I have made different types alcohol based "home brews" myself,and usually what they do,is leave a film on the record.

Roger




--- On Wed, 3/2/11, Tom Fine <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

From: Tom Fine <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Keith Monks cleaning fluids
To: [log in to unmask]
Date: Wednesday, March 2, 2011, 11:32 AM

Duane,

Can you be specific about which type of alcohol is safe and in what concentrations? I thought alcohols of all type damage shellac. If you are suggesting a very dillute amount of alcohol, can you specify its usefulness in such small concentrations? Not doubting your word, just wanting some more facts.

-- Tom Fine

----- Original Message ----- From: "H D Goldman" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, March 02, 2011 1:12 PM
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Keith Monks cleaning fluids


Tom,

Record cleaning solutions containing "alcohol" can be used safely on shellac pressings provided wise choices are made with respect to the water soluble alcohol in question & its concentration in the working solution.  It's been demonstrated for over 25 years that safe & thorough cleaning of vinyl & shellac pressings can indeed be accomplished with a carefully assembled water-based formulation of surfactants & wetting agents.  Repeated & extensive listening evaluations have clearly demonstrated the value & safety of including low concentrations of a specific, reagent grade, water soluble alcohol in surfactant mixtures specifically developed for the cleaning of vinyl, shellac, acetate, lacquer & Diamond Disc surfaces.

The purity of methyl, ethyl, n-propyl & isopropyl alcohols readily available to the general consumer should never be assumed safe for use in home brews regardless of the amount used.

There are an endless number of ways to "clean" phonograph records, very few are thorough & safe. Thorough is an audible step beyond good.

Cheers,

Duane Goldman

On Mar 2, 2011, at 10:12 AM, Tom Fine wrote:

> Hi Tyra:
>
> You will get much and varied, and often contradictory advice on this subject. The only iron-clad thing is, don't use any fluids containing alcohols on shellac 78's.
>
> I have a VPI machine and have always been happy with the results obtained from their fluid concentrate and a gallon of pure water (you can use distilled or Pepsi's Aquafina, which is reverse-osmosis water without any minerals added back -- don't use other RO waters as most or all have minerals added back). You can spend much more money on much more elaborate fluids carrying elaborate claims (some more scientific than others). You can also wash records in a sink and get good results, especially with 78's. Again, some will scream and cringe at this practice. There are also numerous home-brew recipes on the internets, again some hazardous and some proven to work.
>
> If Keith Monks makes fluid for your specific machine, then it's bound to work well.
>
> -- Tom Fine
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Grant, Tyra" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Wednesday, March 02, 2011 10:25 AM
> Subject: [ARSCLIST] Keith Monks cleaning fluids
>
>
> We're refurbishing an inherited Keith Monks record cleaner---have never used one before now.
> We'd like to use it for LPs and 78s---vinyls and shellacs---does this make sense?
> We're unsure what cleaning liquids to use---do we use Keith Monks or other?
> Would appreciate any guidance or words of advice in general.
> Thanks,
> Tyra Grant
>
>
> Digital and Electronic Media Preservation Officer
> University of Kansas Libraries
> [log in to unmask]
> 785-864-8951
>

H D Goldman Lagniappe Chemicals Ltd.
PO Box 37066 St. Louis, MO 63141 USA
v/f 314 205 1388 [log in to unmask]