Best way for cleaning vinyl easily...
Cosmo
9,768 Posts
... that's not one of them vacuum machines. Not like it's that deep. I just want to clean up some of my 12"s and make them sparkle as well as maybe making them sound a little crispier.Any specific solutions on the market? And I know other dudes do shit like soap and water and / or rubbing alchohol.What say you, almighty Soulstrut Brain Trust?
Comments
A dash of photoflow, perhaps a dash of liquid soap
I recommend Viva brand paper towels, Walgreens has been selling them $7 for 6 rolls and they are hella soft.
But honestly you should buy a VPI 16.5 if you're for real about it. Nothing else comes close.
I always went 3:1 (read it somewhere years ago). Too strong? Pros and cons of different alcohol ratios?
the thing that makes the vpi so untouchable is the vacuum. otherwise youre just wiping the dirt around the record.
about a month ago i got a nasty eye infection from the mold on the covers.
Rubber mat, cloth diaper, and some cleaning solution should be all you need.
Greasy fingerprints, dust & dirt, etc compromise the sound, maaaaaaaaan...
brings back memories of seeing jared clean record after record in the ol TSL with this method
record head badge of honor
i used to do 5-1 alcohol, spray it on, wipe down with paper towels
If you're gentle and careful, your vinyl will get clean with most methods. Just know when to stop[/b]. Some off-the-boat Nigerian stuff with mold on it might never get totally clean. Don't force it or you might cause damage to the record or paper label. Oh, yeah, don't get water spots on the label.
Make sure they dry before you put them back in the covers. Unless your water is sterile, you might get moldiness.
I admit - my price point is $400 or under. Anything more and I'm gun shy so the 17, for example, is out. But would I drop $300-350 for a 16.5? In a heartbeat and with zero regrets.
psshhhht says the DIY recordshelfmaker wtf comeonbro
Apples and oranges dude. Completely.
Did you build your turntable from random spare parts? Or do like 99.9% of everyone hear and just buy a 1200?
but I am cultivating a beatbooger-eating bacteria strain under my toenails...
record-wise, I'd consider myself a consumer. Perhaps "prosumer" (ugh, sorry). I've found Windex to be good enough. I'm thinking that's about 9-to-1 water-to-alcohol mixture, yeah?
it's pretty great a picking up light dirt, hairs and dust, but wont really clean fingerprints.
Unfortunately that probably puts the 16.5 out too.
I don't know what was up with the glut last year you mentioned, but I've been looking for a few months on various sites and boards and anything $400 or less is gone within the hour.
make sure to use distilled water, tony. that philly tap water is probably full of impurities.
I've been following 16.5 auctions since last summer on eBay and there's definitely been a handful (3-5?) that have sold for under $400 - almost all of them Buy It Nows. The lowest two I saw were both under $350 and, as you observed, they went very quickly.
I'm saying: it's possible but yeah, you gotta have some luck on your side. I probably should have bid but since I knew we'd be moving, I just didn't want something to have to lug to a new spot. In hindsight though...
The thing with a record cleaner is that there's enough "moving parts" going on that I'd rather go with something tried and true (and the VPI series gets very strong reviews) than taking a chance on something that may be cheaper but hasn't necessarily stood the test of time.