[78-L] Best way to clean 78s

[David Lennick]

And for those, you can probably do without the soap. I used to keep a j-cloth 
in my travel bag when I went on record hunting trips and I'd give the records 
an initial cleaning as soon as I bought them. The grunge is a lot more 
encrusted these days, but in a pinch I'd say that method would still get you a 
record that's clean enough to audition on a non-critical player.

dl

On 12/29/2010 2:38 PM, Cary Ginell wrote:
>
> Actually, the question was how to clean "dirty 78s." Not necessarily collectible 78s, but "the kind that are found in antique shops on the floor and underneath a countertop." These are generally junky records and do not have to be treated as reverently as pricey one-of-a-kind items. At least I wouldn't spend $77.40 for a pint of liquid to clean records that are worth 25 cents. Dish soap is fine for those. The "best" way for me to go to the grocery store is in a chauffeured limousine, but my 2003 Camry does the job just fine.
>
> Cary Ginell
>
>> Date: Wed, 29 Dec 2010 20:22:02 +0100
>> From: ekluwer at gmail.com
>> To: 78-l at klickitat.78online.com
>> Subject: Re: [78-L] Best way to clean 78s
>>
>> 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
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>