, but contains even less minerals... It's what any kind of laboratory will use for cleaning/rinsing instruments and containers where purity and/or contamination would be a factor.

I buy deionized water from Culligan in a 5 gal bottle for $3.50. I use it for mixing and diluting concentrated cleaning solutions like Disc Doctor and as a final rinse after cleaning on my RCM.

[Delta Wave]

I buy deionized water from Culligan in a 5 gal bottle for $3.50. I use it for mixing and diluting concentrated cleaning solutions like Disc Doctor and as a final rinse after cleaning on my RCM.

Good to know you can get it there, I'm almost out. 

[nnck]

No issues with H2O as I have my own home RO unit I've installed.

So is the consensus that roughly 25% isopropanol is all you need for cleaning?

[vinyl_guy]

So is the consensus that roughly 25% isopropanol is all you need for cleaning?

I am not sure there is a consensus on this. Wayner likes his home brew of 25% iso; I prefer buying and using cleaning fluids dedicated to cleaning vinyl. My favorites are the Audio Intelligent fluids and the Disc Doctor fluids (I'm not a DIY girl) with a RCM. Others mix iso with a surfactant; still others mix in an enzyme cleaner.

[jtwrace]

No issues with H2O as I have my own home RO unit I've installed.

So is the consensus that roughly 25% isopropanol is all you need for cleaning?

I'm in the same boat and that's what I'm hoping for too.  Sounds like a mist on a brush and wipe the record.  I hope it's that easy! 

[Delta Wave]

I use the Disc Doctor fluids, DI water and a RCM as well. I've tried the DIY thing but I much prefer the speed, ease and uniformity of the RCM. 

[cheap-Jack]

I've been picking up several used LPs that could use a little bit of cleaning. An actual record cleaning machine is an upgrade I hope to acquire soon.

...Sounds like a mist on a brush and wipe the record.  I hope it's that easy! 

Recyled vinyls needs proper pre-play treatment than only "a mist on a brush & wipe the record".

I've picked up tons of recyled LPs from thrift stores. Before playing any, I always submerge them in a small bath of ozonated steam distilled water (available on sale from local drug stores for 98cents for a 4-litre bottle). I scrub each of them heavily with a lint-free towel for 5 cycle-times to make sure any dirts/dust  will be removed. Then the washed LPs are hung dry before their first play.

After the cleansing treatment, the cleaned LP can then play with "a mist on a brush & wipe the record."

Use the same steam distilled water, no NEED mixing any chemicals. ALL my recyled LPs sound superb as I WET play them ALL.

In fact, I home-brew the wet play distilled water I use on ALL my LPs. Guess how? I compare my home-brew distilled water & find them much more sparkling transparent than those commercial grade steam distilled water even after a month of storage.

c-J

[orthobiz]

I've been making my own for years. 1 part 99% isopropyl alcohol, 3 parts water (reverse osmosis or filtered some how). Put that into a misting bottle and damp mist your brush to clean the record, while spinning. Works very well, no ill effects (40 years of doing so) and records become nice and shinny, free of static pops.

Wayner

Don't forget 3 drops of Bizyme!

Paul

[orthobiz]

Use the same steam distilled water, no NEED mixing any chemicals. ALL my recyled LPs sound superb as I WET play them ALL.
c-J

I'd love to see a youtube of a record WET played!

Paul

[Delta Wave]

Depending upon what record I put on , there's a little wetness every now and then... 

[Wayner]

Don't forget 3 drops of Bizyme!

Paul

Oh, yeah, that's already in my water mix. So add 3 drops of Biz-jizz to a gallon of water. I think I remember putting a cap full in the gallon of water. 

 

[cheap-Jack]

Hi.

I'd love to see a youtube of a record WET played!

Paul

Well, I've WET play my many many hundreds of new & recyled LPs for many years now & my very picky ears won't allow me to turn back to dry play where I first started LP playing.

Why? The music sound much more FLUID & ENGAGING.

I simply apply a thick coating of pure distilled water (NO, no no chemicals mixing please!!!) on the LP. It's that simple.

c-J

[Miney]

Don't forget 3 drops of Bizyme!

Paul

Paul - are you referring to Biozyme?  Gotta find me some...

[nnck]

Don't forget 3 drops of Bizyme!

Paul

So where do you get this Bizyme? And what does it actually do?