View Full Version : Record Cleaning in London & knosti advice
Dear all,
can anyone recommend a good cleaning service in London, or maybe you are a member with a machine and you want to help me clean a couple of possibly rather valuable LPs that I don't want to flush away in my Knosti? Happy to bung you some vinyl in exchange if I have anything going that you are interested in... I am in N1 if that makes any difference.
Thanks,
R
P.S. If you can't help with that, but have any tips on how better to use a Knosti that would also be gratefully received. I'm currently using home made fluid with 200ml Isopropanol 800ml distilled water + half a tsp Kodak Photo flo (thanks to my friendly neighbourhood photo lab for that!). I am doing double bath ending with distilled water + drop of Kodaflo, and the results are pretty good, but I am noticing odd lines which look like where the brushes pause their rotation on one of my much older LPs. Also after extended cleaning a well played 1965 Mono LP is still clogging up my stylus with gunk on every pass... Any advice welcomed (though "buy an Okki Nokki" is not that helpful, though maybe if I make a mint off these few LPs that may be a next move....
dont use kodak photo flo,even they tell you not too! use Ilford Ilfotol.
if you want to make a good cleaner see here. https://londonjazzcollector.wordpress.com/for-audiophiles/home-brew-cleaner-for-vacuum-rcms/
taken from above link,
Note: The US equivalent wetting product from Kodak, “Photo-flo” is specifically not recommended due to its ingredients containing chemicals which remain as a coating on the surface, which will contaminate the stylus tip. I have no personal knowledge of its effects but it seems well documented, though as with everything, the internet can be an echo-chamber of misinformation. One writer even suggested the vinyl groove needs “lubrication” to smooth the travel of the stylus (think car engines) whereas the whole purpose of cleaning is to ensure naked contact between the stylus and the information encoded into the grooves, and nothing between the two, hence alcohol dissolving any contaminants which are then vacuumed away.
dont use kodak photo flo,even they tell you not too! use Ilford Ilfotol.
I read that somewhere but then I read a load of people saying it was fine, or even to just use rinse-aid... I was hoping my lab would have Ilfotol, but they offered me the Kodak stuff. Do I need to get a litre of Ilfotol or would rinse-aid be okay? Thanks for the reply.
R
i would certainly try it,if only for piece of mind regarding gunk on the stylus tip,i would also not use it in your rinse water.
i would certainly try it,if only for piece of mind regarding gunk on the stylus tip,i would also not use it in your rinse water.
Has anyone on here got any direct experience with Photoflo not working as well as Ilfotol (or even rinse-aid) ? I'm not at all sure that the problems I am getting are coming from the wetting agent as it is not on all discs and the gunk I am picking up on my stylus is way too much to be coming from three drops in a litre, I am pretty sure it's just embedded dirt. I tried plain distilled water but it was just balling up. As soon as you have put a couple of records through the water bath it is no longer pure - it's not an exact science, surely?
R
Rothchild
24-09-2015, 18:41
I'm finding that the jazz collector potion used in a disco antistat and finished off with the Nano Meco does great work.
I haven't yet tried the potion that came with the nano meco.
I've got more Itofol than I could ever use, if I can find a suitable phial for it I could send you some if you want Rob.
PaulStewart
24-09-2015, 18:48
Has anyone on here got any direct experience with Photoflo not working as well as Ilfotol (or even rinse-aid) ? I'm not at all sure that the problems I am getting are coming from the wetting agent as it is not on all discs and the gunk I am picking up on my stylus is way too much to be coming from three drops in a litre, I am pretty sure it's just embedded dirt. I tried plain distilled water but it was just balling up. As soon as you have put a couple of records through the water bath it is no longer pure - it's not an exact science, surely?
R
When i was developing "The Right One" Professional Record Cleaning fluid I looked at all the possible photographic wetting agents. Photo-Flo contains Formaldehyde which will actually attack vinyl as well as leave a coating on the record. Ilfotol is better but has no lasting anti static properties, which is why ilford sell an anti stat film wipe. 5 litres of "The Right One" will cost you £65.00 delivered anywhere in the UK and will clean many hundreds of records leaving them with in the best possible static free order. by the time people have got proper lab grade ingredients and mixed it in hyper clean conditions, it's cheaper and better to buy from our eBay Shop Here (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/The-Right-One-Vinyl-Record-Cleaning-Fluid-5-Litre-/271985224491?ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT)
BTW Robert, I do a record cleaning service in Richmond SW of you on the Surrey border. I charge £2.50 this is for cleaning on a Loricraft PRC4 and a new poly lined inner bag. PM me if you are interested.
paul do you still need to rinse with the right one fluid?
PaulStewart
24-09-2015, 19:29
paul do you still need to rinse with the right one fluid?
No need to rinse, if used with a vacuum RCM or other methods. If hand cleaning, Dry with a good microfibre cloth. Any residue, and there is none with a VRCM, evaporates in minutes.
Very pleased with sister rays record cleaning services in Soho. I think they may use a Keith monk machine.
Audio Al
26-09-2015, 05:27
How many do you need cleaning ?
I have a Moth RCM and use Paul's cleaning fluid
Hi Al, not sure how many, need to take stock...
I just called Sister Ray though, as it is pretty convenient for me location-wise, and they use a VPI and only charge £1 a throw, which seems to be undercutting everybody else by a huge margin.
The guy was pretty funny as well:
"Just so you are aware of the limitations, if your record is fucked, it's not going to de-fuck it."
[emoji41]
PaulStewart
26-09-2015, 21:20
Do Sister Ray provide a new poly lined inner bag and what fluid do they use?
Do Sister Ray provide a new poly lined inner bag and what fluid do they use?
I'm guessing they don't provide a new bag, but do you think they are using bad fluid?
Audio Al
26-09-2015, 23:00
In my opinion its a waste of time cleaning a record and the putting in a 15 / 20 year old dirty paper sleeve
I always use a new poly / paper dual sleeve , polly inside paper outside
I often keep the original but line it with a good antistatic inner to keep originality. I do like the mofi ones though
I often keep the original but line it with a good antistatic inner to keep originality. I do like the mofi ones though
I've got antistatic liners coming out of my ears. I think the MOFIs are also my favorites, but sometimes the Nagaokas or the Goldrings are more appropriate.
Paul, what fluids do you think are acceptable? It seems you may be implying that Sister Ray at £1 a go is a bad deal because they may be using the wrong fluid?
R
I've got antistatic liners coming out of my ears. I think the MOFIs are also my favorites, but sometimes the Nagaokas or the Goldrings are more appropriate.
Paul, what fluids do you think are acceptable? It seems you may be implying that Sister Ray at £1 a go is a bad deal because they may be using the wrong fluid?
R
Yes I usually get generic Nagaoka ones(made in the same place but without the name). As for fluid, they can vary in quality. I now make my own
Yes I usually get generic Nagaoka ones(made in the same place but without the name). As for fluid, they can vary in quality. I now make my own
what's your recipe, Grant?
julesd68
27-09-2015, 09:38
Dear all,
can anyone recommend a good cleaning service in London, or maybe you are a member with a machine and you want to help me clean a couple of possibly rather valuable LPs that I don't want to flush away in my Knosti? Happy to bung you some vinyl in exchange if I have anything going that you are interested in... I am in N1 if that makes any difference.
Thanks,
R
I'm in N6 and happy to help if it's just a few lps - I can give you new anti-stat inners as well... Feel free to PM me if you'd like to arrange something...
what's your recipe, Grant?
sweet as! we've gone full circle :D
to be fair i think your having problems because of the method rather than the cleaner used,to eliminate the knosti why not take paul or any of the other members kind offer to clean 1 for you,if you get it back and there's no problem you'll know for sure.
there is a reason everyone suggest getting a vacuum record cleaning machine (sorry i had to say it).
also you dont need to spend big money,all ive done is use clear plastic tube with a moth pad stuck over one end,a slit cut in that.the other end goes to a piece of waste pipe which in turn goes into the hoover. is it better than a proper machine? i dont know,what i do know is there is a very noticeable
difference in the sound after its been cleaned.
just my 2 cents.
PaulStewart
27-09-2015, 16:31
I'm guessing they don't provide a new bag, but do you think they are using bad fluid?
I don't know what fluid they use, what I do know is that on the market today is a fluid that promotes enzyme and mould growth, to the extent that people on forums say one should apply anti fungals and then rinse with distilled water. One RCM maker supplies a fluid that uses a vegetable oil based surfactant, and research has shown these to leave a residue that is hygroscopic, once it has absorbed water. it becomes like glue, trapping dirt into the grooves. Some people add a fabric softener to record cleaner, this is designed to cause oil to bond to fabric, same problem as the veg oil surfactatant mixes. Some newer ultrasonic cleaners use cavitation to clean your fragile vinyl records. Cavitation is known to destroy huge ships propellers, yet people are willing bombard records with ultrasonisc energy, that must revoe vinyl along with the dirt. I have challenged people selin these to put a record through the same 1000 clean cycle we have done with the right one, but answer came there none :) Our product leaves no residue, does not go off in the bottle, it's anti stat, anti fungal and mould, and most importantly it works, as many will attest to here. BTW I will have high quality poly lined inner bags available in 25/50/100s next month, if anyone needs them.
Why on earth would anyone add fabric softener to record cleaning fluid? Do they think it will take the hard edges off their music??
[emoji12]
orbscure
27-09-2015, 21:05
Apparently its very good for Soft Machine :D
PaulStewart
27-09-2015, 22:55
Fabric softener has anti stat properties to prevent static cling, it's the other bits that are bad for vinyl records
Apparently its very good for Soft Machine :D
Not to mention Soft Cell.
And The Cardigans....
Interestingly, I have tried a few other cleaning services and ended up with yes more detail and a fresher sound, but also slightly more surface noise, so far with sister rays have not had the same problem ?
PaulStewart
28-09-2015, 10:29
paul,
you have a pm. :)
Replied :)
Paul,
You have another PM.
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