 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: hans
Date: 2005-01-04 15:29
I am getting ready to copy some of my old Artie Shaw LPs to CD and want to clean the records first.
I was going to rinse them under cold water, but perhaps there are better ways; I am hoping that some BB readers will share their expertise.
TIA,
Hans
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Author: msloss
Date: 2005-01-04 15:50
Sure. Don't use tap water. There are minerals, chlorine, and other non-H20 stuff that is incredibly bad for LPs. At a bare minimum, buy a record brush and a cleaning solution from a hi-fi dealer. Better yet, for around $300 you can get a record cleaner that will properly clean the disc and give you a nice clean and quiet surface to transfer to CD. Check out www.musicdirect.com, www.audioadvisor.com, www.needledoctor.com for ideas (look specifically at Nitty Gritty Dirt Machine and VPI record cleaners, or LAST and Allsop cleaning brushes and solutions).
Have fun.
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Author: Rick Williams
Date: 2005-01-04 15:57
Tap water is a bad idea for the reasons msloss pointed out. Most cleaning machines such as the VPI use a 50% alcohol solution with the other main ingredient being distilled water with perhaps other chemicals.
The VPI machines run around $400+ but a pretty good $20 alternative is the discwasher set which is a brush and solution which you use on the turntable. That said though it doesn't do the job that VPI or some other machines do.
Best
Rick
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Author: Tom J.
Date: 2005-01-04 20:36
Denatured alcohol, available at any hardware or paint supply store, is absolutely the best. It leaves no residue, as will some other cleaning products.
Also use it to clean your stylus.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2005-01-04 20:37
I bought a VPI cleaner several years ago and love it.
I've noticed that many LP stores use the VPI cleaner with vodka as the liquid. It seems to work pretty well. It would probably work well with the Discwasher brush, too. Alcohol will ruin 78s, though, whch are made of shellac, which alcohol dissolves.
Ken Shaw
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Author: msloss
Date: 2005-01-04 20:56
Do they still make the DiscWashers? Mine is aging and I hadn't found a replacement. Thank goodness - I'm going shopping...
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Author: BobD
Date: 2005-01-04 22:00
I think the dangers of tap water are a bit exaggerated here....unless it contains high iron content. Still, I use bottled, distilled or spring water on a damp sponge going over the disc in a circular motion a few times. Another favorite is vodka and water.....but wring the sponge out into an iced glass when done.
Bob Draznik
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Author: hans
Date: 2005-01-04 22:51
Thank you all for the great suggestions and advice. It made me rethink the problem. I now plan to contact a nearby professional audio/video business to see if they have a cleaning system and are willing to do the work. Plan "B": I'll fill my discwasher with vodka and distilled water.
The records I am going to transfer to CD contain some of Artie Shaw's less common works; e.g., his classical recordings and his Interlude in Bb, so I want to be sure that it is done right (although working with vodka might be more fun).
Thanks again,
Hans
Post Edited (2005-01-04 23:01)
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Author: hans
Date: 2005-01-08 02:20
Update: I was unable to find a professional record cleaning service in my area, so I tried 50/50 vodka and distilled water in a discwasher brush but it didn't even clean off finger prints.
Then I used a carbon fibre brush for the dust, followed by IPA, wiped off with a non-abrasive cloth which my optometrist supplies to clean eye glasses.
IMO the results were very good for the first record (of a set of 4). I hope to finish the job tomorrow.
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Author: ned
Date: 2005-01-14 02:36
There has been no problem for me in cleaning LPs and EPs in warm soapy water using a soft cloth and wiping either, clockwise or counter. Rinse under cold water and put the wet discs on the dish rack to dry out . Take care not to wet the labels though if possible.
The grooves in LPs are fairly robust, so you need not be alarmed - old 78s are even more rugged, but are of course more brittle though.
I have achieved good results so far in removing ingrained dust and grease, but I must admit that I was a little unsure if I as doing the right thing initially.
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