Should you clean NEW Vinyl LP's?

[Triode Pete]

Fellow Audiophiles,
When I go to favorite used record store (Infinity Records on Long Island), I always clean the used LP's with my Disc Doctor record solution.

Recently I picked up some nice NEW 180 gram Vinyl LP's from Elusive Disc. I was once told it was a good idea to clean them to remove the "mold release compounds" from the pressings.

On the Mo-Fi inner sleeve info, it says "Once the master lacquer is finished it is then plated in a specialized process that protects transients in the modulated groove. Due to this process, there may be occasional pops or ticks inherent in the initial playback, but as the disc is played more, a high-qulaity stylus will actually polish the groove walls and improve the sound".

Should I clean my new vinyl? Thoughts?

Thanks,
Pete

[richidoo]

That sounds like MoFi BS to me. The master is lacquer, which is always plated with in metal to make one mother, which destroys the lacquer. This is how all records are made. The mother is then used to make one metal master which is used to make several stampers as needed. The metal master is usually burnished to clean it up a little before making stampers, MoFi didn't do that. Normal records are mastered a tad hot to compensate for the burnishing. Coating any of these surfaces other than the transfer plating would lose transient info, as the plating happens on molecular level.

Some discussion about it on Steve Hoffman's forum.
http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/archive/index.php/t-220063-p-3.html

I have seen videos of record making, I think I posted a link to one here on AN once. The operator wipes liquid on the stampers before adding the puck. Fremer says clean it off before playing. Search this page
http://www.artsandmedia.com/lpclean.html
for mold release for the specific chemicals that remove it. Apparently it is pretty tough stuff?

[tmazz]

Pete,

I never let an LP hit the turntable without first running through the VPI machine. If it is used I want to get any accumulated crud (it's a technical term  ) out of the grooves and if it is new I want to make sure that no residual mold release compound gums up my stylus. The way it was explained to me the mold release compound is similar to spraying PAM on a waffle iron to make sure that the waffles don't stick. In my case the VPI RCM is set up and ready to go so I am only talking about a minute or so worth of work. I don't know that it really does anything, but to me that small amount of work is worth it to me as a just in case.

As for the Mo-Fi statement about clicks , pops and stylus polishing of the record, it rreally is a totally separate issue from cleaning out Mold release compound. What they are talking about is the process by which their stampers themselves are made, the use of mold release compound is related to the way the stampers are used in the pressing of the record.

My vote is to clean, it can't hurt if done properly.

[Triode Pete]

Thanks, guys... I cleaned them...let em dry... now I'm listening to them as I make a few NOS WE power cords...

Cheers,
Pete

[BobM]

I actually ran a test a while back when I got a new 180g pressing from one of those premium on line stores. The sound before cleaning was good, but seemed a little flat. I then cleaned the record and played it again and everything opened up and was better. Then I cleaned my stylus thinking there may be some residual gum on it, and it got better still, so there probably was.

Always clean everything. It can only help.

[rollo]

  Clean and mean. I always clean a new LP with the VPI before playing.


charles

[eleazar]

I always clean before playing an LP and clean stylus each side. I also use Stylast #5
I have a VPI 16.5 here's another option

[tmazz]

I always clean before playing an LP and clean stylus each side. I also use Stylast #5
I have a VPI 16.5 here's another option

Wow. I wonder if Harry ever filed for a patent on the 16.5. If the answer is yes I would be showing that link to an attorney. Looks  just like a 16.5 in a slightly different shaped case.   

[eleazar]

I always clean before playing an LP and clean stylus each side. I also use Stylast #5
I have a VPI 16.5 here's another option

Wow. I wonder if Harry ever filed for a patent on the 16.5. If the answer is yes I would be showing that link to an attorney. Looks  just like a 16.5 in a slightly different shaped case.   

Patents do run out don't they ????

[tmazz]

I always clean before playing an LP and clean stylus each side. I also use Stylast #5
I have a VPI 16.5 here's another option

Wow. I wonder if Harry ever filed for a patent on the 16.5. If the answer is yes I would be showing that link to an attorney. Looks  just like a 16.5 in a slightly different shaped case.   

Patents do run out don't they ????

After 50 years........

[richidoo]

Utility patents last 20 years.

http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/ac/ido/oeip/taf/patdesc.htm

[tmazz]

Utility patents last 20 years.

http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/ac/ido/oeip/taf/patdesc.htm

I stand corrected. I don't know why, but I thought it was 25 years with a 25 year renewal option. Maybe that is for copyrights. I think I have had my 16.5 for close to 20 years (or more) so if that is the case then I guess the design is fair game for copying.

Once again Rich, you are just a fountain of knowledge.     Remind me never to play Trivial Pursuit against you!  

[richidoo]

I know a little bit about a lot of things but not a lot about anything...      

[rollo]

I know a little bit about a lot of things but not a lot about anything...      

 Your to modest. 


charles

[bozack]

20-30 years ago I would buy a record and play it immediately...no cleaning,in fact I didn't even have a cleaning device.Some of those albums I still have and they sound great ,no pops or very few if any.
The whole cleaning ritual has become just another area where we can express our obsessive compulsive behavior.
Take it easy and just clean it when you get a chance...it won't hurt a thing.