Help with a foggy record

[The Black Adder]

Hi all.

I bought an LP a while ago but side A has a heavy fogging all over it. It looks like condensation. Part of side C has the same problem.

It looks like it might have been put back in the sleeve whilst it was still wet either from being cleaned or at the factory.

The sound hisses as the stylus passes through the foggy area so something is most certainly in the grooves. Side B and D are mint.

Has anyone had this before and more importantly can it be removed? My RCM is no longer working and I'm saving for a new one.

Many thanks for your help.
Jo

[Audio Al]

You could try cleaning it with a micro finer cloth using RCM fluid , Or send it down to me and I will clean it for you free of charge :)

[struth]

Could be press release crap thats hardened as well... Ive had this on occasional records and sometimes it never completely goes away.(at least thats what i thought it was lol) it may be as you say a damp patch thats caused a watermark....funny but a stored record case made of aluminium came out yesterday and there was a similar mark...even with scrubbing it wouldnt go away.

[struth]

If it is mineral stainimg like limescale or calcium it may be difficult to remove without damage to record... Old tricks like lemon juice and vinegar are acid and may damage the record... I have a couple of records like this somewhere... Must experiment on one

[The Black Adder]

Thanks guys. And thank you Al for the offer. I'll PM you later :)

Reading up on this I found only two or three posts about fogging/clouding and it points to the inner sleeves reacting with the vinyl, this unfortunately is permanent and there is no known cure to remove it... bugger! :(

But, I'll give it a shot with Al I think. BTW, Al, which RCM/fluids do you have?

Can anyone suggest any other fluids or anything that could be worth a go... lol, apart from buying a new copy of course. :) lol

Thanks
Jo

[Audio Al]

I have a Moth RCM and Moth fluid also have a Gallon of Paul Stewarts Right Stuff , Or right one can't remember the name now :scratch:

[PaulStewart]

Josie,

I've have had success with records like this with "The right one" if Al is doing it for you that's great. I would suggest apply the fluid, pause 30 seconds vac off then respect as a normal clean. If it is calcium based, 20 ml of SPRIT vinegar spread over the record, leave for 60 seconds remove then clean with the The Right One. I think the vinegar won't be necessary however. Let us know how it goes.

[The Black Adder]

Thanks Al and Paul.

Paul, do you know what it could be that caused it? The record is about 20 years old and had been stored.

Good to know that someone has had some luck with this, many thanks :)

[PaulStewart]

Could be release compounds, but unlikely if the residue is white. If the record has been put away or has got wet, then it's possibly calcium water marks. The other common culprit, is some of the better known "organic" record cleaners do promote enzyme growth if not rinsed off, if put away damp with these, it can cause a problem. They have been known to totally clog RCMs. I'd have to see and test it to know 100%

[daytona600]

Sounds like inner sleeves reacting with the record or moisture
if you can post the record can give it a clean on my ultrasonic RCM & replace the inner sleeves
if this can,t shift it nothing can


It is nevertheless a safe bet that 99%+ % of Audiophiles & Record Collectors would agree that LPs shouldn't be stored in plain paper sleeves.

Cheap, non-acid-free paper sleeves degrade with time. Paper is derived from the cell wall of plants; lignin, one of the chemicals contained in the cell walls, is unstable and light sensitive and decomposes into acidic products. While bleaching removes the lignin, the paper making process produces other detrimental byproducts such as hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid. Producing true, acid-free paper (pH >6) requires buffering with neutralizing chemicals.

Paper sleeves are also hygroscopic (water absorbing) and as a consequence facilitate the growth of mold or fungus on the LP.

The rationale for storing and preserving vinyl records in high quality, chemically inert, inner sleeves includes