The Article
VINYL CLEANING GUIDE – UPDATE
14th June 2022
There may be one or two of you – possibly more – who will find this particular update of some interest
It was the back end of 2020, December of that year, so I recall, when I launched upon a series of Vinyl Cleaning Guide features, based upon extensive and, in some cases, unique research and interviews I had completed over the previous years.
Part 1 of the intended trio was released in that month. It took, as its principle subject, the manual vinyl cleaner. The focus was the Disco Antistat but more specifically the Disco Antistat married to a surfactant liquid package. The research I undertook for that first textual part was significant. Well, to me at least. It took several months to finalise, check and double check. Reading the piece, you might wonder what all the fuss was about but to arrive at those results took an inordinate amount of time. The processes in and of themselves were and remain time intensive.
What was worse was that other, more demanding work, had to be undertaken and completed at the same time so I couldn’t exclusively immerse myself in this vinyl cleaning research and testing. I had to fit it in and around more urgent deadlines.
This slow cycle of progress wasn’t seen for Part 1 because Part 1 was the first reveal. The first publicly visual result of the trilogy. The first realisation of the slow pace of this sort of research was only experienced when Part 2 took – and has taken – so long to appear. As I write these words, we’re looking at a year and a half later. I have since received a host of messages asking about the final publication of Part 2 of the Vinyl Cleaning Guide which is why I’ve decided to release this post.
And just to reiterate, the projected sequels included a closer look at Record Cleaning Machines (RCMs) for Part 2. That is, those machines that feature an external vacuum-based mechanism. Part 3 was aimed at the Ultrasonic class of vinyl cleaning machines. The latest and most expensive class of machines you can currently pick up for vinyl cleaning.
So that’s the backdrop, in case you were not aware or have wondered just why the Vinyl Cleaning Guide had seemingly stalled at Part 1 for so long.
If you have been waiting for Part 2 then allow me to announce that it isn’t far away from final publication. In fact, just today (as I type these words) I finally completed my tests which span around 5,000 words in testing results only. The next stage is to process that lot, adding the usual text furniture so that will probably bump up the total to around 7,000 words. Give or take. I’ll need a bit of free time to sort that out. As well as the images for the same. So we’re basically there in terms of the core of the feature. And I have arrived at some interesting conclusions, I have to say.
I’ll just need a day or so to put that lot together. I’m hoping to do that next week. So, if you were waiting for Part 2 (and bless your cotton socks for being so patient) then we’re almost at the finish line.
In fact, we’re so close you can almost smell the isopropyl alcohol, can’t you?
Great news Paul, I look forward to reading your conclusions and seeing if they align with my experience with a RCM compared with a Disco Antistat.
Great news. Looking forward to your report. A very difficult task you have set yourself – on an extremely important topic
Of course we are waiting… and my cotton socks are glowing with blessings! In due time…
I’m really looking forward to reading the next installment of Vinyl Cleaning. I have just unpacked my old collection after well over 20 years and I have had to resort to the hand cleaning with a supposedly reputable surfactant and gentle use of the microfibre cloth because everything has moved on so much in my time away from vinyl. I cannot afford the serious equipment so looking for a good option now. Thank you for your time and trouble in putting together these case studies. Great work.
Looking forward to reading/seeing it. Thank you for all of your hard work.
Thank Joseph – just been sorting images for the feature. Again, setting these things up takes longer than you think 🙂
UPDATE, 28 JUNE 2022: Just a quick, further update. I’ve been editing the text for this Guide and, I must warn you, it’s a biggie. You’re looking at over 11,000 words on this one. This is a stand-alone guide for those with a RCM. Thing is, the Disco Antistat makes an appearance so you’ll need to know how to use that. You’ll also need to know how to prepare your records with surfactant. I’ve also included background and context. A lot of what was in Part 1, in fact.
Again, to repeat, because I want to make these Guides stand alone. To prevent you having to spend all day cross referencing between Parts 2 and 1 and back again.
I’ll provide some sign posts for Part 2 to help you along. So don’t worry too much 🙂 I’m also adding Buy links in case you want to purchase any of the tools I talk about. Hopefully the Buy links will speed that purchase up a bit.
I’ve created some new images but I realise I need to create more so I’ll need to sort those first and re-edit (you always miss things) before I post
Thank you for the update. Looking forward to reading and implementing it. I really appreciate all of your hard work.
To echo Joseph, thanks for the heads up. I cnnot afford an ultrasonic cleaner but I have purchased RCM in eager anticipation of the next step.
Now just waiting for Obe Wan Rigby to instuct me in the finer points of using a RCM. I have thoroughly digested Part 1 and I am hoping for even futher progess upon reading Part 2!!
Thanks for all yout effort,
JK.
John, this can be done on a budget. I purchased an inexpensive ultrasonic cleaner that included the record turning mechanism, replaced the too long set screw (Ace Hardware), replaced the power supply with a much lower voltage one to slow the spin way way down, and added a shower head filter with tube to filter the distilled water for reuse out of the ultrasonic cleaner. Also added a Pro-Ject record vac. I’m about a grand in (not cheap), but less than 1/4 the price of going with something fancy. Skip the fancy vac, and you are all in at about $300 chemicals.
Wish I could post a photo, so you can see.
This isn’t an endorsement of the links below, but it works for me. Of course, it’s going to work 10x better with Paul’s guide.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07L3G9TBS?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&ref_=cm_sw_r_ud_dp_D1B54GC5BRPVMZ1M2AKC
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B084KJQ6QT?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&ref_=cm_sw_r_ud_dp_ZY17Z8G9R7QXJFM10ZFF
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QBZ5XWZ?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&ref_=cm_sw_r_ud_dp_XBQCE8Y532MBZNTHY8YJ
UPDATE, 3 AUGUST 2022: You won’t be surprised to hear that I was delayed again. The clue is the length of my recent YouTube videos. That reflects the time needed to spend on a basic review or feature. It’s not the length of the YouTube video itself, the video length provides an indication of how long I’ve spent doing the basic review/feature.
The last few reviews/features have been long and pretty intense.
A video of 15 or so minutes (bit less/bit more) means the original research/review/testing/etc took an average amount of time. Over 30 minutes each means I’ve had to spend a long time doing the review. The last three were well over 30 minutes.
So yes, delays then.
Even so, I managed to do more editing and added a little text to the new Guide today. I’ve taken more images and so – if the HiFi gods smile and leave me alone for a bit (If I sacrifice a few inner sleeves on a bonfire at the rear of my house, maybe?) then Friday should see lots of progress. I won’t promise anything but, if all goes well, I’ll publish then.
But hey. It depends if the HiFi gods decide mock me again. 🙂
Looking forward to reading it whenever it gets finished, I think we are all aware of how tight time is against your workload, and I’m sure we will all be very grateful in the end.
Hi Paul,
Really looking forward to part 3 (or is it already out..?).
Awaiting this masterpiece I consider buying a Degritter MKII (I used KLaudio in the past, but sold it and much too expensive to buy it again).
I make a guess how the cleaning would look like with an US cleaner:
– For old dirty records: Washing/abrasion with Knosti in water/alcohol bath -> Rinsing in 2nd Knosti in water bath (or do it with the US?) and dry it -> Apply surfactant (how to do that on both sides similarly?) -> Do a US cleaning/drying cycle -> play the record
– For new records (with the agent on them): Apply surfactant on both sides -> Do a US cleaning/drying cycle -> play the record
Am I far besides the proper procedure?
Best regards,
Frank