[78-L] Best way to clean 78s

[Erwin Kluwer]

But the original question was : "what's the best way to clean.." (not the
cheapest or most cost effective...)

Erwin
On Wed, Dec 29, 2010 at 7:31 PM, Cary Ginell <soundthink at live.com> wrote:

>
> I do not doubt the efficiency of these methods, but in my case, "effective"
> means "cost effective." My records are stored in a stable, non-threatened
> environment and are not subject to further damage due to poor storage,
> humidity, direct heat, or mold. With the size of my collection, few records
> get more than one or two plays per year, so until I can afford a better
> system, I go with the dish soap and toothbrush method. It seems that my
> money is better spent on unworn styli and maintenance of my playback
> devices. For more unstable items, such as lacquers and acetates, I have a
> detergent solution my father developed for me; he worked for the Getty
> Conservation Institute and is familiar with the properties of materials made
> for recording. This has worked satisfactorily thus far. Using these methods,
> I don't believe that I am endangering my collection at all. As I said
> before, if I need something professionally cleaned for the purpose of using
> it for a reissue, I know where to g
>  o to have it done.
>
> Sometimes you just have to be able live within your means, and weighing a
> toothbrush and dish soap against a $4,900.00 vacuum cleaner makes this
> decision easy.
>
> Cary Ginell
>
> > From: thedoctor at discdoc.com
> > Date: Wed, 29 Dec 2010 12:01:54 -0600
>  > To: 78-l at klickitat.78online.com
> > Subject: Re: [78-L] Best way to clean 78s
> >
> > Hi Cary,
> >
> > The Disc Doctor product you refer to is neither our wet cleaning brushes
> or our Miracle Record Cleaner.  You quoted the price for our stylus cleaner
> & brush
> > package which actually contains 0.57oz. & the finest stylus brush
> currently available.
> >
> > Effective cleaning of a disc phonograph recording can be safely
> accomplished by the application of a suitable liquid & an efficient
> applicator [or equivalent] to agitate the cleaning solution within the
> groove.  It has been repeatedly demonstrated that fluid removal can be
> performed both manually & with the aide of vacuum-based machines with equal
> effect.  Each approach has its merits; it's simply a user option that does
> not directly address the issues related to the fluids used for safe &
> thorough cleaning.  Personally I prefer the truncated cone of the Keith
> Monks/Loricraft machines to the vacuum wand & also like the economy & quiet
> of a 7" square of pure cotton high nap terry cloth.
> >
> > Dishwashing products & hand soaps are not thorough cleaners of vinyl,
> shellac, lacquer or Diamond Disc recordings.  Furthermore these products
> ofter contain dyes, perfumes & oils that like their base cleaning chemicals
> do not rinse well from the groove.  The end result is that the disc is
> cleaner perhaps than it was to start with but it is not thoroughly clean.
>  The differences are audible.  All to often the residues left from
> incomplete cleaning are feedstock for future biological growth.
> >
> > There are more effective ways to agitate fluids in a record groove than a
> tooth brush & painter pad.  To each his own.
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Duane Goldman
> >
> > On Dec 29, 2010, at 9:23 AM, Cary Ginell wrote:
> > >
> > > I'LL SAY there are cheaper ways. The Monks unit costs $4,950.00 on
> Graham Newton's site. You'd better be independently wealthy or doing this
> for a living with LOTS of work coming in to make this unit worthwhile. Even
> Disc Doctor's cleaning solution costs $26.50 for only a half-ounce of fluid.
> I've used the mild dish soap/soft tooth brush/distilled water method for
> years successfully, for my own playing purposes. For mastering or
> restoration, I rely on the experts, most of whom already have more expensive
> devices.
> > >
> > > Oftentimes, I find nice condition 78s that have a greasy film on them
> from being stored for so long without attention. Trying to play these discs
> often results in the stylus being unable to track the grooves through the
> sludge. The dish soap method works great in removing this schmutz, often
> resulting in an E+ recording, since invariably, when I find a record in this
> condition, it's rarely been played.
> > >
> > > Cary Ginell
> > >
> > >> Date: Wed, 29 Dec 2010 04:39:42 -0800
> > >> From: rbratcherjr at yahoo.com
> > >> To: 78-l at klickitat.78online.com
> > >> Subject: Re: [78-L] Best way to clean 78s
> > >>
> > >> For most records (including 78's) the Keith Monks record cleaning
> machine (there
> > >> are cheaper vacuum machines than this though) works great although
> I've cleaned
> > >> the really dirty records with a little dish soap, warm water, a
> toothbrush then
> > >> a dry towel. After that I clean it again on the Monks. Works for
> me.....
> > >>
> > >> ________________________________
> > >> From: Erwin Kluwer <ekluwer at gmail.com>
> > >> To: 78-L Mail List <78-l at klickitat.78online.com>
> > >> Sent: Wed, December 29, 2010 1:43:45 AM
> > >> Subject: Re: [78-L] Best way to clean 78s
> > >>
> > >> Best way: Disc Doctor Cleaning Solution/ Disc Doctor Brushes/ suck dry
> with
> > >> record cleaning machine... Another cleaning round with distilled water
> and
> > >> another pair (clean) Disc Doctor Brush. Vacuum again..!
> > >>
> > >> Erwin
> > >>
> > >> On Wed, Dec 29, 2010 at 7:48 AM, Charlie Staab <pizzaxs at cebridge.net>
> wrote:
> > >>
> > >>> Hi:
> > >>>
> > >>> What's the best method to clean dirty 78s?  The kind that are found
> in
> > >>> antique shops on the floor and underneath a countertop.  I've been
> told to
> > >>> use soap and water but it seems there should be a less antiquated way
> to do
> > >>> it.  Any opinions?
> > >>>
> > >>> Thanks for the help.  Charlie
> >
> > H D Goldman Lagniappe Chemicals Ltd.
> > PO Box 37066 St. Louis, MO 63141 USA
> > v/f 314 205 1388 thedoctor at discdoc.com
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
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