Cleaning Vinyl Records

[evan1]

Thanks Putz. I wonder how stiff it has to be. Maybe just getting down into the bottom of the groove is good enough if using a good fluid. I read someone said wet would ruin the bristles, but I don't see how unless they are soluble.

Evan, that looks way-retro!! The guy that sold me my TT gave me some D4 and brush too. Good for dusting, right?

Worked good back in the day. The gun I have is red . The picture is just off the web

[richidoo]

Yeah but do you have the wooden base? That's what's way retro!

[evan1]

Yeah but do you have the wooden base? That's what's way retro!

The whole nine yards

[etcarroll]

Same here. There's a little diode built into the wooden base, aim the gun at it and pull the trigger to tell if the gun works, as the diode lights up.

Mine doesn't anymore. I wonder if gun is dead or diode is dead, how to check?

[evan1]

Same here. There's a little diode built into the wooden base, aim the gun at it and pull the trigger to tell if the gun works, as the diode lights up.

Mine doesn't anymore. I wonder if gun is dead or diode is dead, how to check?

Diode ? Mine has a tiny plug that you insert into the tip to recharge it by squeezing the handle a few times

[etcarroll]

You donkey, there's nothing to recharge in a Zerostat.

You have a later model than mine, place your 'recharge' item in the muzzle, then in a dark room work the trigger, you should see the 'item' glow faintly, that tells you the Zerostat still emits ions.

In still older ones like mine, the 'item' is embedded in the wooden stand, you have to get the Zerostat positioned 'just so' to make it glow, and either I've lost the knack, or mine is dead.

Recharge......

[BobM]

Here's the official instructional video for anyone who doesn't know how these work.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NVIxo0eT58

Generally you don;t need these up north until the dry winter weather sets in, and even then not so much if your house is reasonably humidified.

[sleepyguy24]

Hi everyone

I found this thread researching record cleaning and the vacuums people use. Apologies if the bump of an old thread is an annoyance but I wanted to add this to the archive.

I already have a Spin Clean and didn't want to spend hundreds on a VPI, Nitty Gritty or KAB vacuum cleaning system. I've seen some DIY vacuum hose attachments on youtube but just don't have the time to make one.

I hope this one will work. It is called the Vinyl Vac Wand.  I found it on ebay for $30 so I'll take the gamble.

http://www.auctiva.com/hostedimages/showimage.aspx?gid=781690&ppid=1122&image=659496724&images=659576582,659496502,659496350,659496373,659496431,659496448,659516793,659516806,659496527,659496552,659496576,659496596,659496646,659496665,659496620,659513018,659496724,659576593&formats=0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0&format=0

It is just getting too annoying to me when I'm brushing my records and I can't get that last line of dirt off the record completely.

[sleepyguy24]

Just an update with the Vinyl Vac Wand. It fits well with a normal vacuum hose from a $100 Bissell vac. The problem I'm having trouble with finding the appropriate vacuum to suck off all the dirt from my records. Using a Discwasher record brush I'm gathering all the dirt to one area of my test record but with the Bissell vac and the wand it isn't sucking up all the dirt. I still see it after using it. I guess off to Home Depot or Lowes for a shop vac.

[jimbones]

Sleepy,

Just my two cents but to me it looks like the opening in the wand is too large. I think the power in the vac is ok it's just that the opening in the wand is too big and your not getting the required suction. (Works on the venturi effect).

Jim

[richidoo]

I just discovered that my previous ferocious scrubbing and lathering up the records on the VPI 16 rcm doesn't clean any better than just holding the disc doctor cleaning brush still. I do twist it to 45 degree angle for one rev, then straight, then the other 45, then straight, one rev each. Then rinse the same way with different brush and the record is very clean. At least as clean as the wild scrubbing and foaming I did before. Easier and faster too. OCD be damned.

Do you scrub? Or just hold the brush still? Or what?

[ejk]

I hold the brush still. First cleaning I do with a Spin Clean. Works pretty well.

[ejk]

I also got one of those vinyl vac attachments Sleepyguy mentions a few posts above

[pumpkinman]

I just discovered that my previous ferocious scrubbing and lathering up the records on the VPI 16 rcm doesn't clean any better than just holding the disc doctor cleaning brush still. I do twist it to 45 degree angle for one rev, then straight, then the other 45, then straight, one rev each. Then rinse the same way with different brush and the record is very clean. At least as clean as the wild scrubbing and foaming I did before. Easier and faster too. OCD be damned.

Do you scrub? Or just hold the brush still? Or what?

I basically do the same as you. 2 brushes one for the cleaning and a diff. one for the rinse.
Steam cleaning is really good too. Give it a try Rich

[tmazz]

Just hold mine still