Can anyone recommend a decent kit for cleaning vinyl records? Some are starting to skip and look like there's dust in the grooves. Had a look online but there's loads.
Can anyone recommend a decent kit for cleaning vinyl records? Some are starting to skip and look like there's dust in the grooves. Had a look online but there's loads.
warm water and washing up lipsquid works fine and gently wipe with a none abrasive lint free cloth, just dont keep it under for hours in case the label may disintegrate.
also lighter fluid and a lint free none abrasive cloth, wipe following the grooves
Professional Mel-the-Bell Simulator................"So realistic, I found myself reaching for the Kleenex King-Size!" - Richard Darling
Can recommend the Disco Antistat cleaner as a good compromise between cost, ease of use and effectiveness - comes with a bottle of cleaning fluid. If you just want the liquid, you can make your own from 1 part isopropyl alcohol to 5 parts distilled water and a few drops of photographic wetting agent (if you don't much worry about the long term you could use meths, tap water and fairy liquid instead,at your own risk...) some will warn you of the dangers of using any alcohol, but the only other option I've found is art du son, and that stuff ain't cheap...
I use the Disco Antistat machine as well, it is a bit of a chore to use, but it works really well on those neglected store finds with piles of crape on them. They used to be about 50 quid each years ago but you can get them cheaper if you shop around ( the one below is FREE postage, postage can be high as they are heavy ). Also the bottle can be a little fragile and split ( store upright )There is a generation 2 machine but it seems to have only undergone a colour change and had a handle fitted.
For general cleaning I use a bottle of record cleaning fluid and a duo pad record cleaning sponge ( red side and black side ) these are not that easy to find ( about a tenner each ). For LP cleaning, I put a plastic sleeve cover on an old double LP which I got from a charity shop, taped it down. I rest the LP on this to support it when cleaning to avoid snapping the LP if it is slightly fragile
By the way, do try NOT to try any of that crazy stuff on youtube, as you have heard from some above posts, these ideas often suck and can damage records. Like the guy who says jumping up and down on records can remove warps, the guy who says use a hot air paint stripper gun to remove scratches, wood glue to remove dust, or dynamite to remove wood glue. Remember records are people too, treat them kindly and they will still let you down.
Every time I read that the oldest person in the world has died, I have to do a quick check to see it isn't ME..........
What are you doing to your records to get that much dust in the grooves to make your records skip? Is your turntable in a wood working shop or teddy bear stuffing factory?
</joke>
Do you play tour records with the top off your turntable and does your stylus need a clean too.
I always give my records a once over with a carbon fiber brush before playing so that the crud does not build up. Still over time crud can build up, I have a lovely mint copy of Computer World by Kraftwork. I've played it so much its not a pristine record anymore, you can hear the crackle of dust but never a skip.
If you are going to do the soapy water clean, make sure you do not live in a hard water area or you will regret it. I'd recommend distilled water.
They've never been cleaned and a lot were bought second hand and some i've had for years and were not stored well by my mum and dad. Some are over 50 years old.
I can see why you'd want to then. My mum and dad brought some records over from their loft that I requested. Some had clearly developed mold and needed to be gently bathed.
It always amazes me when I watch youtube videos of people showing their vinyl off how silent some of them manage to get it. My system makes a slight roar in even unmodulated grooves and its not like I have cheap crappy stuff (Technics SL1210 turntable , Audio Technica AT440mla stylus, Audiolab 8000a amp). I'm sure some of the videos were processed and the poster is just not saying.
I've ordered a spray and some lint free cloths from Amazon, you get a brush that helps keep dust off them, all for £10. Had a look and some of my older LP's really do need cleaned, particularly my vinyl copy of Paranoid by Black Sabbath from 1970, it looks like it's seen a few parties and really needs cleaned but it still plays OK, Iron Man is a bit scratchy though.
! Standby alert !
“There are four lights!”
Step up to red alert. Sir, are you absolutely sure? It does mean changing the bulb!
Looking forward to summer in Somerset later in the year :)
And i am NOT using soapy water, no way! Anyway the label would probably disintegrate.
I have cleaned lots of records this way and never had a label peel off. The labels are pressed into the vinyl when manufactured anyway. Don't use tap water, use distilled and not a lot of washing up liquid, a few drops only. The best I find is Tan Coul suggestion of 1 part alcohol, to 5 parts distilled water, but use a few drops of washing up liquid as a wetting agent. You might wan't to buy some new inner sleeves too, otherwise you might put a clean record into a dirty old sleeve. I also highly recommend Scottie_uk suggestion of using a carbon fiber brush before each play. I do this by placing the record on the turntable, let it spin, place the brush on the run out groves, and slowly move it outwards to the lead in groves. That will remove any dust before play.
I've styluses that have lasted over 8 years, infact the rubber cantilever fails before the stylus tip wears I find. There are some stylus cleaning solutions too, but I don't recommend them. Ortofon put a special coating on the styluses which comes off with these cleaning solutions. Records have been around for over 50 years and still going. Don't listen to audiofools with there non-sense.
Comments
Meh! Do it properly, Get a grinder on it :)
also lighter fluid and a lint free none abrasive cloth, wipe following the grooves
For general cleaning I use a bottle of record cleaning fluid and a duo pad record cleaning sponge ( red side and black side ) these are not that easy to find ( about a tenner each ). For LP cleaning, I put a plastic sleeve cover on an old double LP which I got from a charity shop, taped it down. I rest the LP on this to support it when cleaning to avoid snapping the LP if it is slightly fragile
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Knosti-Disco-Antistat-Record-Cleaning-Kit/183194525028?hash=item2aa73e9d64:g:DH4AAOSwc15bUGke
Adaptor for singles
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Knosti-Disco-Antistat-Replacement-45rpm-Adapter/292664392520?hash=item4424283b48:g:f3gAAOSwAOdbTtes
Duo pad
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Milty-Duopad-Vinyl-Record-Cleaner/291603418119?epid=1642514498&hash=item43e4eb0c07:g:HygAAOSw-VtbI9mn
Cleaning fluid
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Acc-Sees-Record-Cleaning-Fluid-with-Cloth-250ml-/282773857428?_trksid=p2349526.m4383.l4275.c10
Antistatic Brush
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ACC-SEES-PRO-VINYL-ANTISTATIC-CARBON-FIBRE-RECORD-CLEANING-BRUSH/352163268781?hash=item51fe9108ad:g:X74AAOSwYVBZtk7r
For paper sleeves, plastic covers e.t.c. I have used this firm for years, they have consistant quality and are quick, free delivery.
https://www.soundswholesaleltd.co.uk/
That reminds me, I need a new sander...………..
or this
By the way only use these video's at your own peril !
</joke>
Do you play tour records with the top off your turntable and does your stylus need a clean too.
I always give my records a once over with a carbon fiber brush before playing so that the crud does not build up. Still over time crud can build up, I have a lovely mint copy of Computer World by Kraftwork. I've played it so much its not a pristine record anymore, you can hear the crackle of dust but never a skip.
If you are going to do the soapy water clean, make sure you do not live in a hard water area or you will regret it. I'd recommend distilled water.
It always amazes me when I watch youtube videos of people showing their vinyl off how silent some of them manage to get it. My system makes a slight roar in even unmodulated grooves and its not like I have cheap crappy stuff (Technics SL1210 turntable , Audio Technica AT440mla stylus, Audiolab 8000a amp). I'm sure some of the videos were processed and the poster is just not saying.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Milty-Duopad-Vinyl-Record-Cleaner/291603418119?epid=1642514498&hash=item43e4eb0c07:g:HygAAOSw-VtbI9mn
Repair Guides. Spanish Hardware site.
WoS - can't download? Info here...
former Meulie Spectrum Archive but no longer available :-(
Spectranet: the TNFS directory thread
! Standby alert !
“There are four lights!”
Step up to red alert. Sir, are you absolutely sure? It does mean changing the bulb!
Looking forward to summer in Somerset later in the year :)
I have cleaned lots of records this way and never had a label peel off. The labels are pressed into the vinyl when manufactured anyway. Don't use tap water, use distilled and not a lot of washing up liquid, a few drops only. The best I find is Tan Coul suggestion of 1 part alcohol, to 5 parts distilled water, but use a few drops of washing up liquid as a wetting agent. You might wan't to buy some new inner sleeves too, otherwise you might put a clean record into a dirty old sleeve. I also highly recommend Scottie_uk suggestion of using a carbon fiber brush before each play. I do this by placing the record on the turntable, let it spin, place the brush on the run out groves, and slowly move it outwards to the lead in groves. That will remove any dust before play.
I've styluses that have lasted over 8 years, infact the rubber cantilever fails before the stylus tip wears I find. There are some stylus cleaning solutions too, but I don't recommend them. Ortofon put a special coating on the styluses which comes off with these cleaning solutions. Records have been around for over 50 years and still going. Don't listen to audiofools with there non-sense.