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Recommendation wanted - record cleaning brush

R

Rob

Super Member
Banned
Now that I have a TT setup where I can use it I am dusting off my vintage vinyl collection and listening to LPs for the first time again in over a decade. I have misplaced my trusty Discwasher brush and am wanting to buy something decent to replace it, but not at audiophool prices . Anyone have any recommendations? Anything I might find at those Dollar $tores made for the kitchen or bathroom that might work? :) How about of of those directional fiber lint brushes? Hey whatever works right?!

Is 99.9% isopropyl alcohol good as a cleaning fluid?

Thanx,
Rob
 
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Radio Shaft wanted $22.94 with taxes for a record brush. Sorry.

Dollar store wanted a buck, plus fifteen cents tax. Alrighta! :)

This directional fiber lint brush works great! I might make a nice hardwood block for the brush pad so it doesn't look like a lint brush. :)

I don't see how this is any different than my old Discwasher system. :dunno:

$21.79 less poor Rob
 
Hi Rob,

My knowledge is limited, but from what i've read there are mixed opinions about alcohol (isopropyl or otherwise) in RCM fluids out there. Quite a few guys have used a reasonably small proportion - maybe up to 20%? - in their brew with good results and no harmful effects that we know of.

I'm playing safe and use the alcohol-free concentrate from VPI. Does a pretty good job IMO and good value too. One small bottle will make up a US gallon and I've lost count of the number of records I've cleaned with the first lot. Must be around 200.

Guess you could use it with the lint brush, but you'll need to either vacuum, or rinse and air dry, or rinse and vacuum. Otherwise, use a fluid designed for use with just a brush - like the Discwasher stuff. BTW, hope the brush is not shedding any fibers into the groove.

Good luck! :)

Jack
 
Now Rob, I know you like a bargain.

And I know you appreciate versatility.

But please, try not to use the brush for its intended purpose and your records.

Just trying to help;)

I would like to know how it works, and as in car67's post, let me know if you lose any fibers.

I would not use pure alcohol as a cleaning fluid. Your records do contain plasticizers and certain oils required for long term viability which the alcohol may remove too much of.

Why not give your records a bath using distilled water mixed with some alcohol and a few drops of photoflow and scrub with a longer, softer bristle nylon, dry with a soft towel. There are many home made record cleaning formulas available online which may help you develop your own. Someone else on the board may have a favorite?

Use the lint brush to remove dust/fibers just before play, not to clean. JM2c, and hope things work for ya.
 
Thanx for the suggestions guys. My intended purpose here was not to give the records a cleaning bath, but just to remove surface dust and cat hair prior to dropping the stylus. This lint brush looks like it works great for this purpose except that it doesn't neutralize static electricity cling. I thought that a few drops of liquid applied and smooshed over the record surface and brush during the dust removal might help in the static department.

I'll go online as you suggest Ray and get some formulas. It would be easy to build an actual cleaning tank if I ever get that ambitious. The idea of photoflo is a good idea too!

The hi-fi boutique in Edmonton back in the 70's (Harold's Stereo)that got me started and from whom I bought my 511B horns for homemade speakers (an Altec speaker and Marantz dealer) had a fancy record cleaner that they would clean a record for a buck. It used pure methyl hydrate I believe and had a constantly circulating absorbtive string like a belt running over the record on the end of what would be a linear tracking TT and through the tank of fluid.

Rob
 
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I'm with reyneman on this one.

Those lint brushes are usually have a pad made of harsh nylon, no loose fibres but plenty of potential groove damage plus lots of static generation.

Using the right tool for the job will pay dividends.

;)

In this case there is no better record brush than the Hunt.
$20 now now is cheaper than having to replace damaged LPs a few years down the track...

Very good cleaning and no static buildup.

For cleaning fluids, car67's VPI is probably still the best RC fluid on the market.


cheerio


http://www.audioadvisor.com/store/productdetail.asp?sku=MHHUNTBR&product_name=Record Cleaning Brush
 
I have to say there is no need to skimp on a quality brush when they can be had for 10.00. No and I mean no questionable brush goes nowhere near my vinyl. As for cleaning solutions there are many good ones out there. I have never tried any DIY formulas but I know i would steer far clear of any one that recomends Photoflo as an ingredient. That is some nasty stuff we used in printing and it takes a lot of cleaning to get it Off your vinyl. After all that is what your trying to do is Clean your vinyl. Why make it harder and put a questionable chemical in the mix thats a pain to remove.

Grumpy
 
Hey, Grumpy- thanks for the input.

Didn't know photoflow caused such a problem. Many of the DIY formulas recommend a few drops of it per gallon. Truthfully, I didn't add it, but only because I had the other items in the formulas on hand and didn't bother buying any.

What's its purpose in printing? What effects does it have?
 
Grumpy,

I'd gladly pay $10.00 for a good record brush. I still refuse to part with $22.94 however to a store that will not appreciate my hard come by money on a sale that is one way only and no return if I'm not satisfied.

Photo flow breaks down the surface tension of water allowing even wetting. Soap does the same thing. Why is Photo Flow a problem?

Rob
 
Photoflo can be added to paper platemaker Developer tanks to keep gunk from building up on the rollers. It works fine for that but only cuz it coats everything kind of like telfon. Not the kind of stuff I would put on vinyl

Grumpy
 
Rob,

I've had no problems in buying stuff online from reputable sellers like Music Direct, Audio Advisor, Acoustic Sounds.

These guys are usually much more flexible than B&M retail stores like the one way place you mentioned.

BTW those $20 audiophile brushes are likely to last a whole lot longer than the el cheepo variety.
I have a Goldring brush has been around for well over 15 years, the Hunt has been in regular use since 1997.

cheerio
 
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Mike w,

I've got a Goldring and it looks just like the Hunt EDA in the pic. You've got both?

Rob, not sure how much these (above) go for in the states, but for dry brushes I'd recommend them too.

cheers
 
Hiya.

My Goldring is much slimmer than the Hunt and only has two rows of carbon fibres. The Hunt is wider and has two outer rows of long fibres and a felt pad in the centre.

It's quite possible the Hunt has been re-badged as I've seen a few CF brushes that look exactly like my Goldring but with a different nametag.

The Goldring was getting old so has been relegated to being used as a duster for my TT platter etc.

I bought my Hunt in 1997 for $19.99 and when I looked at the Audio Advisor pricelist a few days ago it was still $19.99.

;)
 
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