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A few days ago I mentioned using a pressure washer (the kind used for cleaning your car/driveway) to clean LPs.People reacted to the idea with mixed reactions ranging from:
You are crazy, you are going to hurt the record. Don't do it.
to
You are crazy, but shine on you crazy diamond. Give it a try.
to
Makes some sense, give it a shot.
And give it a shot I did. The first thing I had to test is whether or not a high-pressure washer would hurt the record. This is phase 1 of this Audio MythBlaster report (I'll test the effectiveness sometime in the next few days).
To test if a record could be harmed by the high-water pressure, I set-up a simple experiment where one 1/2 of one side of the record would be mercilessly blasted at close range (as close as 1/8") for several minutes, while the other 1/2 was protected.
I created a simple rig to hold the record in place and protect 1/2 of it (see picture below).
BEFORE GETTING HOSED:
The I hooked-up my pressure washer and worked it for approximately 5 minutes. I paid particular attention to the first track. Attacking it from all possible angle and at very close range - something I would not do normally, but I wanted to be as mean as I could be to the vinyl in this phase. I also attacked the label to confirm that without protection you will damage it.
AFTER GETTING HOSED:
After drying the record with a special scratch-free cloth, I checked it visually (both with the naked eye and with a stylus magnifier). I could not tell any difference except that the powerwashed side had considerably less dirt particles (but it still had a few - more about the cleaning value of this approach in phase II). Based on the looks of it the powerwashed side looked like new.
The second, and most important test, was to play the record. I first tried it on my cheapo TT/cart to make sure nothing was horribly wrong (it sounded just fine) and then on my main system (Thorens TD125II, SME 3009 II, Clearaudio Aurum Beta Wood). The record sounded great - could not tell the difference between the powerwashed side and the non-washed side except for the fact that the non-washed side had more noise (confirming the visual inspection). Since I have 2 copies of the same record (Fleetwood Mac's Mirage) I compared them and, if anything, the washed copy sounded better.
I know this is not an ultra-scientific experiment, and I don't have an electron microscope to check the groove in great detail but my ears could not detect any damage to the washed side.
The only surprise is that even with the pressure washing there were still quite a few "dust" particles visible with the stylus microscope. Perhaps this technique is not as effective as vacuum cleaners, but that's part II of this Audio MythBlaster. Which I will proceed to address in the next few days now that I know it's unlikely that the technique will damage the records.
Final pic is the pressure washed record being played. If you enjoyed reading about this Audio MythBlaster and want to see more, please let me know because taking pics and writing about it takes quite a bit more time than the experiment itself.
Alberto
Follow Ups:
I bought this at a flea market in Saarbrücken Germany..10 Euro..I don't use it to clean records but I do use the two part screw togeather label protector...The record rotates like a Ferris wheel thru the bath of unknown chemicals that came in the box(smells like some type of alcohol)
..I tried this once on a record and it left the record with a gloss.. Seems like there is some kind of "treatment " left behind..no thanks
I used one of those recently. Works ok to remove stuff that isn't too heavily engrained. The cleaning fluid doesn't leave any deposit at all: it evaporates without trace, though it takes more like 20 minutes than the 7 claimed in the instructions. It's mostly isopropanol judging by the smell, probably the same formula as everyone uses, isopropanol, distilled water and a little wetting agent.
I bought my one at Grahams in London in the late 1970s. I paid somewhere between 10 and 20 g.b.p for it so 10 euro is a great price. Agreed on the liquid and I wouldn't use it either, however the drying rack is great for air drying discs after cleaning with Disc Doctor subsequent to a final rinse/near dry on my Moth RCM. It's sitting at my right hand after a cleaning frenzy yesterday afternoon.BTW, these Knosti type cleaners are still on sale in the UK from a couple of prestigious accessory dealers for up to 60 g.b.p (albeit with, hopefully, much improved chemicals).
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http://www.russandrews.com/lookup/1/region/UK/currency/GBP/customer_id/PAA1052096606954OMFCPXHMLPZIGNQR/product-ReVive-Standard-Pack-5065.htm
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Do appreciate your time and the education you have given all.
Please keep us posted!!!!!!!!!!
...and with one of those micro-manipulator devices, you could pick the boulders, er, dirt out of the very depths of the groove. Mmmm, this has possibilities.
Dave
Later Gator,
Crank up your talking machine, grab a jar of your favorite "kick-back", sit down, relax, and let the good times roll.The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.
/
Many of those washers have a detergent bottle. Wonder what would happen if a little detergent was used.
Thank you for actually putting this to test and for the very instructive report on the experiment.
I used water straight from the garden hose (the pressure-washer has to be connected to a hose).
I am looking forward to future reports, they are very entertaining.
I have hand washed records and found many labels (esp. on older maroon label records) the record label would bleed and look terrible when dry. Some other labels can bubble when they get wet. I used a very mild detergent greatly diluted and a very soft bristle cat brush, followed by a rinse in distilled water and then dried with a clean microfiber towel. I switched to a Nitty Gritty Mini-Pro about 10 years ago. I suspect that pressure washer will shred labels if you are not very careful. You may want to give a final rinse with distilled water to eliminate any mineral or other deposits.
nt
Sounds like the process has merit. A friend of mine that I mentioned this to indicated that the pressure used is only one factor. He suggested that the size of the water droplet was a factor in effectiveness, so different size nozzles should be tried. This friend had done some studies in graduate school on fluid mechanics. Look forward to your additional experimentation. I think the major weakness in all of the RCM’s available is the clean process, which is all over the lot. Every machine seems to get the ‘sucking’ right. Seems we need a down scaled, brushless car wash.
Not perfect, but so close it scares me.
I smell a Pulitzer here for journalism.And the label survived intact?
This has to be one of the craziest, funnest post I've read here. Thank you, dude. This one's for you.
> And the label survived intact?Actually if you read carefully and check the pictures the label was destroyed (which I expected), if I ever decide to make this THE way I clean my records, I will devise protection for the label.
Thank you for your interest.
I just am too cheap to plop down 200-500 dollars unless i know the thing is going to prevent vinyl cavities.
First off, I find this fascinating. I've always wondered whether a Waterpik might make a good if messy record clearner.
Second, there's a guy that sells something called a Groovmaster on E-Bay. It's overpriced, IMO, but it does an excellent job of protecting the label. It's basically two label-sized gaskets that connect with a wing-nut.
Keep up the good work.
Jeff
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