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ARSCLIST  June 2012

ARSCLIST June 2012

Subject:

Re: victor record conservation

From:

Malcolm Rockwell <[log in to unmask]>

Reply-To:

Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List <[log in to unmask]>

Date:

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 16:31:37 -1000

Content-Type:

text/plain

Parts/Attachments:

Parts/Attachments

text/plain (222 lines)

No, not wax released by mold, but a waxy substance that appears on the
entire surface of many early vinyl (?) pressings. Mold grows on finger
oils, and other organic substances, deposited by the unwary (or
ungloved) and can destroy the info in the groove. The goop I'm talking
about is something else and I think Duane means "mould release wax" not
"mold". Dr. Biel sez he's not heard of any such substance so, in my
opinion, the jury is still out on what it actually is.
Malcolm

*******

On 6/12/2012 8:26 AM, Tom Fine wrote:
> Hi Malcolm:
>
> I think we took different meanings from Duane's posting. I took his
> term "mold release wax" to mean it's some sort of wax used in the
> record molding (manufacturing, pressing) process. Are you taking it to
> mean a wax that is released by mold growing on the record surface?
>
> I wish Duane would chime back in and clarify this.
>
> -- Tom Fine
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Malcolm Rockwell"
> <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Tuesday, June 12, 2012 12:55 PM
> Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] victor record conservation
>
>
>> I believe he is talking about that waxy substance that seems to exude
>> from early plastic pressings (I say plastic because I do not know the
>> composition of the physical matrix nor any changes in formulation
>> that occurred over time) in the 1950s. It's the same goop (now
>> there's a highly technical term) that I believe is responsible for
>> the transfer of some inks from printed record sleeves to the surface
>> of the record itself (which I have found to be non-removable).
>> It is possible that the goop is heat and/or pressure specific, or
>> possibly time related if it is found to be caused by the packaging
>> process and the amount of cool-down the record went through between
>> pressing, sleeving and boxing. The substance may actually be pressing
>> facility specific, as well.
>> I've cleaned many 78s of this substance and "waxy" is the best
>> description I've heard to date. Cleaning with a couple of drops of
>> Dawn dish detergent in a quart of distilled water and then thorough
>> rinsing and drying does the trick for me. I have not done controlled
>> experiments to see if the process of leaching reoccurs after one
>> cleaning or not. I suspect it does not; that once the substance is
>> removed from the record it has been exhausted from the substrate
>> already and no longer a problem. But, as I say, this aspect still
>> requires investigation.
>> Malcolm Rockwell
>>
>> *******
>>
>> On 6/11/2012 9:00 PM, Michael Biel wrote:
>>> From: H D Goldman<[log in to unmask]>
>>>
>>>> The common contaminant to all pressed disc recordings&
>>>> the most difficult to safely remove is the mold release wax.
>>> What is mold release wax? Is it something that is part of the mix of
>>> the material of the record? You include it in discussing all materials
>>> "[lacquer, acetate, Diamond Disc& vinyl]" which include discs which
>>> are
>>> not pressed. I have visited pressing plants using vinyl and styrene,
>>> and have seen films of many different eras of shellac and early vinyl
>>> pressing, and never once have I seen any hint of an application of any
>>> surface material in the record press other than inserting or injecting
>>> the record compound. The stampers are never coated with anything
>>> between pressings. The records all come off the press without any
>>> problem whatsoever, and often they are immediately sleeved.
>>>
>>>> It is also the most difficult material to safely& thoroughly
>>>> remove from the surface of a new phonograph record.
>>> So, what is mold release wax? Since there is no evidence that the
>>> stampers are coated, if it is part of the chemical makeup of the
>>> record,
>>> how could this be a removable surface coating?
>>>
>>> Mike Biel [log in to unmask]
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>> This wax is poorly soluble in the pure, water-soluble, simple
>>>> alcohols [methanol, ethanol, isopropanol& n-propanol]; less so
>>>> when diluted with water. Bugs love this wax& while it is difficult
>>>> for thoroughly cleaned disc surfaces [lacquer, acetate, Diamond
>>>> Disc& vinyl] to support mold growth, once infestation is
>>>> established by feeding on the mold release wax, all of these disc
>>>> surfaces can be permanently damaged. For used discs a variety of
>>>> contaminants including fingerprints& the micro dust from old
>>>> sleeves increase the chance for mold growth.
>>> Generically speaking record cleaning is performed by sufficiently
>>> agitating a solution within the groove to safely& effectively wash the
>>> walls.
>>>
>>> We've demonstrated for over 25 yrs. that it is possible to safely&
>>> thoroughly clean all of these surfaces with a blend of highly rinsable,
>>> broad-based surfactants that includes a small but critical amount of
>>> analytical reagent grade n-propanol. There is an audible difference
>>> when
>>> the alcohol is excluded.
>>>
>>> With regards to use on Diamond Discs, Richard Warren, Curator of Yale's
>>> Historical Sound Recordings Collection has been using our standard
>>> product for years. He volunteered remarks at the ARSC meeting years ago
>>> in Nashville, that he obtained superior cleaning of Diamond Discs with
>>> our fluids& applicator, even with pressings from a period known for
>>> poor surfaces.
>>>
>>> All the discs used for the award winning "Lost Sounds" collection from
>>> the crew at Archeophone were cleaned with our system.
>>>
>>> As many of us like to make up our own cleaning concoctions, please note
>>> that household cleaning products rarely rinse clean from disc
>>> phonograph
>>> recordings;& I did say a small amount of a specific reagent grade
>>> alcohol. Methanol& isopropyl alcohol are not recommended, nor is
>>> denatured ethanol or your favorite vodka. While wetting agents can
>>> improve the ability of water to penetrate the groove, they do not
>>> inherently offer superior cleaning. Nonetheless, pairing wetting agents
>>> with highly focused vacuum -based fluid removal [i.e. Keith
>>> Monks/Loricraft] can improve performance. This same limitation was
>>> recently observed in comparing manual surfactant based cleaning to the
>>> use of a wetting solution in a well built device employing an
>>> ultrasonic
>>> bath.
>>>
>>> Lastly, with respect to the re-birth of the Spin Clean device, I'm
>>> puzzled by one observation. Most of us don't reuse the water we bathe
>>> in, use to brush our teeth, wash dishes or clothes in, so why is it
>>> such
>>> a good idea for phonograph records? The record may be cleaner than it
>>> was but it is exposed to all the contaminants accumulating in the bath.
>>> The supplied cleaning fluid is less than thorough no matter how it's
>>> used, although a quick pass with a Keith Monks/Loricraft would be quite
>>> helpful. ;>)
>>>
>>> Unfortunately both the Spin Clean& the sonicator [more than 40X the
>>> price of the former] were reviewed by the same person& both given
>>> positive recommendation. In keeping with this sort of evaluation, I'm
>>> often reminded that a warm solution of urea& uric acid also gives
>>> reasonable results when applied to most disc recording.
>>>
>>> I mean no criticism of the preferences of others as our goals may
>>> differ. A properly setup mid-fi system can reveal the differences
>>> between clean& thoroughly cleaned discs. The enhanced resolution
>>> increases listening pleasure, makes it easier to evaluate recordings&
>>> equipment as well as setting a reference point for digital playback.
>>> We're currently evaluating alternate methods for cleaning fresh
>>> lacquers
>>> prior to plating with the aim of improved resolution& quieter
>>> background.
>>>
>>> Regards,
>>>
>>> Duane Goldman
>>>
>>>
>>> On Jun 10, 2012, at 2:48 PM, Tom Fine wrote:
>>>
>>>> Mike, agree that arguments always arise, but it's important to
>>>> mention NO ALCOHOL in whatever solution you use for shellac, right?
>>>> Just in case someone doesn't know ...
>>>>
>>>> BTW, now to wade into the inevitable argument ... I haven't tried
>>>> it but it looks to me like the Spin-Clean would be a good low-cost
>>>> solution for 78's
>>>> http://www.spincleanrecordwasher.com/
>>>>
>>>> THAT SAID, if I were buying it, I would contact the company and ask
>>>> them point-blank if they guarantee their solution is alcohol-free
>>>> and safe for shellac before using it on your 78's.
>>>>
>>>> The reason I like this machine is that it keeps the label dry but
>>>> thoroughly soaks the groove area, and it's less sloppy than a
>>>> slop-sink and sponge.
>>>>
>>>> -- Tom Fine
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Michael Biel"<[log in to unmask]>
>>>> To:<[log in to unmask]>
>>>> Sent: Sunday, June 10, 2012 3:42 PM
>>>> Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] victor record conservation
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> From: Patrick Sumner<[log in to unmask]>
>>>>> To whom it may concern: wondering if someone knows how to clean
>>>>> vintage
>>>>> "Victor" records-a few have a green mold, most are just stored
>>>>> vertically in
>>>>> the area below the player. Also, would there be anyone in the
>>>>> Louisville,
>>>>> Ky area able to "check-out" the functions.many thanks, patrick
>>>> The "functions" of what????
>>>>
>>>> There's very little in shellac records for mold to grow on. The
>>>> problem
>>>> possibly is with the sleeves, and especially the cardboard of any
>>>> albums. It will probably clean off by cleaning them the usual way
>>>> (arguments always arise when record cleaning is mentioned) but the
>>>> sleeves and album covers will reinfect the cleaned records if they are
>>>> the problem. And the wood and varnish of the player might also be a
>>>> problem. The insides of the player need to be dried out, aired out,
>>>> and
>>>> possibly sealed. You don't mention the vintage of either the player or
>>>> the records. Is it a wind-up and these are acoustical records, or
>>>> is it
>>>> a modern console? Stored in a damp basement?
>>>>
>>>> Mike Biel [log in to unmask]
>>>>
>>> H D Goldman Lagniappe Chemicals Ltd.
>>> PO Box 37066 St. Louis, MO 63141 USA
>>> v/f 314 205 1388 [log in to unmask]
>>>
>>>
>>
>

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