Spin Cleaning System

[Lord Theo]

Will be running out of cleaner soon, is anybody making their own home brew?

[DougMac]

Home Brew

As I've mentioned before, I use a solution of LabTone, which is made by VWR Scientific. More information can be found here:

http://www.vwrsp.com/catalog/product...23&resultNum=0

and here:
http://home.earthlink.net/~gnordenst...n/Cleaning.htm

Since you're using Spin Clean, the problem will be the rinse, unless you use to Spin Cleans; one for cleaner, the other for rinse.

Doug

[Lord Theo]

Hi Doug,

Thanks for the input. Having only 1 Spin Clean system, rinsing would be a problem for me.

[quartet87]

I have only one Spin Clean also and have found that distilled water only yields best results so far...in addition to a soft brush or celluose sponge. I'm curious to know if Doug has found Labtone better than water alone, having never tried Labtone myself.

[DougMac]

Better than water

I'm curious to know if Doug has found Labtone better than water alone, having never tried Labtone myself.

My very unscientific results indicate that Labtone is better than just distilled water. The difference is proportional to the condition of the record. I think if you have a well cared for record that you bought new and has always been stored properly, water alone might be sufficient. I have a lot of LP's that I've bought second hand or have been given to me. I also have a lot of 78's, which were much less likely to be stored properly.

I've cleaned donated LP's which looked like they were in good condition. I've found them coated with what I assume to be nicotine! My cleaning pads removed a yellowish-brown substance. After cleaning, the records have a significantly improved lustre.

Labtone does a wonderful job removing oily fingerprints, as well as general dirt and grime found on 78's. Since it was formulated to clean laboratory instruments, it's formulated to leave no residue.

It seems that record cleaning techniques and solutions is as controversial as the correct speaker wire size. I've read that the original Discwasher fluid (not the new stuff) was really just very expensive distilled water!

Currently, I'm searching for a second hand turntable that I can use as a basis for a DYI record cleaning machine. Here's a link to someone who built one:
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread/t-39608.html

The VPI parts to make the cleaner can be found here:
http://www.elusivedisc.com/products.asp?dept=369


Doug

[Craig Maier]

Here is a diy record cleaning solution which is low in cost yet effective: http://diamondcut.com/AppNotes/AN-16...lation%202.pdf