[78-L] Best way to clean 78s

[David Lennick]

I've used the Monks for about eleven years and it was definitely worth the 
investment, but I use it professionally.

dl

On 12/29/2010 2:22 PM, Erwin Kluwer wrote:
> 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
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>