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Record Cleaning - Soap and Water - test results

My wife got me a groovmaster for xmas. I love this thing, I've only cleaned 7's so far but it is so nice to have something to hang onto and keep the labels clean.

Just an update the price went up from $50 to I think $61.
 
I just made mine from a plastic cover as well with wetaherstrips. I also added cabinet handle as it was impossible to find anything better at Loews or Home Depot.
Thank you all (especially Snade) for this great thread!!!
 
Im glad i stumbled across this thread. Ive been fumbling around trying to find parts to build up a vacuum system, but im going to put that off now. Ive had a long love for cheap solutions and diy projects.
 
What about record warping? Make sure not to use hot water, since it can make the discs more malleable. Even with cold water, I've had cheapo LPs (light gram) which developed very slight warps after cleaning. Any thoughts on this?
 
zenith2134 said:
What about record warping? Make sure not to use hot water, since it can make the discs more malleable. Even with cold water, I've had cheapo LPs (light gram) which developed very slight warps after cleaning. Any thoughts on this?
Click to expand...

I rinse with warm water, sometimes very warm but not hot to the touch and had no problems with warping. But agree, using hot water is not recommended.

Also, previous posters to this thread have recommended applying the soapy brush to a dry record to get better cleaning. Don't rinse the record first, before washing with the soapy brush.
 
I see. Thanks, Snade. I'm going to the used vinyl shop in a few minutes with my audio friend. Later = soap and water cleaning. I run our pretty-decent NYC tap water through a Brita and use that to rinse. Pressure you ask? I have a cool little pump/hose setup from an old fishtank which works well! :thmbsp:
 
Why would it be better to start with a dry record? I always rinse them first to get any grit or loose material off first because it could scratch the plastic if you start rubbing with the brush right away.

Doug
 
Doug G. said:
Why would it be better to start with a dry record? I always rinse them first to get any grit or loose material off first because it could scratch the plastic if you start rubbing with the brush right away.

Doug
Click to expand...

See post #19 to this thread.

This is one informed opinion. I've done it both ways with good results.

I don't think a wet, soapy paint brush will scratch a dry record.

Cheers, Snade
 
Hehe, for one thing I forgot how long this thread has gotten!

I'll just say I disagree with the no wetting the record first deal and leave it at that \:^)

Doug
 
Okay, well I just did a before and after on a record and would like to share my thoughts. I went LP shopping today with some friends and bought the following used records:

The Mighty Lemon Drops - Happy Head
Tears for Fears - Songs from the Big Chair
Paul Young - No Parlez
Squeeze - Argybargy
Echo & the Bunnymen - s/t
Crowded House - s/t
B52s - Wild Planet

All of these were in good, used shape but were a bit dusty. The record shop has a decent TT setup where I check out the records briefly before purchasing them. These particular albums sounded okay, but had the usual click and pop that always seems to be present before a wet cleaning.

I listened to The Lemon Heads' Happy Head in its entirety when I arrived home (check the vinyl-only playlist in the Music forum) and it was a bit noisy in between passages.

That was that--it was time to clean em all. I used a dash of Dawn and ice cold, filtered tap water. I ran out of filtered halfway through the stack and continued using regular cold tap water. I left em dry and then blasted em with the soapy water, followed by a soft brush and then a rinse. Dried em with the lint-free towels you can find for like $10 in any car wash (:thmbsp:)

The 'after' result was pretty phenomenal-- It sounds like digital (IN A GOOD WAY!) with hardly any noise at all.

Soap & Water is my preferred method. :yes::thmbsp::music:
 
Snade, great thread and very informative and long.

One of my work jobs is cleaning on a semiconductor coating level.

Has anyone tried to use ultrasonic cleaning for records? This method would remove particulates from the grooves without direct contact. This would require a large and expensive ultrasonic cleaner however.

Has any one tried to dry the cleaned records with filtered clean compressed air?

A knife blast of air and a small % of alcohol is one of the best ways to remove particulates with very little trace of drying effects.

I used to clean records with soap about 30 years ago but still had the clicks and pops remaining. I tried playing the records with a thin coating of water and alcohol. No good.
 
bikezappa said:
I used to clean records with soap about 30 years ago but still had the clicks and pops remaining. I tried playing the records with a thin coating of water and alcohol. No good.
Click to expand...

You might try it again. When you wash with a little Dawn and water the record rinses off very well and when you dry with a microfiber towel, almost all moister is removed and they just need to air dry for half an hour.

I get no pops or clicks on my records cleaned this way with soap and tap water. Scratches, yes I hear those.

Thanks. Snade
 
I posted this a while back. I built mine for up to 5 LPs at a time. I use either softened or DI water for a pressure wash. I recently switched to a paint pad as I feaered the mag wheel brushes may not have been soft enough. Also the last trip to the GW had me using a felt tipped nozzle with my Fein dust extractor (think $400 shop vac on steroids pulling 90" at 116 cfm). This seems more efficient than firing my 5 hp air compressor jus to blow dry records.

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=168431
 
Snade said:
I was looking for something simple and cheap.

After researching on AK I tried this method:

- Groovmaster label saver - to protect the label (cost about $50 and sold by William Sargent, email: wmsar@cox.net)

- Dawn kitchen soap ($1.65) and warm water in empty plastic margarine bowl

- 2 1/2" paintbrush (found one in the garage)

- Microfiber towels (8 for $8.24 at Target)

- Sink in our laundry room and warm tap water to rinse (almost free)​

So far I am very happy with the results. My thrift store records are now very quiet, except for the music.

Here are some photos:


The tools.

record_cleaning1.jpg



Groovmaster in place protecting the label and providing handle for holding record during cleaning.

record_cleaning2.jpg



Clean record with brush dipped in warm water with a little Dawn soap.

record_cleaning8.jpg



Rinse with warm tap water (note: I repeated the brush with soap and water and rinse).

record_cleaning4.jpg



Towel dry (microfiber towels purchased in automotive section of Target).

record_cleaning5.jpg



Air dry for an hour using dish rack.

record_cleaning9.jpg



Before and After photos - this is a record purchased from Goodwill, this is the before cleaning photo.

record_clean_before.jpg



After cleaning - this record sounds great.

record_clean_after.jpg




Cheers, Snade
Click to expand...



Thanks..............simple yet effective.......old albums sound great again.:thmbsp:

BTW, love the Groovemaster...........
 
I've been using this method as well. Thanks, Snade!

It really seems to work. I've been using the no-initial-rinsing method.
 
southp said:
Here are some of the pics I took of the DIY Groovmaster. I still need to clean some of the excess glue off the plastic, but this is a self-explanatory guide. I should also note that I used the plastic outdoor outlet covers (someone else I think used the metal ones).

Grand total was under $10 and about 20 minutes.
Click to expand...

Did the round gaskets come with the outlet cover or were they a separate item?

Thanks,

Doug
 
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