Record cleaning

Fongolio

I am trying to find a place in Canada to buy tergitol for making my own home made record cleaning solution. Does anyone know of anywhere to buy this or
know of a good alternate recipe using more readily available chemicals. I will be using a nitty gritty machine and steam but need a good degreasing agent like tergitol. Any help would be much appreciated. And yes I know this topic is similar to others I have already read but locating the chemicals in the great white north is not easy and shipping chemicals across the border.....well you know. Thanks.

jm1

When I purchased mine, I looked around and found several places which sold the Tergitol solutions. Unfortunately, I needed to purchase a drum.

Talas sells the ingredients in smaller quantities. Even with a pint of each (15-s-3 and 15-s-9), you will be able to make enough solution to clean LPs for MANY years.

I wouldn't worry about ordering it from Talas. I had no problems with customs when mine arrived. I don't recall how they shipped mine, but you could see if they can use USPS to reduce the border costs.

analog97

This stuff can be purchased for $50/gallon. If we got 8 guys who wanted 1 pint of each Tergitol variety, it would cost about $15 for each guy plus shipping. Anybody want to pool?

Fongolio

I'd be in if we can find a few more wanting buy pints.

engtaz

I would be in also.

engtaz

schwarcw

I'm in Larry. Let's see if the usual cast of characters join in:D.

analog97

Carl, maybe I can get this stuff from one of the lab's chemical supply companies for even a better price. I don't know. I got a few ounces of each a couple years ago, but ran out. I need more, but a couple gallons for me is WAY overkill!! Glad you're in. Maybe Dipole Dan needs a pint of each as well. No shipping!! What a deal!:D

SCompRacer

Put me down as willing to participate.

miner

I'll join this elite crowd.

Fongolio

Sounds like 6 in so far.....

hearingimpared

Got mine already, thanks John!

MillerLiteScott

Ben and I went in on some of this. Ben did all the leg work so I do not know much about the process. I do know it was more difficult than one would think.

Ben is very busy right now so maybe he can chime in when he has time.

Neither one of us has tried it as of yet. I am going to start looking into what I need to do to get it into the proper solutions/mixtures.

Scott

jm1

hearingimpared wrote: »

Got mine already, thanks John!

Your welcome.

[Deleted User]

Hello,
I use two tablespoons of each liquid into a gallon of distilled water and it seems to be very effective. I also recommend a follow-up rinse with distilled water to remove any residual film that might be left after the vacuuming. A clean record is a happy record.
Regards, Ken

MillerLiteScott

Ken,

Does the solution keep for a period of time to use a gallon of each? Does it break down in your experience?

Scott

[Deleted User]

Hey Scott,
No, it stays a nice milky solution. I keep a gallon in a card boad box near the record cleaning stuff and its been fine for well over a year, probably closer to three years. I have a smaller plastic bottle that I spread across the Doc Record cleaning brush. I think when I retire I'll set up a little stand in front of my house and clean records for $0.50 a side. Maybe go to record shows and flea markets and clean records for a living. Charge extra for a new sleeve and plastic cover. In by 9:00AM out by 5:00PM, no starch!
Ken

analog97

There is some controversy about the degradation of tergitol. See below, as shown from the National Library of Congress website:

Preparation and Directions for Use

1. To prepare 4 L (~ 1 gal) of solution, place 2 mL of Tergitol™ 15-S-7 Surfactant into a suitable container (glass, stainless steel type 304 or 316, fiberglass-reinforced polyester, polyethylene, or polypropylene) and fill with deionized water. This results in a 0.05% solution.
2. Store the solution in a non-food refrigerator to avoid degradation and transfer what is immediately needed to a spray bottle for manual cleaning or other container for mechanized cleaning.
3. Store the pure Tergitol™ in its original container (preferably under nitrogen) and in a non-food refrigerator to avoid degradation that causes an undesirable color and odor.
4. To manually clean records, CDs, or DVDs manually, spray the solution onto the surface, and wipe with an eyeglass or other similar soft wipe to remove contaminants. ALWAYS FOLLOW CLEANING WITH A THOROUGH RINSING WITH DEIONIZED WATER TO REMOVE ALL TRACES OF DETERGENT: LEAVING DETERGENT ON THE OBJECT MIGHT FACILITATE DEGRADATION OF THE OBJECT. Finally, wipe the object dry using a soft, nonabrasive, lint-free cloth.
5. To clean records, CDs, or DVDs in a mechanized cleaner, place just enough solution into the cleaner reservoir so that fresh solution is used each day (or remove the solution every day and store in a non-food refrigerator). ALWAYS FOLLOW CLEANING WITH A THOROUGH RINSING WITH DEIONIZED WATER TO REMOVE ALL TRACES OF DETERGENT: LEAVING DETERGENT ON THE OBJECT MIGHT FACILITATE DEGRADATION OF THE OBJECT. Finally, wipe the object dry using a soft, nonabrasive, lint-free cloth. This last hand-drying step may not be necessary if a record-cleaning machine with a vacuum arm is being used.

Ricardo

In like Flint.

Ricardo

I have a small refrigerator used only for beer; I guess that counts as a non-food refrigerator.

[Deleted User]

Hello,
Probably store in a cool, dry place out of direct sun light.
Ken

reeltrouble1

One note on Ken's solution, its excellent and I have been using it for a couple of years now, however, if you mix it in the thin plastic gallon jug the distilled water comes in from the grocery store the mix will eventually eat through the thin plastic, I know this from experience, I switched over to one of those heavier Oceanspray Cranbury gallon jugs and its has been fine.

Ken, I hear ya, we can bring the flattener, clean and flatten for 2.50, of course at 12 hours per flattening it looks like a tough go.

RT1

MillerLiteScott

Deionized or Distilled water?

And is grocery store bought good enough or should it be specialized deionized or distilled water?

reeltrouble1

well you can put a dionizer system in your house but I have been using the distilled for quite a while and have not had any problems.

Ricardo

You can get distilled and deionized water here:

http://cqconcepts.com/

(Ted, they even take paypal).

reeltrouble1

hehehe, well since BDT gave me the water for all I know he got it somewhere else, so I guess I really do not know where it came from. But I use it and my records are shiny clean and sound nicey nice.

Fongolio

Hey analog97, to we have enough participants to buy yet??

analog97

Let's count:

1. me
2. fongolio
3. engtaz
4. cschwartz
5. ricardo
6. miner
7. scompracer


Anybody I missed? If we get 8, I will see if I can get a discounted cost, get some good quality bottles and figure it out and let everyone know. :D

bikerboy

Hi,
I would like to get in on this group buy. Just bought the Shark steamer two days ago. LMK Thanks.

brabus420

I use Grub GLide which you can buy online or Guitar center. I used to do some DJing back in the days with my tech 1200's and always liked Gruv Glide. Just another option to consider.

reeltrouble1

well whilst you guys are figuring your group out if anyone wants a gallon sent to you let me know.

yes I said whilst.

RT1

Fongolio

How much for a gallon? And I'm assuming you mean pre-mixed solution.