Recording Cleaning - Is it totally effective?

naim_nymph posted:

tonym posted:

 

After trying various cleaning methods over the years, i've concluded that as long as you're using a wet vacuum-type cleaner that can suck all the fluid off the record, then although some are more convenient and quicker to use the results are going to be much the same. I don't think you need fancy fluids either; Steve J's formula of 50:50 distilled water to IMS (Industrial Methylated Spirits, obtainable from B&Q) works a treat - no need for wetting agents. Into a new inner sleeve, job done.

 

Tony, iirc Dr. Steve's formula has since been uprated to the medical grade bioethanol a couple of years ago when it became legally available from pharmacies without prescription. Apparently it maybe just as good but probably even better, and better value for money too. I'll be using it myself when my 20 year supply of B & Q's bioethanol fuel runs out 

La Hacienda Bioethanol fuel is available at all good B & Qs - £6 for 2 litre bottle.

Mix 50/50% with distilled water.

I buy my distilled water from Tesco which is only a cheap as chips quid or so for a 2.5 litre bottle.

Apparently; although the KM machines are up there with the best vinyl cleaners on the market, their own brand KM cleaning fluid is extraordinary expensive and not considered to be particularly anything special in practise.

I've been using a Keith Monks Omni Mk VII for past 3+ years with bioethanol + distilled water [de-ionised] formula which is working splendidly : )

 

Debs

I've just used my first mix of bioethanol, 50:50 with distilled water as Debs says above. It seems to work very well, but it would probably be better used with all the windows open. It also comes off the disc very well, and any minor excess seems to evaporate quite quickly.

With all the doors and windows closed, I'm feeling quite high on the fumes. Still, mustn't grumble - the music sounds pretty good!

I initially used a mix of Bio-Ethanol and de-ionised water for a while with my Keith Monks RCM when the supplied KM fluid ran out, but as you point out, the Bio-ethanol fumes are pretty strong and unpleasant (unless you like that sort of thing of course).

I switched to a mix of IMS (Industrial Methylated Spirits) and de-ionised water a couple of years ago and find this combination is even more effective, if anything, and is much less unpleasant to use.

If anyone is thinking of switching from their original (and very expensive) manufacturers fluid, I'd recommend giving the IMS mix a go.

Except you’re now breathing methanol fumes from the 5% used to denature the ethanol in IMS, not a great idea if you believe the safety data sheet.

Thanks Yeti42. I wasn't aware of this. I guess I should have studied the contents of IMS more thoroughly. 

I take back my recommendation. It does appear as though it probably isn't advisable to use IMS as a record cleaning solution. I'll have to rethink my own use of IMS.

Isn't methanol also used in many modern heating systems. Surely this cannot be safe either. Even if combustion eliminates the dangerous fumes, the fuel itself would no doubt have to be handled when re-filling? 

Methanol is indeed quite nasty, and I would guess that a RCM would cause quite a bit of it to get airborne. If you were doing this in a work environment, you would be required to wear rubber gloves and a suitable face mask, and ventilate the area until the vapour has cleared - and there's no reason why you shouldn't take the same precautions at home (other than perhaps to stop your wife from calling the men in white coats!) 

Clive B posted:

I've just used my first mix of bioethanol, 50:50 with distilled water as Debs says above. It seems to work very well, but it would probably be better used with all the windows open. It also comes off the disc very well, and any minor excess seems to evaporate quite quickly.

With all the doors and windows closed, I'm feeling quite high on the fumes. Still, mustn't grumble - the music sounds pretty good!

The cleaning fluid supplied by Moth contains IPA. I find this works fine at a concentration of 25%

I tried Bio-Ethanol a few years ago when it was first recommended on the forum. While it worked on most of the records I cleaned, I also had quite a few failures, it doesn’t dissolve/remove grease, greasy finger marks aren’t removed. On a few occasions the fluid wouldn’t flow on the record surface, the record appeared to be hydrophobic. Adding photo flo didn’t help, but adding IPA to the mix did. I used a combination of BE and IPA for a while, but now I just use IPA.

When I first bought a RCM I used a bio-ethanol mix but the fumes had an adverse affect on my wife’s breathing. After reading some health fact sheet I quickly switched to an IMS mix.

The IMS mix did not have these issues and worked fine although I had a niggle about the use on vinyl so I switched to Art du’Son and have been very happy with it ever since.

I also tried  Pro-Ject VC-S with good results.

Richard

Caledonian Breweries do a rather nice 'Deuchars IPA'.

The added advantage is that you can choose to drink it rather than clean your records with it.

Although, I guess we might not be talking about the same IPA.

FangfossFlyer posted:

When I first bought a RCM I used a bio-ethanol mix but the fumes had an adverse affect on my wife’s breathing. After reading some health fact sheet I quickly switched to an IMS mix.

The IMS mix did not have these issues and worked fine although I had a niggle about the use on vinyl so I switched to Art du’Son and have been very happy with it ever since.

I also tried  Pro-Ject VC-S with good results.

Richard

I agree with Richard.

L’Art du Son and deionised water really doesn’t cost much and does at least 500 records. The sound difference is very noticeable with my Loricraft PRC4. It’s such a well made machine with powerful motors, and the brush is stiff enough to really clean the groves. The cleaned record has a beautiful sheen free of fingerprints.

Phil

Since I use a Monks RCM together with their water based fluid my records are not only clean but finally no longer static. With all previous machines and fluids, two of each and both with vacuum slots and isopropyl based, quite a few records acquired some nasty changes. I have no idea whether it's the machine, the fluid or both, but the effect is obvious.

I’ve recently got myself a Loricraft machine and am currently using the Art Du Son fluid supplied. The best thing about it to me is the fact the static I’ve been struggling with particularly with new records is totally gone. It’s a great bit of kit. 

I cannot say if Art Du Son worked better than Okki Nokki fluid. Not brave enough to try non specialist fluids!  I did however did change to using distilled water as opposed to de-ionised water which I think helped. This coupled with distilled water rinse cycle before applying cleaning fluid seems to solve problems I noticed on new record cleans. Anybody else found difference?

Before doing my first mix of bioethanol I was using a mix of 25% IPA and distilled water plus a few drops of Ilfotol. Whilst this did remove static on most records, I do have a couple which were cleaned using that mix and which have remained persistently charged such that they always lift the mat. I will have a go at a repeat clean using the bioethanol mix to see if that improves things. I will report my findings.  

For me cleaning a clean record still has a positive effect on a LP, it will sound better. I had to buy a record cleaner simply to remove static that I now suffer from my present room. I never had this problem anywhere else but I would get a shock every time I touched the arm so for me its an added bonus if I remove any contamination. I have no static problems now but the once or twice I didn't run through my Okki Nokki ZAP! I would then get a shock. I know what is causing it but cant change that so a RCM it I had to have. 

I ceased to get static shocks of my RP6 when I changed the black/dust/static attractant thing to a 3mm Funkfirm achromat.

Ray

thebigfredc posted:

I ceased to get static shocks of my RP6 when I changed the black/dust/static attractant thing to a 3mm Funkfirm achromat.

Ray

Loricraft L’Art du Son cleaning fluid and RCM removes all static as a number replies have stated. No need for antistatic devices or solutions. I have An RP10 and use the standard mat. 

Phil

The most effective 'tool' I've found to remove static is a contraption I got from my dealer - 'Zerostat 3 Milty'. I was very sceptical, but since I didn't pay for it, why not?

Works a real treat - few 'zaps' and even the most 'charged' vinyls are static free.

The Milty is a nice tool . I have found that the Furutech Destat is even better- basically a Zerostat on steroids with a fan to gently blow the neg ions all over the spinning record. Highly recommended if you are into dead silent playback- aren't we all ?

ATB,

Mark