The one thing I would add is that you'll get a much deeper clean if, instead of using a sponge, you use a paint pad. This has a fibered surface, backed by a thin sponge layer, mounted on an aluminum back plate, around 4 inches by 6 inches in size. You can find them at any paint supply store.
The only problem with either this method or the sponge method is the toll it takes on the label.
db
Sent from my iPhone
> On Mar 18, 2014, at 6:10 AM, Tom Fine <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> Shellac records can be washed quite well in a common sink with a common soft sponge and Ivory liquid. My experience is that if you gently scrub in a circular motion, then rinse thoroughly, then gently dry with a "shammy cloth" (the legendary Sham-Wow works fine, so does the cloth from Sleeve City), most shellacs will clean up to nice playability. Whatever alleged residue is left doesn't matter given the medium and the groove size, in my experience. For wide-groove (and microgroove) lacquers, as long as the laquer is firmly attached to the base material, I've never had a problem using my VPI machine. If the laquer has the white, sticky stuff, that's a whole other ballgame.
>
> Back to shellacs. If the record has been beaten to hell and played with a half-pound-tracking dull needle, no amount of cleaning will help anything. Ask John Tefteller. He's put some cuts on the Blues Images CDs because he's got the only copy of the disk. I suppose that counts for something, but some of those cuts are totally inaudible because there is no more groove to play on the worn out disk. I would argue, he owns an artifact and there are actually no more copies extant of the music that once lived in the cored out groove on his artifact.
>
> -- Tom Fine
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Roger Kulp" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Monday, March 17, 2014 9:37 PM
> Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] WSJ article on vinyl playbackl equipment
>
>
>> Wood glue is one thing,but rubber cement?? How does that work?
>>
>> I have simply neither cleaned nor played shellac records that need a heavy cleaning.I know wood glue is not supposed to be used on shellac records.
>>
>> Roger
>>
>>> Date: Tue, 18 Mar 2014 00:12:54 +0100
>>> From: [log in to unmask]
>>> Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] WSJ article on vinyl playbackl equipment
>>> To: [log in to unmask]
>>>
>>> Hello, Tom, Don,
>>>
>>> I would also like to know if there are some advantages of using rubber
>>> cement for cleaning records. Anyone from the list tried it with
>>> shellac/lacqers? I've only read on Audiokarma forum from one single person
>>> that it works great on shellac as well on vinyl.
>>>
>>> Thank you!
>>>
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Don Tait ([log in to unmask])" <[log in to unmask]>
>>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>>> Sent: Sunday, March 16, 2014 1:24 AM
>>> Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] WSJ article on vinyl playbackl equipment
>>>
>>>
>>> > Hi Tom --
>>> >
>>> > Rubber cement on records (your last paragraph)? How? Pour it on, let it
>>> > dry, peel it off, and your problems are solved? (Sure -- speaking of
>>> > solvents!) As an old collector I thought I'd probably heard the goofy
>>> > theories
>>> > that abound, but that's a new one. Thanks. Let us know if you feel like
>>> > it.
>>> >
>>> > Don Tait
>>> >
>>> > P.S. During the 1970s I met a crazy "collector" who claimed that the
>>> > very best treatment for 78-rpm records was black shoe polish. Kiwi,
>>> > specifically. One was to smear the polish on the record's grooves, rub
>>> > until there
>>> > was a high polished gloss. And then all sound and surface problems were
>>> > solved. Sure....
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > In a message dated 3/15/2014 4:45:53 P.M. Central Daylight Time,
>>> > [log in to unmask] writes:
>>> >
>>> > Hi Duane:
>>> >
>>> > Could someone use one of these things to do the method you describe,
>>> > rather than having to find and
>>> > then make the space for an old turntable?
>>> > http://www.sleevecityusa.com/All-Media-Disc-Cleaning-Mat-p/cd-506.htm
>>> >
>>> > They also sell cleaning cloths which I'll say are good for CDs, haven't
>>> > tried on vinyl:
>>> > http://www.sleevecityusa.com/Phoenix-Record-Cleaning-Cloth-p/phx-cloth.htm
>>> >
>>> > One thing I DON'T recommend is trying any of the foolish DIY
>>> > "conversions"
>>> > for a shop vac into a
>>> > record cleaner. I expect you'll ruin a few platters on the way to
>>> > figuring
>>> > out that's a bad idea.
>>> > There also seems to be some mythology out there on the web about using
>>> > rubber cement. Good luck with
>>> > that.
>>> >
>>> > -- Tom Fine
>>> >
>>> > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "H D Goldman" <[log in to unmask]>
>>> > To: <[log in to unmask]>
>>> > Sent: Saturday, March 15, 2014 3:10 PM
>>> > Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] WSJ article on vinyl playbackl equipment
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >> Hi Tom,
>>> >>
>>> >> From my perspective, you need to keep in mind that the way fluids are
>>> > removed is secondary to the
>>> >> actual cleaning. Cleaning is performed by the fluid, applicator &
>>> > method. The same end result
>>> >> can be reached whether using vacuum-assisted fluid removal or pure
>>> > cotton terry cloth rags to wick
>>> >> fluid from the groove. An ultrasonic bath is not a substitute for a
>>> > properly configured blend of
>>> >> surfactants. Our own approach has been in public view for over 25 yrs.
>>> >>
>>> >> A quart of our QuickWash Record Cleaner w/ 4oz. dispenser [no-rinse
>>> > required], a single wet
>>> >> cleaning brush w/user replaceable pad & a set of cotton drying cloths is
>>> > less than a Spin-Clean.
>>> >>
>>> >> A pint of our premiere product, the Miracle Record Cleaner w/ 4oz.
>>> > dispenser [makes up 1.5 pints
>>> >> working strength], a pair wet cleaning brushes w/user replaceable pads &
>>> > a set of cotton drying
>>> >> cloths are is within several $ of the Spin Cleaner.
>>> >>
>>> >> The only other items we recommend for cleaning are an old changer with a
>>> > rubber mat configured
>>> >> with a concentric circle design as a work platform & a vinyl covered
>>> > dish rack.
>>> >>
>>> >> The QW solution is for vinyl pressings only. The MRC has a long track
>>> > record of superior cleaning
>>> >> of lacquer, shellac, acetate, Diamond Disc & vinyl surfaces.
>>> >>
>>> >> It's all about setting a standard for the quality of recorded sound
>>> > ..... it's always been about
>>> >> the MUSIC!
>>> >>
>>> >> Cheers,
>>> >>
>>> >> Duane Goldman
>>> >>
>>> >> ps we hope to have available a safer & more effective approach to
>>> > cleaning lacquer masters prior
>>> >> to plating before years end.
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >> On Mar 15, 2014, at 11:49 AM, Tom Fine <[log in to unmask]>
>>> > wrote:
>>> >>
>>> >>> Hi Duane:
>>> >>>
>>> >>> Agreed that the Spin-Clean is not on par with something like a VPI.
>>> >>>
>>> >>> So what are your recommendations "for less money"?
>>> >>>
>>> >>> -- Tom Fine
>>> >>
>>> >> 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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