displayname
Well-Known Member
You shouldn't need a drying rack with a vacuum solution. But you will need cleaning fluids. Several of us here enjoy TTVJ for solution.
Record cleaning - what's your method?
- Thread starter lazylistener
- Start date
Dtknuckles
Well-Known Member
displayname
Well-Known Member
Haha, I believe it’s mentioned earlier in the thread, but maybe it got lost when we moved here from the old forum.
TTVJ = Todd the Vinyl Junkie Zuma (enzyme cleaning fluid)
TTVJAudio Vinyl Zyme Record Cleaner 2 oz Concentrate
Don’t freak out about the price. That concentrate makes a gallon (or more) of solution to clean HUNDREDS of records.
Dtknuckles
Well-Known Member
That stuff must be powerful it its that concentrated!
displayname
Well-Known Member
I guess so. All I know is that I trust @HiFi Guy’s recommendations, and this stuff has been working well for me for a long time.
AnthonyI
Well-Known Member
My batch is just running out after a little over 2 years, it does a great job....just follow the "Gremlin-ish" rules
dbarila
Well-Known Member
Crap! I've been feeding mine after midnight!My batch is just running out after a little over 2 years, it does a great job....just follow the "Gremlin-ish" rules
zombie.modernist
Well-Known Member
The brush sucks, so ditch that first, don't even let it touch the vinyl. There are plenty of good brush options out there. Personally I like the MoFi / Disc Doctor style for simple one-step cleaning. The MoFi ones are super easy to grab on Amazon, along with replacement pads. You may want to get a separate brush for newer cleaner records vs really dirty used ones, or just for different fluids if you get into multi-step cleaning.
One potential future mod is the upgraded bearing from KAB, but I would only bother if you know you're going to be going through a large volume of dirty records.
The RDV comes with a simple one-stop alcohol free cleaning solution. I would recommend starting with this to get the hang of the machine, even you want to move to nicer fluid later on, just get used to how much you need to lay down with the cheap stuff. Personally I really like the RD brand fluid, I've stuck to using it for two years now for all new pressings that I want to clean with one pass, and two passes for LPs that are older and dirtier. That said, there are obvious chemical benefits to enzymatic cleaners, and I may get back into them for dirtier stuff. Just one rule with the RDV — stick to cleaners that have a surfactant (don't use MoFi fluids) because this machine requires you to flip the LP before vacuuming. Without the surfactant, fluid will slide around a make more of a mess. Even for a rise stage I find it better to use a basic fluid with surfactant instead of distilled water.
Oh and get clean poly-sleeves for the records after cleaning, but you probably already knew that!
BazookaTooth
Well-Known Member
so @oldschoolkirby , @DeadwaxDude @brownsugah and maybe @Crabbers , you seem to be the spin cleaners on here.
any advice before using it the first time, other than not starting with the most valuable records. mine didnt come with a box or manual.
what are the dos and don`ts ?
thanks
any advice before using it the first time, other than not starting with the most valuable records. mine didnt come with a box or manual.
what are the dos and don`ts ?
thanks
oldschoolkirby
Well-Known Member
Here's their instructions and manual download, to start at least: Instructions & Owner's Manual - Spin-Clean® Record Washers
It's really easy once you get used to it, but yeah, do your first trials on a non-valuable/non-favorite record. I stick pretty close to the instructions - wiping dry clockwise, then using a dish rack to let them finish air drying for a few minutes before re-sleeving. Don't worry about little droplets of water getting on the labels (doesn't happen often, but does happen) - just dry them with the cloth once you take it out.
Take care when doing 10" or 7" records - the rollers are a bit less stable in those slots and can "jump" out. I have to go slower and use one hand to turn the record, and the other to keep the opposite-side roller from jumping, usually.
Hmmm - if I think of any other tips I'll write back, but that's all I can think of for now.
DeadwaxDude
Well-Known Member
Basically what @oldschoolkirby said! Also, make sure you use distilled water
if you're gonna wash the cleaning rags I say put them in the washer with hot water, high spin, and no detergents!
AnthonyI
Well-Known Member
For that roller hop, try bringing your water line to where it just beeds into the roller slot....this helped when I had a Spin Clean
oldschoolkirby
Well-Known Member
I've always wondered if washing the rags with or without soap was better... I'll have to try that this next time.Basically what @oldschoolkirby said! Also, make sure you use distilled water
marshall
Well-Known Member
Do be careful with water on the labels. Modern labels are fine. Older ones are not always waterproof, especially pre 1970. The ink will bleed...yes I found out the hard way.
oldschoolkirby
Well-Known Member
Good to know! I've not experienced issues (and it's really quite rare the label gets wet anyway), but thanks for this note.
BazookaTooth
Well-Known Member
first tests went really well, thanks for your suggestions !
deathbyart
New Member
So glad I found this forum. Thought I lost you guys when VMP forum went away.
Just had to chime in, that I use a Record Dr and love it. Although it is loud. Like really loud. My collection is outgrowing the livingroom, so I setup a little "station" in my office -
Just had to chime in, that I use a Record Dr and love it. Although it is loud. Like really loud. My collection is outgrowing the livingroom, so I setup a little "station" in my office -
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DougTheDog
New Member
So.. I can be a little OCD sometimes. I went on a cleaning binge and cleaned around 400 records or so over a couple weeks. I did this since as a new collector I did not know I should be cleaning new vinyl at the time. So I finally decided I would get some done.
Method was squeaky clean, TTVJ Vinyl Zyme concentrate in a gallon of distilled water. Apply cleaner, light brush cleaner, sit for about 20 seconds and flip to do the other side. I did around seven at a time.
I seeing some mixed results. I spun Zeppelin's Physical Graffiti the other night at is sounded a little worse than before cleaning. Lots of static, even after hitting it with the zerostat. Post cleaning results have been hit and miss I think. So wondering were I might have gone wrong.
Should I have let the cleaner sit longer? Did I flip to soon to clean the other side? Should I have done a plan distilled water rinse? Or is it cleaning new records just might take more than on clean.
On a side note, does anyone else find cleaning records oddly therapeutic?
Method was squeaky clean, TTVJ Vinyl Zyme concentrate in a gallon of distilled water. Apply cleaner, light brush cleaner, sit for about 20 seconds and flip to do the other side. I did around seven at a time.
I seeing some mixed results. I spun Zeppelin's Physical Graffiti the other night at is sounded a little worse than before cleaning. Lots of static, even after hitting it with the zerostat. Post cleaning results have been hit and miss I think. So wondering were I might have gone wrong.
Should I have let the cleaner sit longer? Did I flip to soon to clean the other side? Should I have done a plan distilled water rinse? Or is it cleaning new records just might take more than on clean.
On a side note, does anyone else find cleaning records oddly therapeutic?
Melt Face Molly Drop
Well-Known Member
When you say light brush clean, what do you mean? Could always try applying more pressure with the brush to get deeper into the grooves so the Zyme does it’s magic.
debianlinux
Well-Known Member
I have never had one sound worse after cleaning.