Okay. . Time to spill your cleaning secrets!

etcarroll · « **Reply #140 on:** 11 Oct 2010, 09:22 pm »

And once cleaned, I just installed Audacity on my old htpc to rip them to flac.

This may be an all Winter project.

raindance · « **Reply #141 on:** 11 Oct 2010, 10:09 pm »

I tried many cleaning ideas, but in the end got the best results playing my records wet, using plain old tap water applied with my nice, expensive anti-static cleaning brush. The only caveat is you can never go back to playing them dry as the dirt seemed to build up at the bottom of the grooves.

Most cleaning solutions seemed to make the surface noise worse or clog the stylus.

etcarroll · « **Reply #142 on:** 11 Oct 2010, 11:19 pm »

You're kidding, right?

Moisture may wick up the stylus and damage parts in the cartridge.

And I don't know about you, but my tap water is horrid with contaminants that would be left behind when the H2O dries.

Letitroll98 · « **Reply #143 on:** 12 Oct 2010, 03:50 am »

Oh no! We're not getting into the ol' wet play vs dry play debates are we? They're nearly as destructive and futile as cable debates. However, as I see it it's a decision based on the condition of your record collection. If it's trashed, all $1 bin albums and the like, wet play may be a viable option to render them to playable condition. For myself, I use badly scratched and damaged lp's for skeet practice at the back of the estate, so I would never consider wet play as an option. (My butler used to get worn out throwing them, but there are so few of them lately that I've had to go back to clay pigeons) However wet play can work well for some, and they've been doing it for years.

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #144 on:** 12 Oct 2010, 04:46 am »

Quote

For myself, I use badly scratched and damaged lp's for skeet practice at the back of the estate...

That's cheating...their bigger than the clay pigeons.....

pumpkinman · « **Reply #145 on:** 12 Oct 2010, 05:36 am »

Quote from: etcarroll on 11 Oct 2010, 11:19 pm

You're kidding, right?

Moisture may wick up the stylus and damage parts in the cartridge.

And I don't know about you, but my tap water is horrid with contaminants that would be left behind when the H2O dries.

Pumpkins never play them wet Gene

orthobiz · « **Reply #146 on:** 12 Oct 2010, 10:57 am »

Quote from: pumpkinman on 12 Oct 2010, 05:36 am

Pumpkins never play them wet Gene

Sounds like a Halloween movie title.

Paul

etcarroll · « **Reply #147 on:** 12 Oct 2010, 11:05 am »

Quote from: pumpkinman on 12 Oct 2010, 05:36 am

Pumpkins never play them wet Gene

raindance · « **Reply #148 on:** 13 Oct 2010, 02:13 pm »

I lived in a humid climate and my problem was that my LP's got mildew growing on them. This caused a lot of surface noise unless I played them wet. I used some pretty darn high end cartridges and never had an issue with water damaging anything. I had more trouble with "cleaning fluids" that ate away at the glue on the stylus.

rollo · « **Reply #149 on:** 13 Oct 2010, 02:31 pm »

For old records a good ol steam cleaning. first spray some Greenworks cleaner on LP then hold steamer 12" away and steam away. Picked one up at Best Buy around $40 for house cleaning. Never thought to give it a try until I read the Mapleshade catalog. Even the records you thought were pristine clean are not. All new LPs get steamed before playing.
Once steamed and stored a VPI cleaning before play but usually not necassary . The antistatic brush from Mapleshade rids any static buildup. For the sytus a 3M diamond polishing strip a la Linn. very satisfied with the results. Give it a try.

charles

SteveFord · « **Reply #150 on:** 16 Oct 2010, 10:27 pm »

Has anyone actually analyzed what is in the VPI record cleaning solution?
I've been trying to find a MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) with no luck.

bauzace50 · « **Reply #151 on:** 21 Mar 2011, 02:59 am »

@ SteveFord,
the VPI model 16 washing machine has been with me for several years. I use it with the VPI washing solution, purchased in its two versions (ready-to-use, and concentrated), and sometimes I add isopropyl alcohol according to VPI instructions.

Although this process has consistently given me pristinely clean LPs, I don't know the ingredients of the VPI washing formula. Adding the optional alcohol makes me feel better about removal of grease from the LP surface, but I have not actually done with / without testing.

Sorry for not answering your question, but washed LPs here have consistently played perfectly, with absolutely NO sings of untoward washing effects. I would probably build a system such as DaveyW if the VPI machine were not already working to my full satisfaction.

Good luck,
bauzace50

vinyl_guy · « **Reply #152 on:** 26 Mar 2011, 03:30 am »

I have added steaming to my cleaning routine. I hold the portable steamer about 4" from the record while it is spinning on my VPI-17. I use a steam, clean & scrub, steam, then rinse cycle with excellent reults.

orthobiz · « **Reply #153 on:** 26 Mar 2011, 11:07 am »

Quote from: vinyl_lady on 26 Mar 2011, 03:30 am

I have added steaming to my cleaning routine. I hold the portable steamer about 4" from the record while it is spinning on my VPI-17. I use a steam, clean & scrub, steam, then rinse cycle with excellent reults.

What, no enzyme?

Paul

vinyl_guy · « **Reply #154 on:** 26 Mar 2011, 01:53 pm »

Quote from: orthobiz on 26 Mar 2011, 11:07 am

What, no enzyme?

Paul

The enzyme is in the clean and scrub stage with bizzyme

orthobiz · « **Reply #155 on:** 26 Mar 2011, 02:25 pm »

Quote from: vinyl_lady on 26 Mar 2011, 01:53 pm

The enzyme is in the clean and scrub stage with bizzyme

Ahhhh! I'm going to my Linn dealer today and he has discerning ears and tastes. I'm giving him some enzyme, wonder if he'll like it...........

Paul

jimdgoulding · « **Reply #156 on:** 30 May 2011, 12:03 pm »

Help! Anybody know if motor oil can replace the bering oil in a turntable platter well? I'm out of the lubricant supplied. Anybody have a suggestion about this? Thanks.

SteveFord · « **Reply #157 on:** 30 May 2011, 12:42 pm »

What turntable? I believe that VPI states 10W40 non detergent but people are just substituting Mobil 1 if they have that lying around.
Viscosity breakdown at higher RPMs isn't exactly a consideration...

jimdgoulding · « **Reply #158 on:** 30 May 2011, 01:44 pm »

A Nottingham. Did I read that correctly? VPI says 10W40 non detergent?

nature boy · « **Reply #159 on:** 30 May 2011, 02:08 pm »

Jim,

You might want to check this thread out at Agon FWIW.

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?eanlg&1005457853&openfrom&1&4#1

NB