Record Cleaning Method

[MyPal]

Originally Posted by howiebrou

I also use a VPI 16.5 but I wish I had a machined that cleans both sides simultaneously. Cleaning fluid is VPIs or L'Art du Son.

howie

Howie...You could always go & give your former cleaner a 2nd chance.

[Royzak]

I use the Loricraft PCM3 Mk 4 with L'Art du Son fluid. After many years with a Nitty-Gritty it is a pleasure to be able to listen to music while cleaning. Also records I thought clean on the admittedly old machine, the remaining crackles being put down to groove damage,now come up beautifully.
A second scrub and clean in reverse mode works well on very dirty records.

[rlw3]

Jim Pendelton of AI audio solutions gave me the following tips:
Use the brush the soap manufacturer suggests, there is optimal pairing.
AI solutions benefit from being spread on a record and left to soak for 60-90 seconds before scrubbing(dont scrub too hard also)
When i had a nitty gritty i would put a vpi cork mat on a lazy susan, place the reord on it,spread solution,wait then scrub, vacuum with a machine. do the same on the other side of lp. repeat with second type of soap if using.
Finally using the machine tanks to disperse lots of water, rinse and dry each side.
Manually putting on soaps instead of using machines tank seemed to use a lot less soap which is cheaper
My process takes about 20 minutes per lp which forced me to the audio deske machine.

[Markd51]

Originally Posted by rlw3

Jim Pendelton of AI audio solutions gave me the following tips:
Use the brush the soap manufacturer suggests, there is optimal pairing.
AI solutions benefit from being spread on a record and left to soak for 60-90 seconds before scrubbing(dont scrub too hard also)
When i had a nitty gritty i would put a vpi cork mat on a lazy susan, place the reord on it,spread solution,wait then scrub, vacuum with a machine. do the same on the other side of lp. repeat with second type of soap if using.
Finally using the machine tanks to disperse lots of water, rinse and dry each side.
Manually putting on soaps instead of using machines tank seemed to use a lot less soap which is cheaper
My process takes about 20 minutes per lp which forced me to the audio deske machine.

As for soak times with any cleaner, and in regards to AIVS cleaning solutions, there can never be a known prescribed time in any given example.

A 20 year old record might clean up lickety split with short soak times, and a brand new MoFi out of the sleeve could take forever and a day to get fully clean.

Any of the AVIS cleaners can be left to sit on a record 15 minutes, and longer, provided those cleaners, or any cleaner for that matter does not dry upon the surface. The AVIS cleaners are safe to the point that long soak times won't prove detrimental to the PVC formulations.

As for one method, and inadequate results, and then a follow up with even perhaps purified water, one may note further improvement. With that said, what is then proven? That the water was a more effective cleaner than the cleaner previously used? Of course not. Get what I'm saying?

Thus when there's no strict controls in effect, user's final results, and conclusions can often be flawed, and not be gospel in which cleaner proved effective, and which didn't.

[rlw3]

Originally Posted by Markd51

As for soak times with any cleaner, and in regards to AIVS cleaning solutions, there can never be a known prescribed time in any given example.

A 20 year old record might clean up lickety split with short soak times, and a brand new MoFi out of the sleeve could take forever and a day to get fully clean.

Any of the AVIS cleaners can be left to sit on a record 15 minutes, and longer, provided those cleaners, or any cleaner for that matter does not dry upon the surface. The AVIS cleaners are safe to the point that long soak times won't prove detrimental to the PVC formulations.

As for one method, and inadequate results, and then a follow up with even perhaps purified water, one may note further improvement. With that said, what is then proven? That the water was a more effective cleaner than the cleaner previously used? Of course not. Get what I'm saying?

Thus when there's no strict controls in effect, user's final results, and conclusions can often be flawed, and not be gospel in which cleaner proved effective, and which didn't.

I believe that Jim Pendelton has the expertise to recommend the correct amount of soaking time for the record cleaning solutions he makes.

the AI solutions with alcohol would evaporate in 15 minutes.

the water rinse is simply that, a rinse to remove soap solution.