Help : Clean LPs

Subject: Help : Clean LPs
From: GUEST,Unicorn
Date: 09 Sep 00 - 08:50 AM

Can't find a proprietary cleaner! Anyone know the best way to clean those round, flat, black discs with the hole in the middle? Or am I the only one that remembers them?!!?

Subject: RE: Help : Clean LPs
From: gillymor
Date: 09 Sep 00 - 09:18 AM

I use a discwasher D4 system which I got at a Sound Advice store. It includes a bottle of cleaner, a cleaning pad mounted on a block of wood and a small brush to clean the pad with and it's worked well for a long time. Wether it's still available or not I can't say but the address on the bottle is: discwasher, Columbia,MO 65201, USA.

Good luck, Frankie

Subject: RE: Help : Clean LPs
From: gillymor
Date: 09 Sep 00 - 09:37 AM

I'll try a link to it, Unicorn.
click here

Should work now

Subject: RE: Help : Clean LPs
From: gillymor
Date: 09 Sep 00 - 09:39 AM

Drat! Didn't quite make it but the address is www.discwasher.com/

Subject: RE: Help : Clean LPs
From: GUEST,The Invisible Blazoona
Date: 09 Sep 00 - 09:42 AM

I've been using mild diswashing liquids for years, and they work fine. Even on hard-to-clean 78's.

Subject: RE: Help : Clean LPs
From: Noreen
Date: 09 Sep 00 - 10:35 AM

Hey Frankie, I read your post as 'dishwasher'- A tad rough on the old vinyl, wot!!

Noreen

Subject: RE: Help : Clean LPs
From: gillymor
Date: 09 Sep 00 - 10:43 AM

Well, I did try that once Noreen and it might have worked if I'd have remebered to disengage the plate warmer. Fortunately it was a William Shatner LP.

F

Subject: RE: Help : Clean LPs
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 09 Sep 00 - 10:53 AM

Anyone ever tried to "bake" an album to get the warps out?

Put it between to panes of glass, turn the oven on to verrrry low....and wait. It actually works!

Rick

Subject: RE: Help : Clean LPs
From: gillymor
Date: 09 Sep 00 - 10:54 AM

I have Rick and it does.

Subject: RE: Help : Clean LPs
From: GUEST,Lyle
Date: 09 Sep 00 - 11:07 AM

I have an old worthless turntable that I use strictly for cleaning old 78's. I use water, a small amount of soap and an old, soft toothbrush. Put the record on the player, spray on some water/soap mixture, and hold the toothbrush lightly on the record as it spins. Then rinse it off with clear water. Play it and transfer to tape while the record is still wet - eliminates most of the white noise.

Lyle

Subject: RE: Help : Clean LPs
From: Sorcha
Date: 09 Sep 00 - 12:26 PM

Something tells me it's OK to use rubbing alchohol and a lint free cloth, but I am not sure, so try it on something that is not too important.

Subject: RE: Help : Clean LPs
From: Noreen
Date: 09 Sep 00 - 01:35 PM

LOL Frankie!

Rick, does that treatment smoooooooooooooooth out the music too? (doo bee doo bee doo)

Noreen

Subject: RE: Help : Clean LPs
From: Giac
Date: 09 Sep 00 - 02:01 PM

Glad to hear about the panes of glass, Rick.

Noreen: Years ago I tried "ironing" them with a warm iron. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't, unfortunately when it didn't, it did smoooooooooth out the sound. Yorrrp, scritch, yorrp.

Subject: RE: Help : Clean LPs
From: IvanB
Date: 09 Sep 00 - 02:55 PM

I, too, have a Discwasher D4 kit that I've used for ages. Although the mild detergent solution works well, I only used it when I had a lot of records to clean at once. The discwasher is handy since it sits right by the turntable and gets used whenever I play a record (rare occurrence nowadays, but I have a project to get them all onto CD's eventually). As Frankie's experience suggests, mine has lasted for about 25 years now with only the fluid being replaced from time to time.

Subject: RE: Help : Clean LPs
From: GUEST,Unicorn
Date: 09 Sep 00 - 03:07 PM

Thanks to everyone. I'm glad I'm not the only one who still has the old black vinyl. And Frankee - thanks for the link - it worked a treat - I was a little worried in case all outlets were in America (and I'm not!) but there are some in Britain (where I am!). Oh, thank you all for the "flattening" tips!!! (Do they work on tummies too?)

Subject: RE: Help : Clean LPs
From: Bernard
Date: 09 Sep 00 - 08:04 PM

For what it's worth, I've been using a 'Dust Bug' for years. The company which made them (Acos) is long since defunct, but it shouldn't be too difficult to make one.

It's a flat piece of perspex about the same length as a tone arm, with a small brush and velvet pile roller at the opposite end to the pivot.

The pivot unit is made from a perspex dowel about 18mm in diameter, with a rubber sucker on the base and an adjustable pin for the actual pivot. The pivot unit is fixed diagonally opposite to the tone-arm pivot.

The idea is that you place it on the record just before the tone arm, and it removes the dust as you play.

I've been transferring old vinyls and 78's to my computer hard drive, then writing them onto CD. If you intend to do so, remember that you need RIAA equalisation - simplest way is to use the 'TAPE' output from your hifi amp (if it's 'clean' enough).

Otherwise you'll probably need to buy a DJ mixer, as RIAA preamps are now as rare as rocking horse manure...

As far as legality is concerned, my understanding is you are okay making such a copy provided you own (and keep!) the original disc, and the resulting CD is solely for your own use. In other words, you are producing a backup copy.

Subject: RE: Help : Clean LPs
From: oggie
Date: 10 Sep 00 - 05:43 PM

If you're transferring LPs you can now buy programs to de-hiss them and remove the scratches. I'm told they're not cheap. Will try and post details.

All the best

Steve

Subject: RE: Help : Clean LPs
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 10 Sep 00 - 05:52 PM

A sausage made of black short pile velvet, held over the disc whilst rotating it, either manually or by machine, usually does the trick. There are things that look like a pair of plastic discs with a velvety material part of the way down the inside of it, they were fairly popular for a while....

LTS

Subject: RE: Help : Clean LPs
From: GUEST,Yum Yum
Date: 10 Sep 00 - 09:16 PM

I have been collecting vinyl for years. In fact I bought five old albums at the 'record fair' in Maysfield Liesure Centre in Belfast at the weekend. Eddie Butcher 'The Titanic' etc.. A few could do with a wash, I might try the old soapy water routine. Hope it works. They may have cost me £4 each (less discount) but I dont want anything to go wrong as I have been trying for years to get the albums.The others were John Quinn (Mullabawn)'You know I am a stranger' Newcastle Fishing Disaster(Gus McElroy)Hughie McAlindon, 'Killevy's Pride' Paddy Gamble. I now have the complete Outlet collection except 'The Ould Songs are the Best' John and Frances Rodgers. Anyone out there selling it? Go on, make an old man happy! Yum Yum.