Re: [ARSCLIST] Cleaning of grooved discs

[H D Goldman <thedoctor@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Marc,

I'm sorry to hear about the problems you're having with the pads of  
our record cleaning brush.  We've don't usually hear from more than  
5-10 customers a year who have difficulty with the original pads.   
Their problems, with rare exception, are the result of either applying  
to much force while scrubbing or when removing fluids from the pad or  
keeping the pad to wet with our Cleaner when the brush is not actually  
in use.

Fabric failure or improper assembly are quite rare due to quality  
controls but they can occur.

We designed the brush handle & replaceable cleaning pad to be a safe,  
efficient & effective aggitator for our specifically formulated  
cleaning fluid.  The use of the word "scrub" in our instructions was a  
reference to the "back & forth" motion we recommend when appying the  
brush & was not meant to imply force.

You want to apply only sufficent gentle downward pressure to keep the  
brush in intimate contact with the surface of the disc without it  
skipping or turning out of your hand.  Your hand should not hurt after  
you've washed & rinsed 12-15 LPs.

Using the brush as suggested , a sufficient number of fibers from the  
cleaning pad occupy the upper half of the groove to well mix the fluid  
in the groove.  It is the effectiveness of the fluid & the turbulance  
of the washing of the groove walls that generate superior cleaning.   
Excess presuure crushes the fibers deeper into the groove, leaves less  
room for fluid & results in poor washing.  In extremes, the pads can  
be destroyed by excessive pressure grinding the fiber against the  
groove land.

When necessary, our primary suggestion for extreme cleaning needs, is  
to repeat the application with a fresh charge of Cleaner, at the  
reommended strength, prior to rinsing.  But few pieces in most  
collections require this extra effort.

There is only one supplier worldwide for the fabric we use in the  
quality required for this application from .  Even so we reject  
5-20%.  Please remember that we do not recommend using our wet  
cleaning brush pads dry.

Replacement pads are available; please contact us when time permits.

Regards,

Duane Goldman

On Jan 22, 2009, at 2:27 PM, Marcos Sueiro Bal wrote:

> Hola Margarida,
>
> I know a few institutions use Disc Doctor's miracle record cleaner. It
> has the advantage of being safe for vinyl, shellac and lacquer discs.
> However, I am not crazy about the brushes they sell --you have to be
> careful, or they may shed fibers when used vigorously.
> http://www.discdoc.com
>
> The standard cleaning machine is of course the Keith Monks machine.
> Although expensive, everyone seems to agree that it pays for itself
> for very large jobs.
> http://www.keithmonks-rcm.co.uk/
>
> Sort,
>
> Marc Sueiro
>
> On 1/22/09, Margarida Ullate Estanyol <mullate@xxxxxxx> wrote:
> > Dear Listmembers,
> >
> >
> >
> > The Biblioteca de Catalunya in Barcelona (Spain) has been using Nitty
> > Gritty cleaning fluids Pure1 (78 rpm) and Pure2 (vinyls) and machines
> > for many years, with pretty good results. In addition to our  
> > experience,
> > our Preservation team is trying to gather all recommendations  
> > regarding
> > the process of cleaning, and we'd very much appreciate yours.
> >
> >
> >
> > We are not quite satisfied with Nitty Gritty services in Spain, so we
> > stopped buying them. Our cleaning machine is now Clearaudio SMART
> > MATRIX, but we still used Nitty Gritty fluids, applied manually on  
> > the
> > discs surface.
> >
> >
> >
> > We gathered many information from specialised bibliography. Nitty  
> > Gritty
> > in the USA kindky sent to us the components of both fluids Pure 1  
> > and 2.
> > But we would like to ask ARSC members about their experience in  
> > cleaning
> > old 78's, acetates, lacquer discs and vinyls.
> >
> >
> >
> > In orther not to bother the list with this, you could send the  
> > answers
> > to the e-mail stated below.
> >
> >
> >
> > Many thanks in advance,
> >
> >
> >
> > Margarida Ullate i Estanyol
> >
> > Fonoteca
> >
> > Biblioteca de Catalunya
> >
> > Hospital, 56
> >
> > 08001 Barcelona
> >
> > +34 93270 2300 (2166)
> >
> > mullate@xxxxxxx
>
>
> --
> Marcos Sueiro Bal
> Audio Engineer
> 718.902.7441

H D Goldman Lagniappe Chemicals Ltd.
PO Box 37066 St. Louis, MO 63141 USA
v/f 314 205 1388 thedoctor@xxxxxxxxxxx