Cleaning Vinyl

Discussion in 'Music and Recordings (vinyl , 8-track, etc.)' started by JK47, Sep 29, 2015.

  1. Chris F

    Chris F Boyz 4 Now Fanatic - Friend

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  2. SquiGGlez

    SquiGGlez Acquaintance

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    I'm sold from the recordings. I imagine there are a lot of un-listenable dollar bin finds that could be resuscitated pretty nicely with ultrasonic cleaning assuming they aren't too badly scratched. Couldn't you use some dish-washing rinse agent in place of photo flo in a pinch?
     
  3. Chris F

    Chris F Boyz 4 Now Fanatic - Friend

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    Yes you can and it's best to use a bit of both.

    Up until now I had been using 30ml (2 tablespoons) of clear diswasher detergent by itself but I finally got some photo-flo this week and with the extra surfactant in there 30ml of diswasher detergent is way too much. You can see the detergent floating around in blobs at the bottom of the tank.

    In my next batch I'm going to dial back the detergent and I suspect the final mixing numbers for my 6L tank will be something like 4L distilled water + 3-5ml photo-flo + 10-15ml dishwasher detergent.

    I'll let you guys know when I have it worked out. Still working on the filter thing as well; in the meantime I'm chucking the solution every 10 records which works well since I'm still figuring out the optimum mix for me.
     
  4. JK47

    JK47 Guest

    Nice work Chris F, keep the cleaning formula updated.

    Got my motor mount today and mocked it up. Will try cleaning some vinyl tomorrow.

    My 40kHz Ultra sonic cleaner is loud...

    Off to work day after tomorrow, so I won't have a chance to post any A/B (grimy Discogs purchase/Ultrasonic cleaned) samples or any A/B/x (grimy from Discogs/Spin cleaned/Ultrasonic cleaned).
     

    Attached Files:

  5. Shaffer

    Shaffer Acquaintance

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    Would like to try an ultrasonic cleaner, but haven't had the opportunity. I've owned a 16.5 for +20 years and use Record Time as an everyday fluid, and some enzyme-based products for heavier cleaning. Most of the records I buy are sealed.
     
  6. JK47

    JK47 Guest

    Got the mock up going.

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  7. Falcor

    Falcor New

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    Wow just listened to the recordings, those results are amazing!

    @Chris F - Thanks for the video of the difference between 37khz and 80khz. I too live in an apartment and at 37 I think I would be getting knocks at the door =)

    For me, I think the Elma may also be a good option for the 80khz. After your initial trials would you change anything about your set-up? Would you still go with the P 60 H and vinyl stack if you could do it again?
     
  8. Chris F

    Chris F Boyz 4 Now Fanatic - Friend

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    I've only had the setup going for a few weeks now but so far but, yes, I would buy the exact same setup again. Both parts of the setup have done their thing with no issues at all.

    If I were more cost conscious I would go with the Sonix 60Khz or the Vibrato 80Khz machine. '

    In person, the noise isn't quite as bad as the videos make it out; the overall constant noise is not louder then a washer/drier. The annoying part is the big rapid transients which perceptually (to me) are pretty annoying. (you can hear them clip the mic input in both videos)
     
  9. Falcor

    Falcor New

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    Thanks ChrisF - I was looking at the Sonix 60Khz and Vibrato 80Khz as well. Although since I live in Europe,perhaps a locally sourced Elma will prove to be easier. Thanks again for all your posts about your setup. Really helps.
     
  10. Chris F

    Chris F Boyz 4 Now Fanatic - Friend

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    Thought I would quickly pop in to mention that I've ping ponged back to using 30ml of dish detergent (2 tablespoons) per 4L of distilled water and am experimenting with the amount of photo-flo. 5ml causes the detergent to coagulate which is not what we want. Just a drop (0.5-1ml) is OK so far.

    I observe the best results with this mix though I need to do a triple rinse per side on the VPI16 after to make sure there is no residue.
     
  11. JK47

    JK47 Guest

    Got the ol' cleaner fired up and going again. Found some 4" x 3/4" wood spacers at Hobby Lobby, then glued them together for 1.5" spacing between the records.

    Currently ripping some vinyl with Audacity to do some A/B comparisons, brushed before playing, then Ultrasonic cleaned followed by a Spin Cleaning to remove spot free residue. I'll have sound samples up in the next few days.
     

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  12. JK47

    JK47 Guest

    Finished a few samples for comparison. My chain is nothing to get excited about...

    Pro-Ject Debut Carbon DC (Ortofon Blue Stylus in the stock Red body) --> Pro-Ject Tube Box S (Amperex 12AX7 tubes) --> Yamaha MG10XU USB mixer -->MacBook Air (Audacity)

    I edited the sound clips for length only, nothing else. They're roughly 30 second clips ripped to 24/96 FLAC's.

    First up, the biggest difference of the 3 records I ripped.

    https://www.dropbox.com/s/xcb2hwfx5gh2xqc/I Wanna Be a Cowboy (sample).flac?dl=0

    https://www.dropbox.com/s/93dncryv48o8tca/I Wanna be a Cowboy (cleaned sample).flac?dl=0

    A much more subtle improvement.

    https://www.dropbox.com/s/gjs9j3614jst267/Atomic Dog (sample).flac?dl=0

    https://www.dropbox.com/s/qe2djdeb8o5a855/Atomic Dog (cleaned sample).flac?dl=0

    Like a few of you guys already stated, cleaning can't fix a bad pressing or scratches.

    I plan on upgrading the turntable next year sometime, but in the mean time I'll try out the TCC TC-750 phono preamp with a upgraded power supply.I also plan a linear power supply for my current TT, it has a noticeable hum in the right channel. I tried re-positioning the preamp (the Tube Box S hums considerably less than my previous preamp), but the only cure was unplugging the TT power supply...
     
  13. abernardi

    abernardi Friend

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    I wonder if you should try a power conditioner before getting a new power supply. I'm not very well versed in these things, but it may help filter out the crap the TT power supply is feeding back into the AC...
     
  14. JK47

    JK47 Guest

    I have a Belkin power conditioner...
     
  15. JK47

    JK47 Guest

    Hooked up the LPS to my TT when I got home from the family city to city tour. Killed the hum in the right channel f**k yah!!! and dropped the noise in the background a big notch.

    It was a 15V Jays from this CS thread

    http://www.changstar.com/index.php?topic=2694.0

    May, get one for my phono preamp too...
     
  16. Chris F

    Chris F Boyz 4 Now Fanatic - Friend

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    Small update. The 99.9% isopropyl alcohol I ordered from Amazon finally shipped the other day. Will report back on effectiveness (diluted obviously!) when combined with the current formula.
     
  17. Chris F

    Chris F Boyz 4 Now Fanatic - Friend

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    I think I have settled on my final formula:
    4L distilled water
    80ml 99.9% isopropyl alcohol (1:50 dilution)
    10ml photo flo (1:400 dilution)

    With this blend I get about 10-15% better results in click repair and about 1dB noise floor improvement with records that have already been cleaned on the VPI. It also does the occasional voodoo magic job with records that the VPI does nothing for. I think these are records with extremely difficult to clean residue like nicotine and stuff. Finally, you can let this formula air dry as there is nothing that needs rinsing.
     
  18. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

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    For those of us who cannot yet get into ultrasonic cleaning, but want something better than a Discwasher and less time consuming than doing it by hand, I bought this 3D printed record cleaning system off of eBay: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-5...ing-your-old-vinyl-back-to-life-/151903631006

    It's a pretty ingenious system, you hook it up to a shop vac, apply your cleaner of choice, and manually spin it while it vacuums.

    I've been slowly going through my collection with this and it's effective, easy, and convenient. Given that most vacuum machine systems for vinyl start around $500, I think this is a very well thought out budget solution.
     
  19. Thad E Ginathom

    Thad E Ginathom Friend

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    Microfibre Man, He say...

    It's been a while since I played any LPs, but back in the day (and it wasn't that long ago) the biggest thing to happen in my five-plus decades of record playing was microfibre.

    Non-linting is good, obviously, but not the cloths that are sold for glass. We need the pile to reach down into the grooves, and glass-cleaning cloths don't have pile.

    Outside of ultrasonics and other fancy cleaning equipment, microfibre is best for cleaning... well, anything, really... from the kitchen to the car, and definitely including records.

    Along with the microfibre, use your favourite cleaning solution. The absurdly expensive ones are probably the same IPA+water+detergent as many people recommend, but with the satisfaction of knowing that it is packaged by fairies. EDIT: Use dry for every-day-every-play dust removal. Microfibre even magically soaks up grease and oil. Try this on the kitchen table: after wiping with your ordinary cloth, wipe half of the table with microfibre and see the difference.

    I don't represent any microfibre manufacturer or marketing board --- but I have recommended it so often, for so many things, that I think they ought to send me a cheque.

    (Is it microfiber to you Americans? And check, of course. Never mind the spelling: I love them both!)

    .
     
    Last edited: May 1, 2016
  20. Franco72

    Franco72 New

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    I do the microfiber thing but wash my records with "free & clear" dish washing soap. My wife's been buying that for years and when I read "no residues" on the label, I immediately went to get a record to wash it.

    I use a sponge (microwave it for a minute before using and rise it out to get rid of whatever dies after getting zapped in the microwave) and scrub the records along the grooves under the tap (prior to scrubbing, I run the sides under water for a bit to get rid of the biggest chunks of whatever's in there. I used to use distilled water but then got lazy about it. I then use a dry microfiber cloth to dry them, and a carbon fiber brush prior to playing.
     

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