I have searched the forum and other sites on the web trying to find the "best" formula for prepairing a solution for record cleaning.
What is commonly used is 3 to 4 parts distilled (or demineralized water), 1 part of isopropyl alcohol and a few drops of wetting agent (like Triton X-100, not Photophlo or Agepon).
Somewhere I saw a formula using ethyl instead of isoropyl alcohol. Is there any difference in using either of these two alcohols or it makes no difference?
Any comments welcomed.
Evangelos
What is commonly used is 3 to 4 parts distilled (or demineralized water), 1 part of isopropyl alcohol and a few drops of wetting agent (like Triton X-100, not Photophlo or Agepon).
Somewhere I saw a formula using ethyl instead of isoropyl alcohol. Is there any difference in using either of these two alcohols or it makes no difference?
Any comments welcomed.
Evangelos
I have already looked at the links you mention. Thanks.
My main question is whether there is a difference between using isopropyl or ethyl alcohol.
My main question is whether there is a difference between using isopropyl or ethyl alcohol.
As long as the alcohole is pure I don't think it doesn't matter but in Sweden cannot private persons buy pure 96 or 99.5% alcohole, only T-sprit 96% with womitting stuff.
"Yes" isn't so bad! Watch out for the labels though.
"Yes" isn't so bad! Watch out for the labels though.
What a sad country 🙄 I can go to the supermarket and by as much 96% I like. Drinkable! Well, not pure, that would not be wise.
Pure, there is not much difference if used on vinyl. Beware for shellac, I prefer pure water for that.
Also in my country I can easily find pure 95 degrees ethyl alcohol from the super market (although a little expensive - something like 5-6 Euros for a 430 ml bottle).
Anyway, since it makes no difference whether I use ethyl or isopropyl alcohol, I will prepare my solution with whatever is cheaper from those two.
Thanks everyone for advise.
Evangelos
Anyway, since it makes no difference whether I use ethyl or isopropyl alcohol, I will prepare my solution with whatever is cheaper from those two.
Thanks everyone for advise.
Evangelos
What a great country! I have to pay about 25 euro for a 1L bottle.
Where do you guys find those wetting agents? I have looked around several shops, but draw a blank everywhere.
If you have access to a cleaning device that uses ultrasound, you might want to try that.
I don't know if it works, but those ultrasound baths are supposed to clean very good.
If you can find one that's big enough, try it out, and let us know!
I don't know if it works, but those ultrasound baths are supposed to clean very good.
If you can find one that's big enough, try it out, and let us know!
Hi,
Fnac, Photohall.
I bought mine at Fnac Brussels, it's made by Agfa Gevaert and a bottle would last you a lifetime.
If you need the exact references, I could dig them up.
Cheers,😉
Fnac, Photohall.
I bought mine at Fnac Brussels, it's made by Agfa Gevaert and a bottle would last you a lifetime.
If you need the exact references, I could dig them up.
Cheers,😉
Thanks Frank, never tought of looking there. Went to a few chemists/drugstores but only got weird looks. But then I'm used to that 
Isopropyl vesrus ethyl
Isopropyl is slightly less polar than ethyl, hence will do a slightly better job of lifiting out oily dirt. Of course that also means that it will also be more efficient at dissolving out plasticizers in the vinyl, so there's your tradeoff.
Some formulations use quaternary ammoonium salts, which leave some residue but are also effective anti-static agents.
Isopropyl is slightly less polar than ethyl, hence will do a slightly better job of lifiting out oily dirt. Of course that also means that it will also be more efficient at dissolving out plasticizers in the vinyl, so there's your tradeoff.
Some formulations use quaternary ammoonium salts, which leave some residue but are also effective anti-static agents.
SisterOfMercy,
If you have access to a cleaning device that uses ultrasound, you might want to try that.
I don't know if it works, but those ultrasound baths are supposed to clean very good.
From what I have read, searching the forum on this topic, ultrasonic cleaners are not recomended because (as far as I remember) these leave tiny bubbles deep in the grooves causing small bounces of the needle (or something like that).
fmak,
Alcohol and detergents seem to introduce noise; as does suction in some cases.
I think that the main concern is to remove all residues from the deepest areas of the grooves. Hence the use of suction. IMHO, just rinsing the disc under running water won' t be such efficient in removing residues from washing. To tell you the truth, I haven' t tried either, just collecting ideas, perhaps there are some other experts who could comment on this.
fdegrove,
I bought mine at Fnac Brussels, it's made by Agfa Gevaert and a bottle would last you a lifetime.
From what I have read in various postings and other sites, photografic wetting agents (such as Agepon from Agfa Gevaert or Photophlo from Kodak) should be avoided as they leave a residue film on the surface of the disc. What is better recommended is reagent surfactants (wetting agents) like Triton X-100, X-114, or Monolan. I managed to find the Triton X-100 from a store that sells chemicals for biochemical and microbiological laboratories. Unfortunately it is supplied only in bottles of 500 ml and its cost is a bit high.
If you have access to a cleaning device that uses ultrasound, you might want to try that.
I don't know if it works, but those ultrasound baths are supposed to clean very good.
From what I have read, searching the forum on this topic, ultrasonic cleaners are not recomended because (as far as I remember) these leave tiny bubbles deep in the grooves causing small bounces of the needle (or something like that).
fmak,
Alcohol and detergents seem to introduce noise; as does suction in some cases.
I think that the main concern is to remove all residues from the deepest areas of the grooves. Hence the use of suction. IMHO, just rinsing the disc under running water won' t be such efficient in removing residues from washing. To tell you the truth, I haven' t tried either, just collecting ideas, perhaps there are some other experts who could comment on this.
fdegrove,
I bought mine at Fnac Brussels, it's made by Agfa Gevaert and a bottle would last you a lifetime.
From what I have read in various postings and other sites, photografic wetting agents (such as Agepon from Agfa Gevaert or Photophlo from Kodak) should be avoided as they leave a residue film on the surface of the disc. What is better recommended is reagent surfactants (wetting agents) like Triton X-100, X-114, or Monolan. I managed to find the Triton X-100 from a store that sells chemicals for biochemical and microbiological laboratories. Unfortunately it is supplied only in bottles of 500 ml and its cost is a bit high.
To me, if you don't vacuum the solution, you'll do much more harm that good. You'll have a nice picture of a clean LP (otherwise is a very beautiful picture 🙂 ) but your stylus won't be happy and the clicks and pops will be even more than before.
If your collection is good, please build yourself a vacuum cleaner.
If your collection is good, please build yourself a vacuum cleaner.
Hi,
First of all you only need a drop or two of the wetting agent in the washing fluid.
Secondly, as Raka suggests above, I do recommend a vacuum cleaning.
If you don't then the fluid will leave a residu, not just the wetting agent, resulting in debris clogging all over the record.
This would probably make matters worse in the long run.
What's also very important IME is to use pharmaceutical grade water.
In my solution I use 2/3 water, 1/3 isopropanol + a drop or two wetting agent.
I use either a Nitty gritty or a VPI cleaning machine depending on the quantity of records to clean in one run.
After cleaning the records are treated with Last and receive a ricepaper anti-static sleeve from Nagaoka.
This has been done like this for about fifteen years and never gave me any trouble at all.
Cheers,😉
First of all you only need a drop or two of the wetting agent in the washing fluid.
Secondly, as Raka suggests above, I do recommend a vacuum cleaning.
If you don't then the fluid will leave a residu, not just the wetting agent, resulting in debris clogging all over the record.
This would probably make matters worse in the long run.
What's also very important IME is to use pharmaceutical grade water.
In my solution I use 2/3 water, 1/3 isopropanol + a drop or two wetting agent.
I use either a Nitty gritty or a VPI cleaning machine depending on the quantity of records to clean in one run.
After cleaning the records are treated with Last and receive a ricepaper anti-static sleeve from Nagaoka.
This has been done like this for about fifteen years and never gave me any trouble at all.
Cheers,😉
AT LAST...
Hi,
A series of record care products I can heartily recommend to anyone taking his vinyl seriously:
LAST RECORD CARE PRODUCTS.
I use their Record Preservative and Stylast.
Cheers,😉
Hi,
A series of record care products I can heartily recommend to anyone taking his vinyl seriously:
LAST RECORD CARE PRODUCTS.
I use their Record Preservative and Stylast.
Cheers,😉
fmak,
Alcohol and detergents seem to introduce noise; as does suction in some cases.
I think that the main concern is to remove all residues from the deepest areas of the grooves. Hence the use of suction. IMHO, just rinsing the disc under running water won' t be such efficient in removing residues from washing. To tell you the truth, I haven' t tried either, just collecting ideas, perhaps there are some other experts who could comment on this.
-----------------------------------------------------
The issue is: how much residue there is in the deepest groove in a 'dirty record'. I have found consistently that a disc preener brush and water with weak bleach work well and better than solvents. At least this doesn't increase noise.
Alcohol and detergents seem to introduce noise; as does suction in some cases.
I think that the main concern is to remove all residues from the deepest areas of the grooves. Hence the use of suction. IMHO, just rinsing the disc under running water won' t be such efficient in removing residues from washing. To tell you the truth, I haven' t tried either, just collecting ideas, perhaps there are some other experts who could comment on this.
-----------------------------------------------------
The issue is: how much residue there is in the deepest groove in a 'dirty record'. I have found consistently that a disc preener brush and water with weak bleach work well and better than solvents. At least this doesn't increase noise.
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