From: bill@bilver.uucp (Bill Vermillion)
Newsgroups: rec.audio
Subject: Re: How do I clean LPs?
Date: 12 Sep 92 15:39:36 GMT
Organization: W. J. Vermillion - Winter Park, FL

In article <1992Sep11.122545.20404@watson.ibm.com> pcb2@watson.ibm.com (Allegro Users' Account 2) writes:
>> 	As long as I am concerned, the best system to clean LP's is the
>> Nitty Gritty machine.  It's like a big vacuum for vinyls.  The problem is the
>> price.  The best way to use it without paying that price is to find a friend
>> who has it, wich I did.  The result is surprizing.

>        I've used a VIP 16.5 which has worked well on most albums, but I
>  keep running across albums that still crackle alot after multiple cleanings.

>        Is this the way the album is cut, The material, my cleaning procedures
>  or the recording.

 Reviewing your cleaning procedures, which are described later, it
 might be your procedures.

>  This has happened with new and old records. Cheskys Pertruska which I have
>  only played 3 times is full of crackle which I can't seem to remove.
>        I dont think another solution would make a big difference, I'm using
>  Last. 

>  This is the proceedure I usually use.
>        Vacume recordings with only light surface dust, by holding the cover
>  up, so the vacume brush barley touches the record. I do this cleaning without
>  using solution assuming the solution  will only help to  carry surface dust
>  down into the groves. 

Wrong assumption.  The cleaning solution when used with the vacuum
will lift the contaminants from the bottom of the groove.   If the dirt
is visible, it's probably too big to get into the groove.

And cleaning without solution gives you a dry brush, which can create
static electricity and draw dirt into the groove, which is definately
not what you want.

I also have a 16.5, and am quite happy with it.

Make sure the record is thorougly clean before you apply the Last.

I remember going to one high end store, (the place where I ordered my
VPI 16 - it has been upgraded - many years ago).   They normally didn't
stock them but swore by the Last Cleaner and then followed by the
Preservative.

So I  let the salesperson demonstrate on a older recording.  It had
some noise, but not realy severe.    The salesman did not know what to
say, but could only appologize after the record was noisier after the
Last cleaning.

The VIP cleaned it up.

Now, if you have properly cleaned with solutions using the VIP, and
assuming the solution was desinged for a record cleaning machine, not
something you invented yourself, and the record still crackles, you may
have a record that is experience non-fill.

This means that the record compound did not fill the mold exactly and
you have microscopic air-pockets in the groove walls.

Not a lot you can do about this.  You can try different cartriges
and/or differing stylii shapes.

I had one disk that showed non-fill with a cartridge that had excellent
transient response, but was quiet with another high end cartridge whose
transient response was not as good.  (This was several years ago, and
so I can't tell you what cartrdiges to try today).



>        If the disk is still noisy or needs a good cleaning then I give it a 
>  thorough cleaning with a liquid.



-- 
Bill Vermillion - bill@bilver.oau.org  bill.vermillion@oau.org
                - bill@bilver.uucp 
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Newsgroups: rec.audio