• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Wood Glue as Vinyl Cleaner

zenith2134 said:
I wood-glue-cleaned a few LPs so far in total. Asia, a trashed SPLHCB and some other one...

Used Elmer's regular, and a small paintbrush, i'd say I used a healthy amount, not thin but not over the top. Key is to make it all as smooth as possible IMO. Make sure to use thin cardboard or suitable paper at the edges (at 3, 6, 9, 12 oclock) to make removal of the glue easier.

Static hasn't been a problem; it's just so much time with a pile of used records...
Click to expand...

You're making your life way too difficult. Just lay down some wax paper on your turntable (if you're paranoid about a mess (that really won't happen)), put the LP on, create a "daisy" pattern and use a flexy plastic card (similar to the "keys" you get at a hotel). Here's one I did a while back:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTMC...91685&hilit=wood+glue&feature=player_embedded

Skip the "tabs" of paper/plastic/etc. and buy a roll of scotch tape. When dry, start to stick/pull from the edges until it peels up, grab with your fingers, and go. It may come off in several pieces, but it's easy to grab with tape. Definitely no need to re-glue the "islands" that are left.

I've used "original" Titebond wood glue and it works like a charm.

This is only MY opinion, YMMV!
 
Last edited:
I just get my fingernail under the edge and run it along about 1/4 of the circumference. That gets enough of it started to grab and peel away!
 
I had 100% success with my first attempt, and couldn't be happier. Came home for lunch to find the record had dried overnight, and the glue peeled away in one easy piece. The record sounds FANTASTIC.
 
jazzmegood said:
I had 100% success with my first attempt, and couldn't be happier. Came home for lunch to find the record had dried overnight, and the glue peeled away in one easy piece. The record sounds FANTASTIC.
Click to expand...

Good job! Had you tried any other methods to clean it before?
 
JonL said:
Good job! Had you tried any other methods to clean it before?
Click to expand...

I've never owned a real RCM, but yeah, I usually wash my records with warm water and a touch of soap. This particular record was clean and sounded good, but the glue definitely helped get rid of those lingering small pops and crackle. I've already got the 2nd side of the LP drying as we speak.

One thing that I found really helped was letting the glue sit for a while, so it would firm up enough so as not to drip, and then turning the turntable on 33. The rotation definitely speeds up the drying, and at only 33rpm, doesn't risk slinging the glue everywhere. Obviously something I wouldnt recommend doing on a nice table, but I had a spare old suitcase-type schoolhouse record player that I'm using for the gluing.
 
Just as an FYI, for anyone who didn't think it would work, or hadn't tried this process with 78s, I can confirm it works just fine, at least using Aleene's Tacky Glue.
 
jazzmegood said:
Just as an FYI, for anyone who didn't think it would work, or hadn't tried this process with 78s, I can confirm it works just fine, at least using Aleene's Tacky Glue.
Click to expand...

I believe it, I don't think these types of glue will really stick to anything that isn't porous. It is designed to work on papers and fabrics mostly.
 
78s are Shellacs and they are manufactured by a layer of "plastic" being bonded on a metal substrate IIRC. Also, Shellac is very fragile compared to vinyl.

The first risk is unbonding the Shellac from the substrate, second risk being that too good a bond between the PVA and record might bend the record during peeling and break it.

This is how I understand this "don't use it on 78s". People that have failed trying it might give an actual example.
 
SaSi said:
78s are Shellacs and they are manufactured by a layer of "plastic" being bonded on a metal substrate IIRC. Also, Shellac is very fragile compared to vinyl.

The first risk is unbonding the Shellac from the substrate, second risk being that too good a bond between the PVA and record might bend the record during peeling and break it.

This is how I understand this "don't use it on 78s". People that have failed trying it might give an actual example.
Click to expand...

There was no metal involved.
 
JonL said:
Prediction: You'll be at the hardware store stocking up on quarts of glue before noon tomorrow. :yes:
Click to expand...

Only if he buys the right glue. :tears:

Otherwise he may destroy a valuable record. :nono:

I've got some woodglue(PVA)here which sets harder than the vinyl and doesn't peel-off.Not all glues are the same.
 
What is the brand that sets hard? I'm sure those of us who like this method would like to avoid that glue.
 
Not that we need another, but add me to the list of fans of the wood glue method. I had given up hope on my Beatle collection after trying quite a few methods and products. One round of wood glue treatment and the noise level dropped dramatically. Are they perfect? No, but they are really good for records that were never cared for in over 40 years.

I used Elmer's Wood Glue. I did a pre-wash with some distilled water and a MoFi brush. I spread the glue with a damp paint brush. The water definitely thins out the glue and makes it spread easier. Definitely keep the glue off the playout grooves - very hard to pick off. Using a table top fan speeds up the drying time quite nicely. Any dirt or dust it might blow on the record should be trapped on top of the glue, thus not affecting the grooves under the glue.

I have a batch drying right now which used MoFi Record Wash for the pre-wash. I am interested to see if letting the cleaner soak in helps any.

This is slightly time and space consuming (to do multiple records), but this is by far the most effective method I have found so far in my recent return to the vinyl world. :thmbsp:
 
For anyone still sceptical about this method, just try it on an old 45 that you wouldn't lose any sleep over. I'm betting you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Elmer's regular glue works fine on records too but takes longer to completely dry (18-24 hours.)

The glue method also is great for removing the crap left behind by cleaning records with the wrong product such as those so called record cleaners with a spray bottle and cloth in a bag that were sold in department stores back in the 60's and 70's.
 
John C. said:
For anyone still sceptical about this method, just try it on an old 45 that you wouldn't lose any sleep over. I'm betting you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Elmer's regular glue works fine on records too but takes longer to completely dry (18-24 hours.)

The glue method also is great for removing the crap left behind by cleaning records with the wrong product such as those so called record cleaners with a spray bottle and cloth in a bag that were sold in department stores back in the 60's and 70's.
Click to expand...
I confess that the reason I felt so free "ridiculing" this in some of the first posts was that it was quite obvious to me that it would work. Once it was explained I thought, well, DUH, why didn't I think of that.

But it is just so darned fun to make fun of it, and trust me, my friends in the office that are not into vinyl consider it hopelessly anal. I'm not one of them, but I do know exactly how they feel.
 
Just about every boy in grade school used to put Elmer's glue somewhere on their hands or the tips of their fingers in art class and when it dried and was peeled off it that spot looked real clean.

No different on a record.
 
About there being no metal in 78's, this is generally true, but radio station transcription discs (78 rpm) were usually a thin metal disc with acetate/shellac bonded to one side. These transcriptions were very weakly bonded and I can almost guarantee a nice woodglue peel would pull the acetate right off the metal... they practically peel off by hand on their own after 50 years... but i digress... ive got a crap-load of 78's.... some of them are junkers... perry como (coma) etc... maybe ill try the glue-method on one and see what happens.... if im lucky the wood glue will destroy the disc!

And again, Tite-Bond II is the glue of choice... havnt used III, and 'I' performed poorly (too brittle, shreds on removal)

With a thin credit card (membership cards usually are perfect) you can do a side in 20 seconds. put disc on turntable... on at 33rpm, drop a stream of glue from inner run out slowly to lead in (leaving perhaps a 3/4" gap between your glue spiral)... turn off table... spin record by hand with one hand, use card to spread out glue with other hand.... in a few seconds youve got the smoothest, most consistent glue job youll ever have.... and you can work the glue like this as hard into the grooves as you want... spend a few extra moments spinning in the glue into the grooves.... much better effectiveness!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom