Trying A New DIY Record Cleaning Solution

[Mister Pig]

The Post You Reference Is

I think we are on the same page, here ...

a direct answer to a question posed in post #23. I still get incremental improvements on previously cleaned records.

On vinyl that is dirty and has not been cleaned, it works extremely well. Such as the Beach Boys record I listed in the opening post. I find the solution works well on the fist pass.

Now of course with all DIY cleaning recipes you must add the acronym YMMV. All of these recipes are cheap enough for you to mix up a batch and give them a try. First hand knowledge will be the final arbiter on what works and doesn't work for you. Many of these solutions have common ingredients among them, so make a few different formulas and try them out.

Regards
Mister Pig

 

[ripblade]

I think when it comes to many of these DIY cleaning type solutions the chemicals are fairly benign and diluted. Now this is not always the case, as I think the Scrubbing Bubble method is going to be pretty harsh.

Actually, it's quite benign as well. As it says on the bottle, it will not scratch. I tried it based on another thread here and found the results resonable, but like so many other solvents it couldn't remove old fingerprints. In the process I discovered it's very similar to the stuff sold at optical outlets to clean prescription eyeglasses. I now use it for that very purpose.

 

[markd51]

Actually, it's quite benign as well. As it says on the bottle, it will not scratch. I tried it based on another thread here and found the results resonable, but like so many other solvents it couldn't remove old fingerprints. In the process I discovered it's very similar to the stuff sold at optical outlets to clean prescription eyeglasses. I now use it for that very purpose.

Sometimes, there's not going to be a cleaner made, that will remove fingerprints. The Vinyl is permanently etched, and eaten from acids, or some other crud that was on the hands when the past owner handled them.

As an example, I've seen certain people, who's body chemistry was so caustic-acidic, that they could eat the gold plating off a cheap watch in a matter of weeks.

It's tough to determine sometimes just how detrimental a cosmetic fubar is on a record? My take is, if it isn't heard, the hell with it! lol

I buy used vinyl as much as I can, with what limited availability I have here.
Sadly, Waylon, and Willie aren't my cup of tea, and such abounds here. Willie Nelson fans would have a field day here! Not that I disprespect ole Willie, but truth is, I'm the type of person who cannot tolerate any one genre of music for too long, as it would drive me nuts!

So, with that said, I'm darn mighty particular with the vinyl I'll carry home from a store. Much of my criteria is determined from the fact that an expensive MC Cartridge is tracking those grooves. So, I have to be mighty particular, when I select an LP. If it looks like it has potential, then it comes home. If it doesn't, I sadly take a pass, and then hope for the future, that a certain LP I want comes along, in really good shape.

Darn, I hate to say this word, but sometimes, I have to just settle for the 'Digital" version (CD) to get my thrills. Oh well. Life is too short to sweat over such little things. Overall, I'm happy! I call it the ole 1-2 punch to nirvana. Mark

 

[Mark W.]

There is a guy over at vinylengine who is a chemist, he analyzed several commercial record cleaners using a gas spectrum thingee. I based my DIY fluid on his recommendations which is:

80% Distilled water
20% 90% Isopropyl Alcohol
A few drops of Dawn
A few drops of Armour All (long chain fatty acid, vinyl lubricant)

If that with my DIY RCM don't do it, it gets the Scrubbing Bubbles!!!

LOL that is exactly what I found as the most common of the DIY recipes online. The Armour all is added as an anti foaming agent. Model airplane guys use it for the same thing keeps the alcohol in fuel from foaming.

This is like expensive Honing oil for sharpening knives. By FDA rules the only product that can be labeled as Honing oil is 100% mineral oil. Mineral oil is dirt cheap compared to Honing oil. And Johnsons baby oil is like 99.5% mineral oil and eatable fragrance.

I always bought the $1.88 pint of baby oil instead of the $9.00 4 ounce can of honing oil

 

[MaxSeven]

As an example, I've seen certain people, who's body chemistry was so caustic-acidic, that they could eat the gold plating off a cheap watch in a matter of weeks.

That is an intriguing statement and quite interesting. So how do you determine that the person has body chemistry as such? Are you a physician or similar?

I do know that some people have this chemistry, and it usually stems from diet.

 

[MuthaFunk]

That is an intriguing statement and quite interesting. So how do you determine that the person has body chemistry as such? Are you a physician or similar?

I do know that some people have this chemistry, and it usually stems from diet.

I know a guy who's sweat rubbed varnish off of a piece of a nice chair arm. I saw it with my own eyes. Amazing. I don't know what kind of chemistry would cause that but he claimed it was because his body chemistry was acidic.


I'd imagine one could simply expose a piece of litmus paper to ones hand oils or sweat to find out what the PH is.... the scale is +/- 14 and 7 is neutral.

 

[oldvinyldude]

Mark:

"In any case, I personally would prefer to not have a product such as Armour All anywhere near my records, or my Stylus. IMO, this is nothing more than taking away some contaminants, and just adding some others to the Groove."

I agree-and I read recently, and I know these things can float around the net ad infinitum....that Armor All did improve the sonics of lp's, but after some months, were found to be destroying the vinyl. I do not pretend to know the science behind such things. I just feel that an RCM and a simple water/alcohol/surfactant solution results in the most improvement, when time/cost are factored in. Incremental improvements are always possible, but I do not intend to ever spend 20-30 or more minutes cleaning a recording. Life's too short