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RE:"washing' Lps -- and dry brushing

198.24.31.118

Elizabeth is cheap and lazy (she said it, not me).

I'm cheap too. And I wash records at the kitchen sink. I use warm water (95 degrees Farenheit - I've measured temperature). I spin the record in the warm water for a couple minutes to bring up the temperature of the entire record. Warping has not been a problem - records get flabby but flatness returns. I use detergent. I rinse with distilled water using a spray bottle that has a stream nozzle. Wipe dry.

Before washing I dry brush (Audio-Technica stylus brush - animal hair with a square cut) to move dust out of the grooves. *Tedious* - I know. Not every records needs brushing or needs much brushing.

Some records have lots of dust. Some records do get quieter with cleaning - not all do. Dirt on the record makes a crackling sound throughout - but I believe you can have similar crackling caused by cheap vinyl or worn stampers.

I have had a few records that I've brushed more than once because after play, I could see that more dust appeared - dragged up by the stylus. I'm talking fine dust, not fibers or dandruff flakes.

If you take the time for dry brushing, you are going to find problems that you might otherwise miss - stuck-on dirt, scatches. You might save yourself from a damaged stylus.

If you try brushing, do it in direct sunlight with the sun at a low angle. The low angle lets you hold the record comfortably, horizontally and it highlights the dust. I also use a de-soldering bulb - a rubber squeeze bulb that you can re-purpose to blow air and blow off dust.

-esc


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