How do you clean records/repair covers?
- Thread starter Fatback
- Start date
alcohol + h2o for most things
lighter fluid for the toughies and to remove price tags and other gunk.
i've been known to glue a few covers if they split with no tears, elmers.
lighter fluid for the toughies and to remove price tags and other gunk.
i've been known to glue a few covers if they split with no tears, elmers.
i got a plant sprayer bottle, and mix parsons sudsy ammonia with water: 8 parts
water to 1 part Parsons. spray it on record, let it sit a second then wipe grooves
clockwise only with cut up old cotton t-shirt squares. repeat if necessary. its cool
because you can really apply pressure and scrub, so long as its damp and you go
clockwise. Works wonders.
for cover splits and tears (only if i know im keeping the record): elmers applied
carefully (keep it thin and let it set a bit so its tacky and not too thick before
joining paper to cardboard), i use those metal clips to hold it in place so it
dries properly.
That kinda scares me a little. The smell alone can kill, its got to leave its mark. I prefer alcohol, lighter fluid, goo be gone basically anything that is mostly alcohol.
Im not down with the elmers either, for things that come undone I prefer a good old glue stick. It distributes more evenly with less mess..plus its strong enough to get the job done. If it came unglued it wasnt too strong to begin with. Dont even get me started on using paper clips and clamps.
That kinda scares me a little. The smell alone can kill, its got to leave its mark. I prefer alcohol, lighter fluid, goo be gone basically anything that is mostly alcohol.
well, i used to use alchohol, and when i started using the method i described, i started getting way better results. could just be me though. you only put a little of the parsons in, its mostly water. it does smell while using it - but it evaporates, leaving nothing smelly on the record. its better for actual "dirt" removal, i think. but it might be 6 of 1, .5 dozen of another.
yeah, i can see the glue stick working good... I sorta developed a nerd-tastic technique with the elmers that involves using a very thin sharpened wooden dowl stick to apply it right where its needed (under paper flaps etc), and ive had great success so far. Ive actually reattatched completely split covers into fully functioning jackets that dont fall apart again and look pretty good. but glue sticks are rad.
i use the Bags Unlimited Groovy Cleaner because I got a bottle for free, spray some on and wipe with a lint-free cloth.
the only repair i ever make to covers is if they're the one-piece newer style, if a seam comes unglued I'll reglue it with tacky glue, other than that I leave seam splits and tears and shit alone.
the only repair i ever make to covers is if they're the one-piece newer style, if a seam comes unglued I'll reglue it with tacky glue, other than that I leave seam splits and tears and shit alone.
I made excelent experiences with a small ultasonic bath for 45s and just ordered a big one for LPs.
Digging here in Africa makes you get pretty inventive/desperate in some cases.
I made successful experiments with Hydrochloric Acid that eats away most everything that is not Vinyl.(Vinyl as in PolyVINYLchloride (PVC) is a very sturdy material, they even make containers out of it to store agressive chemical substances in)
Lighterfluid is pretty good, dissolves candle wax amongst other things (candle wax stains are frequent in Africa since people always used candles during the very frequent power failures.
I found this one minute longer and one drumbreak richer 45 version of docteur Nico's Sookie -it was trashed and had a crack. I cleaned it with hydrochloric acid, then with oven cleaner and finaly superglued a piece of a box cutter blade to the back of it to repair the crack. Voil?? -sounded good enough for club play!
Even got through Airport security with it...
Digging here in Africa makes you get pretty inventive/desperate in some cases.
I made successful experiments with Hydrochloric Acid that eats away most everything that is not Vinyl.(Vinyl as in PolyVINYLchloride (PVC) is a very sturdy material, they even make containers out of it to store agressive chemical substances in)
Lighterfluid is pretty good, dissolves candle wax amongst other things (candle wax stains are frequent in Africa since people always used candles during the very frequent power failures.
I found this one minute longer and one drumbreak richer 45 version of docteur Nico's Sookie -it was trashed and had a crack. I cleaned it with hydrochloric acid, then with oven cleaner and finaly superglued a piece of a box cutter blade to the back of it to repair the crack. Voil?? -sounded good enough for club play!
Even got through Airport security with it...
VPI fully automatic. Homemade solution: distilled H2O, 91% alcohol 8 parts to 1, a dash of windex (cuts grease and helps evaporate the solution).
ORB Disc flattener (within a month or so).
I will tape messy seam splits if the record is not too pricey, otherwise I leave it alone. Glue splits I re-glue with elmers and paperclips but I want to get a glue stick. Elmers has never let me down though.
ORB Disc flattener (within a month or so).
I will tape messy seam splits if the record is not too pricey, otherwise I leave it alone. Glue splits I re-glue with elmers and paperclips but I want to get a glue stick. Elmers has never let me down though.
I have a simple and sure fire recipe.
Two step process.
First get large bowl fill with warm water add one small drop of Method brand diswashing liquid. Use a sponge with the warm soapy water to thoroughly clean the tough dirt. It really gets up the shit stuck in the grooves from years of dust and finger print oils etc.
Second after the record is dry, take a spray bottle and fill it with 1/2 water and 1/2 isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol). Use a dry (not very fibrous) cloth. Spray the solution onto the cloth or the record directly and wipe away. This last step removes any soap residue from step one which can and will trap additional dust.
Flea market finds end up sounding like they came from a dealer!
works every time and costs next to nothing.
Two step process.
First get large bowl fill with warm water add one small drop of Method brand diswashing liquid. Use a sponge with the warm soapy water to thoroughly clean the tough dirt. It really gets up the shit stuck in the grooves from years of dust and finger print oils etc.
Second after the record is dry, take a spray bottle and fill it with 1/2 water and 1/2 isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol). Use a dry (not very fibrous) cloth. Spray the solution onto the cloth or the record directly and wipe away. This last step removes any soap residue from step one which can and will trap additional dust.
Flea market finds end up sounding like they came from a dealer!
works every time and costs next to nothing.
Coffinjoe how much are those ultrasonic joints? I've been using the alcohol water spray bottle method and its good but not so thorough. When I bring back records form PR they are usually caked in something and my usual cleaning only removes surface stuff, I know there has to be stuff deeper in the grooves affecting playback and infecting my needle.
One of the guys at Academy told me that VPI vacuum cleaning methods can potentially damage a record by moving the grooves out of place with such strong suction. Any of you heard antyhing like that before? He also said back in the day people use to just put records under the sink and scrub them with soap and water. This method must have been popular cause damn I find some roughed up records.
One of the guys at Academy told me that VPI vacuum cleaning methods can potentially damage a record by moving the grooves out of place with such strong suction. Any of you heard antyhing like that before? He also said back in the day people use to just put records under the sink and scrub them with soap and water. This method must have been popular cause damn I find some roughed up records.
yes, that's why i went ultra
from $100 (small ones, good for 7", but to slow for 12") to $500
you don't need all the whistles & bells offered, mine was $300, a friend
found a bit more powerful model for $250,
but lacks some of the noise reductions.
you can use straight tap water,
or a squirt of dishwash or dr bonners to help remove grease
no brushes or sponges need to touch the vinyl
in use for 25+ years by ja reggae/ska collectors
gets that ground in greasy sand & grit out
dudes use to keep it a big secret
b/w
or charge $$ for "cleaning services"
(outernational + nighthawk related)
