Steam Powered Record Cleaning

madmax

SCompRacer wrote: »

As for myself, I don't wear white gloves when handling vinyl but rest assured the fingers are clean of cheetos and pizza roll sauce. I wipe them on my pants first:D

I've been known to clean the chicken grease off the side of the platter because the belt was slipping.
madmax

madmax

I received the "Sunshine Steamer" I posted an ebay link on earlier. It is the same as the "Shark" other than a slightly different color scheme and a bit of a mechanical design on the base. Performs exactly the same and looks to be of the same quality as the Shark. All the parts look interchangeable. Great deal at $40 shipped!
madmax

hearingimpared

I'm still waiting for mine . . .

madmax

hearingimpared wrote: »

I'm still waiting for mine . . .

:mad::mad::mad: Seems like a long time.
madmax

treitz3

What's taking so long Joe? I had an amp shipped to me yesterday and it was delivered this morning. Was there a disclaimer like "please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery"?

hearingimpared

Well it didn't arrive today. It's from Overstock.com and is free shipping so I guess they stacked up one of their illegal employees and has him walking it here.

hearingimpared

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA, I can be so retarded!

This Shark has been sitting in my office since December 29th. My wife brought it in from outside and put it in my office. I thought it was something she ordered then I put the Timbre DAC on top of it to take more pictures of it. I just lifted the DAC and there is the Shark.

Dyeeeeee, duh, dyeeeeeeeeee, duh!:o

madmax

So, how does it work as a DAC support?
madmax

dee1949

......doesn't the steam release the crud......then clean with cleaner solution...then vacumn???????

treitz3

Softens foreign material / pre-treats LP prior to steam cleaning for a thorough cleaning.

madmax

The crud is suspended in the cleaning solution then vacuumed up. Therefore it would seem reasonable that the steam step may come first. However, I've been trying different orders. No real data.

strider

Latest process for me has been applying the cleaning solution, steaming, scrubbing, then vacuuming. Results have been positive, but not quite as good as when I had steamed again after scrubbing. I stopped doing this after I may have slightly warped a couple of albums. The albums were new to me Goodwill finds, so the warps may have been there previously. They were also a bit thinner then the other albums I've done. I'm gonna try and find something as thin as those 2, put it on the platter to see if it has warps, then clean as before. Given madmax's experiment with purposefully warping an lp, then having it return to form, I'm thinking I may have overlooked the warp at first.

madmax

It seems to me the awesome ticket would be if you could use the cleaner in the steamer. This could be dangerous depending on the cleaner and I would be too afraid to try it. Besides, it may just break up the mixture.
madmax

treitz3

I wouldn't want to smell the fumes.

Joe, have you used it yet?

treitz3

Gentlemen, here's what I have come up with. I clean my records prior to every use, whether or not they are brand new or not with noticeable improvements nearly every time.

What I do is put the LP's in my NG dual sided cleaning machine, pump until the NG Pure 2 completely covers the grooves and let spin for 15-20 revolutions, vacuum for 5 revolutions.

Taking the pre-heated "Shark" steam cleaner [using distilled water] with a 45 degree tip, I angle the Shark with the direction [vacuum still on] the LP is spinning at a distance of about 3-4" the top and bottom of the LP. I then repeat the same procedure, this time cleaning against the direction the LP is spinning [vacuum still on]. I then let the LP rotate a good twenty times or so until dry, removing the LP while still rotating instead of stopping the LP and giving a chance for any residual material left [on the first part of the felt that hits the LP during rotation] to imprint itself on the LP. I then vacuum the felt on the top and bottom to remove any residual foreign objects with a separate vacuum cleaner after setting the LP on the record player and closing the lid.

After 15 or so minutes, the LP is ready to go. I lift the lid, dip the needle onto a Mr. Magic pad, install the clamp and play away.

After my listening session ends for the day, I take the air compressor and completely blow off all areas on, beneath, around the LP player, close the lid and proceed to blow off the entire rig. After all of the dust settles down, I blow just the platter area once more, just to be sure, and close the lid.

This has been the best method I have come up with using what I currently know about LP cleaning. I feel I don't need a static gun because the LP's look as if they were just pressed, allowed to cool in a dust free chamber and handed to me.

strider

treitz3 wrote: »

What I do is put the LP's in my NG dual sided cleaning machine, pump until the NG Pure 2 completely covers the grooves and let spin for 15-20 revolutions, vacuum for 5 revolutions.

.............


This has been the best method I have come up with using what I currently know about LP cleaning. I feel I don't need a static gun because the LP's look as if they were just pressed, allowed to cool in a dust free chamber and handed to me.

I've always tried to keep the number of revolutions on the vacuum to a minimum for fear of causing static to build up. I'll try some more revolutions next time I listen. Very impressive, and thorough, process, BTW.

madmax

strider wrote: »

I've always tried to keep the number of revolutions on the vacuum to a minimum for fear of causing static to build up.

That does seem like a lot. Mine appear dry after two or three.
madmax

hearingimpared

I've been putzing around with this since I got out of the hospital. I've tested 50 plus LPs and I've come up with a spectatcular method of getting your records treated and you only have to do it once. Once done, unless you play your record 20 times a week using **** inner sleeves you will find that you only need to give the record a dry spin or an occasional wet/vac on the record cleaning machine.

The first thing I did was to simply augment my record cleaning method by adding the steam cleaning phase to the mix but this did not do.

What I found to be the ultimate in absolutely getting the crude completely out of each groove was to do the following.

1. Apply 10 squirts of Vinyl-Zyme Gold and spreading in on the record by using a four inch foam paint brush. I let it set for anywhere from 30 seconds to one minute depending on the filthy condition of the record.

BTW I did this with all records, used, already treated, new, freshly opened etc.

2. With the turntable (record cleaning turntable) immobile, I sprayed the steam back and fourth aprox four times and then turned on the turntable and let it continue to steam back and forth another two rotations. Distilled water only!!!!

3. I vacuumed the moisture.

4. I applied MFSL Super Deep Record cleaning fluid and scrubbed it in using the VPI brush. After which I used a dedicated vacuum tube to vacuum the record dry.

5. I applied MFSL Super Record Wash, applied it with a an MFSL record cleaning brush and vacuumed the record clean using another vacuum tube different from the first one.

6. I applied VPI record cleaning fluid and applied it with another MFSL recording cleaning brush and vacuumed the record clean using yet another vacuum tube.

7. I flipped the record using a clean and second cork platter mat and repeated steps 1 through six.

I was flabbergasted at the results. Previously crackly and noisy records are now dead quiet, don't get me wrong if there is an imbedded pop or tick, nothing is getting rid of that but what blew me away was that all that noise, the rice krispies with a mike in the bowl was all because of deeply embedded dirt.

I must tell you that I really didn't want to do this!!!! I just want to sit and listen to my music and not have to **** around with the software; however, this only needs to be done once per record and after that vuola!!!

I am also convinced that new records when they come out of the press not only have mold release compounds but tons of other **** that covers the grooves.

You may think me a loon here but I've got to tell you, it is worth having to do this once per LP to realize the glorious sounds that is actually held in those tiny grooves.

Now you can do away with all the other fluids (as a matter of fact, I have two large bottles of Tergitol that I am waiting to use after using up all the MFSL fluid I have) however I strongly recommend that you do not skip the step where you apply the Vinyl-Zyme Gold to the record before steaming it. This loosens and the enzymes eat the crude that in is the groove before the steam actually blows it away.

The main things I noticed were; an increase in stereo separation, startling bloom and decay of vocals, cymbals, and other startling surprising instruments. The bass rumble and growl is more pronounced. The air between instruments and vocals is startling. I can add much more but you won't believe me until you hear it for yourself.

jm1

Glad to see you are well enough to experiment and post your thoughts. I will order a bottle of enzyme cleaner and try adding this to the process.

I also am trying the best nylon bristle paint brush I could purchase to reach down into the groves during the Tergitol clean. I have shortened the bristles and have only tried a couple of records, but it looks like it will be better than any of the other brushes. Others mention to hold it at a 45 degree angle in order to further clean the record.

I have been sorting and collecting more records these past few weeks and will post later on this.

Glad you are not hearing the record surface.

JM

hearingimpared

Here is my procedure for cleaning records;

First the ingredients;

1. Bugtussel Vinyl-Zyme Gold Extra Strength (VZG) (buy the concentrate that makes 4 gallons and just make one gallon using distilled water), keep the practical spray bottle and refill as necessary.
2. MFSL Super Deep Record Cleaning fluid (SDC) (or any fluid that removes mold release and other mold compounds)
3. MFSL Super Deep Record Wash (SDW) or the Tergitol mixture
4. VPI Record Cleaning fluid (VCF) (use the concentrate that makes one gallon using distilled water)

Equipment;

VPI 16.5, spare cork mat, three vacuum tubes marked 1, 2, 3 with permanent ink, three-4” foam paint brushes, one VPI scrub brush, one MFSL scrub brush, steaming machine using distilled or tripled distilled water.

Use this method for ALL used records whether you are the previous owner or not.
1. With the record mounted on the 16.5 side 1 down, spray side 2 around the record with 10 good squirts of the VZG. Turn on TT and lightly apply the fluid evenly by pressing gently and evenly with a 4” foam paint brush. This is usually accomplished in two spins.
2. Wait 30 seconds to one minute.
3. Add a thin line or small amount of SDC.
4. Using the VPI scrub brush scrub both fluids into the grooves, two to three rotations should do it.
5. Take steamer and in a left to right motion going counter clockwise on the record evenly steam the record twice. Then turn on the turntable and repeat except this time you are going to have to move a bit faster another two rotations.
6. Vacuum the record using tube 1 until completely dry.
7. Place a line or small amount of SDW and scrub into the record using the MFSL brush for three rotations.
8. Vacuum using tube 2 until dry.
9. Repeat steps 7 & 8 with the VPI fluid also using the MFSL brush, vacuum using tube 3. The VPI fluid is very clear and leaves no residue and does a great job of a final rinse.

Now remove the record from the machine, place the spare cork mat down and place side two down. Repeat steps 1 through 9 above.

If you are cleaning a new, sealed record you may skip step one.

If you are going to clean a particularly dirty or moldy LP cut a piece of wax paper the size of the cork mat and lay that down on the adhered cork mat to avoid spreading the cancerous mold onto other records.

Using this method, you will find that your stylus is touching nothing but groove when it is playing through a record.

If you don't have a VPI 16.5 cleaning machine, improvise.


Thanks,
Joe

dorokusai

Exactly why I don't bother with vinyl.

hearingimpared

dorokusai wrote: »

Exactly why I don't bother with vinyl.

Cause it sounds so good?

madmax

Reel to reel is easier.
madmax

dorokusai

hearingimpared wrote: »

Cause it sounds so good?

If it helps you sleep at night, yes.

Max - I like R2R media much better but even the underground sources for music aren't as varied as vinyl. Oh well.

madmax

As proven by Ken, R2R can sound as good as the best vinyl.

TroyD

I picked up a Shark a few days ago, I'm still dicking with it but, so far, so good!!

BDT

del44

Since I don't have a ton of vinyl, I made a diy vacumn for my albums. I use the crevice tool from my vacumn cleaner. It attaches to the hose on the vac. I cut a slot in it, used some 2 sided tape to hold a piece of velvet. I made up a solution of 3 parts distilled water 1 part iso alcohol and a drop of Dawn dishwashing liquid. I put the ingredients into a spray bottle. I am using an old tt to spin the vinyl on. As I spin, I spray the solution an the record. Then I use a sponge type of brush to spead the fluid out evenly. Wait a minute then vacumn off the residue. I use another spray bottle with just distilled water in it for a rinse, and vacumn it off. After it has dried I use a brush on it. Seems to do a good job.:D Here's a pic of the tool.


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hearingimpared

Cool!

madmax

Now that is what I call innovative!
madmax

TroyD

Just as an update, I've been dicking with this steamer for a couple of days now.

My process is not NEARLY as involved as HI's

Simply I steam, scrub, vacuum, scrub again with tergitol solution, vacuum, steam again w/ MFSL brush, vacuum....put on Table, hit with Hunt brush...play.

Results have been nothing short of fantastic. I have a few Sinatra LP's that I had written off and they are now good as new. Same with a couple Paraphone Beatles LP's I brought back from New Zealand.

BDT