Re: Cleaning mildew/water stains

[Graham Newton <gn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Patrick Maxfield wrote:

> We're preparing to "re-sleeve" these discs.  The ones on the bottom shelves
> were exposed to minor flooding a few years back.  Nothing was done at that
> time.  Any suggestions for surface cleaning.
> We have a Nitty Gritty.
I can't resist suggesting that you get a Keith Monks "Archivist" 
Record Cleaning Machine.
I have a serious problem with any record cleaner that has "grit" in it.

> I've used (now don't scream... ) Antibacterial wet ones to clean commercial
> 12 inch vinyl that came from "moldy" private collections that we wanted to
> keep due to content.
> 1) wipe with the groove
> 2) run through the Nitty Gritty machine
> it sounds like new!  amazing
> although I'm sure the alchohol in the wipes is probably taboo, right?
For LP discs pressed in vinyl, you probably did no damage, although I'd lean
far away from using alcohol as a component of your cleaning process.
Any shellac 78 pressings could be destroyed by alcohol... it is a solvent
for shellac.
 
> But the real question is about the glass master discs in our possesion.
> What to use?
You should use EXTREME caution handling glass based discs... they are VERY 
fragile and will break at the slightest opportunity.  These will be 
lacquers and may have palmitic acid decomposition products on the surface 
which will need to be cleaned.  The Disc Doctor cleaning chemistry will do 
the job with safety.



... Graham Newton

-- 
Audio Restoration by Graham Newton, http://www.audio-restoration.com
World class professional services applied to phonograph and tape
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