[78-L] Washing records

[Steven C. Barr]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "DAVID BURNHAM" <burnhamd at rogers.com>
> Michael Biel wrote:
> But you have to COMPLETELY dry the records and keep them dry in order
> for this to happen. There are also different grades of shellac, and the
> shellac used for Red Seal records is well known to be more resistant to
> water and moisture damage than used in black label Victors.
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Most of the records I've washed in this manner have been RCA red seals and 
> I always dry them as much as and as fast as possible in order not to leave 
> water marks. I hesitate to wash Columbias because of the possibility of 
> water getting in between the layers and causing damage. But aside from 
> buying an umpteen thousand dollar cleaning machine, what is considered to 
> be the safest way to clean shellac records?
>
Our resident "expert" in this area, who wants to sell you his "magic" 
elixir, has already
chimed in with his opinion...which effectively translates as "Buy MY 
compound!?"

Suffice it to say that shellac records can be SEVERLY affected...in fact, 
destroyed...
by long-ish-term exposure to water...?! So, cleaning 78's with/involving 
water is
NOT a realistic choice!

Steven C. Barr