[78-L] Cleaning bare aluminum discs?

[Robert J. Lang]

Bryan,

Make sure that you don't use any type of cleaner that is strongly 
acidic or basic, since these will attack the aluminum.  The mild 
soapy solution sounds like a good idea.

One thing I've always wanted to try is to send an aluminum disc to a 
plating shop and have them treat it with a zincating process, 
followed by a very thin electroless nickel plate.  The zincating 
process removes the aluminum oxide and replaces it with a thin zinc 
coating that prevents further oxidation.  The electroless nickel 
process replaces the zinc with nickel, which has a low coefficient of 
friction.  That which would make the stylus slide easily over it's 
surface, possibly reducing the background noise.  I wouldn't try this 
on a good disc, but it would be an interesting experiment on a damged 
recording.

Bob L



>Date: Sun, 24 Jun 2012 17:01:24 -0400
>From: Bryan Wright <bryan at claxtonola.com >
>Subject: [78-L] Cleaning bare aluminum discs?
>To: 78-l at klickitat.78online.com
>Message-ID: <EFB8CCB5-0CFA-4915-ACEC-3D69EB96DA09 at claxtonola.com >
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes
>
>Recently at an antiques store, I picked up some 10-inch bare aluminum
>discs, including one intriguingly labeled "Paul Whiteman and His
>Orchestra" and dated June 17, 1938. The records are filthy and have
>some matter in the grooves. Can anyone offer any tips for safely
>cleaning these things? I need a method strong enough to clean the gunk
>out of the grooves, but obviously I don't want to damage the records
>(which otherwise appear to be in decent shape).
>
>Thanks!
>Bryan W.
>