Cleaning new/sealed records?

Dreadhead,

Several posts on this thread have explained why it may be beneficial to clean a new LP, but the proof is in the doing. I've tried it both ways. In virtually every case a *proper* cleaning improves information retrieval.

I agree that improper cleaning would make a new LP worse, but neither I nor anyone else would recommend that.

I'm not taking my brand new car right from the dealer to the car wash.

Me neither, but I would never take any car to a car wash. That would constitute improper cleaning... car washes are death on high quality auto finishes.

OTOH, any serious collector will properly (i.e., hand) wash a new car immediately after delivery. Impurities are invariably imbedded in the factory finish. Leaving them there invites further detioration.

Don't believe me? Try brushing a silk handkerchief or a piece of Saran Wrap lightly across the surface of any new (supposedly) clean car with the back of your hand. It will catch and snag on impurities you can't even see.

These impurities can and should be removed by proper cleaning (e.g., by claybaring). Once the surface is truly clean, that silk handkerchief will glide so smoothly it's like the car isn't even there.

Follow with a high quality sealant or protectant and the surface will be so slick you can't even stand a water bottle on the hood of the car... it'll slide right off under its own weight.

Visually, the result is a show car finish that puts any dealer car finish to shame. Use the right products and it will last for years too. My 4yo Land Rover routinely slogs through snow, salt, muck and mud in ski country. Yet it looks better than the day I picked it up from the dealer. I'm regularly asked why. It's because it was properly cleaned before it was a week old.

I have cleaned also new/sealed records since I bought the Moth RCM/II nearly 6 years ago. Sometimes new records have residue of vinyl from the cutting/printing process.

Sorry to be obscure, Doug. I too have admired your posts, and did indeed mean to speak in the manner of Yoda.

Taking too much on myself, I think I was.

A new record is just that, brand new. From the factory. No pot smoke or resin, no greasy prints. Virgin vinyl. My favorite. The second you touch it with the cleaning solution you have begun the contamination process. A light brushing should do the trick. Zerostat maybe. To wash a new album seems redundant to me. I'm not taking my brand new car right from the dealer to the car wash. It's a very cool moment when the stylus grabs that lead groove for the first time. Why mess with it?

"My blushes, Watson."

If that's what he meant, then I'M the one who should listen, lol.

I think he may have been saying that others should take your advice. Think of Yoda saying the sentence, and make sense it will.

To Doug. I don't mean to speak for Terry, and I could be off; but I think he was giving you a compliment. Perhaps he should have phrased it: "When Doug speaks, you should listen". Because, from my point of view, all of your responses are very well informed, and extremely helpful. I've learned lots from your words. As I'm sure others have too.

Thanks!

Terry9, thanks for your response but I'm not quite sure why you said, "you should listen".

I'm well acquainted with the sonic and phyiscal effects of mould release compound and the grit it attracts. I've posted about it for years, including my comment above.

We seem to be in agreement that it should be removed before the first play. Was your comment perhaps directed at someone else?

Always clean new records to remove whatever might be there, most likely "mold release" as many others have stated. Ultra sonic cleaning is incredible, makes any record better!

To DOUGDEACON you should listen.

Mould release compound is often present on sealed records. Add a little dust, and the result is a very fine grinding tool to reshape your stylus for you.

I use 80 KHz ultrasound, which represents a huge improvement on my 16.5.

i don't. been using records since i was a kid. new one's are new. old ones are dirty in unknown ways so all used records get cleaned. but new records are new. i gotta get a break somehow.

Always clean records before playing. Always. And for all the reasons everyone else has noted. You wouldn't want to look at the world through smudged glass, so why would you listen to to debris on a surface?

I've used LAST Power Cleaner (mold release remover) solution on all my new records before the first play since it was introduced with outstanding results. I use their standard cleaning solution and an old-school Discwasher brush for general cleaning, also with great success. Simple, inexpensive and effective.

Yes.

In addition to dust, many LPs have residues from the pressing process left in the grooves. Playing LPs before cleaning them risks (a) not hearing all the music and (b) premature vinyl or stylus wear that could have been avoided.

Fact is even new records sounds better, especially in the highs, when cleaned.

They still make new records? Now that is an amazing fact!

yep - for all the above stated reasons - not sure why I even responded to this...I added absolutely nothing. Cheers!

Brand new records , in paper sleeves , will have paper dust . It can not be avoided . How you clean it is the subject of many threads all over the place .

Good luck

My assumption would be the MFSL SDC would be better for used records that are less than NM condition. With a NEW record or nice used record, I use the Audio Intelligent #6 w/ my VPI 16.5. I have the MFSL SDC sealed, but haven't tried it. Most all my records tend to be NM, so I suppose for that reason only....

For new and sealed records I just brush them and then I vacuum that dust up.

1) Is your stylus a valued one? If so, then yes
1a) Do you have an RCM? If so, then yes.

1) If not, then no.
1a) If no, then no.

enjoy the music...

I clean every, (new and used) record before it touches my turntable. I am currently using the L'Art du Son fluid with a VPI HW 16.5 vacuum unit. Once the L'Art du Son runs out, I am going to try the Audio Intelligence #6 fluid.