Kirmuss users, what do you find?

I am familiar with the Kirmuss system and think it works great for old moldy records.  Sounds like you might benefit from a distilled water rinse as your last stage.  Make sure you let the records dry completely before you play them.   
Instead of changing the water in the Kirmuss machine, you can use a distilled water bath in a Spin Clean or alternate record bath. 

I did that / do that with the AI solution before vacuum dry. I may try it again, but you'd think the ultrasonic bath with distilled water and a bit of alcohol (as instructed) should be doing that, shouldn't it?

I bought one awhile back and thought it worked as advertised BUT you had to do ALL the steps per the instructions. Like 12-15 steps! I used it for under a week but it was such a PITA to use and took sooooo much time that I sold it very quickly

I have had a Kirmuss machine for 5 years.  I have found the best way to use it is to use it like every other ultrasonic cleaner.  Run it through the 5 minute cycle and then dry it.  I forget about all of the other steps. I use a vacuum machine to dry the record as it is quick and thorough.

There is no way any additional stuff should build up on your stylus after cleaning the record.  In cases where the record is in particularly bad condition, perhaps with mold or something, I have found that cleaning the record once, then playing it, then cleaning it again gives good results.

Playing a record, especially with a line contact stylus that gets deeper into the groove than a conical stylus, can be part of the cleaning process.

I have a Kirmuss machine and also had the problem with globs of junk on the stylus when I followed his procedure to the letter (including studying his Youtube video).

I decided the whole Dr. Kirmuss thing is B.S. and overly cumbersome. Now I use the Kirmuss instead with Tergikleen as a prewash for soiled used records, followed by a DW rinse in my Degritter II. That works far, far better, and never causes build up of any kind on my stylus. I now only use the Kirmuss machine that way. 

Not to mention his cleaning fluid is ridiculously expensive. I never used all the machine came with originally, but I knew I was never going to pay the $100 or so for the small refill bottle.

Lubachi,

All my records are in great shape, or I get rid of them.

Cart is a Haha ML.

Dwette,

Tergikleen with a DW rinse is what I was planning to try next, then the ultrasonic.

I have 2 Spin Clean machines and can load each with those 2 liquids.

BTW, how do you quote people here? Never could figure it out.

Traudio, you cannot quote people on this platform in the conventional way that most forums are set up.  I agree that is a bit of a nuisance.

What I have trouble understanding is, if you are just cleaning a record with an ultrasonic cleaner, whether it is the Kirmuss unit or whatever, there is no way the unit can add gunk to your record.  Water and alcohol cannot physically deposit anything on your record.  I am not sure what is going on with the cleaning process in your case but I would be hesitant to blame the machine.  Just saying... 

@lubachl 

whether it is the Kirmuss unit or whatever, there is no way the unit can add gunk to your record.  Water and alcohol cannot physically deposit anything on your record.  I am not sure what is going on with the cleaning process in your case but I would be hesitant to blame the machine.  Just saying... 

No, @traudio  is not mistaken or wrong. The "official" Kirmusss process really does cause that problem. I noticed it to, and I’m a very experienced user of cleaning machines and processes. I think the issue is that the Kirmuss system leaves residue on the records. There is no plain water rinse in the process. It even calls for spraying the record with a Kirmuss provided spritz bottle after cleaning, and that’s the problem. That is why I called out the Kirmuss process upstream as B.S. and said I abandoned it. For the very reason it leaves something on the record.

In my opinion, a proper record cleaning regimen only takes away dirt. It should never add anything that isn’t removed before the end of the cleaning process. Kirmuss isn’t that. This is why I always end my record cleaning with a run through a Degritter II with nothing but DW in the tank.

@traudio  Type in your text as usual, then click the quote symbol and paste the quote you want into the space.

BTW, how do you quote people here? Never could figure it out.

Ok let's test this 

Type in your text as usual, then click the quote symbol and paste the quote you want into the space.

 

Lol,

My wife, the science teacher just got home from her trip. Showed her the new machine, which she's is excited to clean her jewelry with.

Told her about the gunk built up on the needle when using the Kirmuss fluid. She said, "there's too much Propylene Glycol in your surfactant solution then".

Dammmmm. Jaw on the floor moment.:-)

Told her about the gunk built up on the needle when using the Kirmuss fluid. She said, "there's too much Propylene Glycol in your surfactant solution then".

LOL. Kirmuss got busted!

He never would tell anyone what's he's a "doctor" of. Apparently, nothing. LOL

I have had the same experience will not use isopropyl or his  chemicals again. 

@traudio 

I am glad to hear you found the problem. I’ve gone through my fair share of cleaning solutions and some caused more problems (residue and gunk than others).  Finally, stumble upon L'Art Du Son Record Cleaning Fluid. Been using it over a year now and it works beautifully, you may wanna give a shot. 

https://elusivedisc.com/lart-du-son-record-cleaning-fluid-makes-1-gallon/?srsltid=AfmBOor5ib5FNbNXrbriMclm-EC65FPGQ6jgnGhZzhjg8StVs0We_7Yh

Although I have a large collection of cleaning fluids, that's one I haven't tried yet. I'll try it, thanks.

I've used the L'Art Du Son Record Cleaning Fluid and liked it BUT once mixed it must be refrigerated or it breaks down. For the past several years now have been using the Keith Monks DisOvery fluid and like this even better. Have gone thru 3 or 4 bottles with no issues/concerns.

https://www.soundsofsilence.com/introducing-discovery-natural-precision-record-cleaning-fluids-from-keith-monks

Good to hear as I have a full bottle of DisOvery fluid from the 2 weeks I had a Keith Monks machine (Hated it).
Too tweaky to get the suction right didn't fall off the end of the record like it was supposed to and that nozzle marked up some of my records which I cannot get cleaned off Grrrr. 

I assume you scrub up the record with the fluid the put it in the US machine, right?

FWIW, Propylene glycol and propyl alcohol or propanol are related only in that both are 3-carbon molecules and both are alcohols, but with different properties.  PG is what you put in your car's radiator to prevent freezing and overheating. If there is PG in Kirumuss's recipe, I would be surprised (because it's poisonous if ingested) but not amazed. Anyway, propyl alcohol or its isomer, isopropyl alcohol, are unlikely to form a precipitate with aqueous solution. However, I have seen the white schmutz that forms on the LP surface during the Kirmuss procedure, and it does look like a precipitate of something. I watched it happen at the Capitol Audio Fest demo, and the precipitate alone was enough to deter me from adopting the method, not to mention its tedious nature.

"TOXICOLOGY:  

Non Toxic Solution: 98-99% distilled water, 1-2% propanediol 1-2-178"
See page 2.

@lewm,

Ethylene glycol is the one that is toxic.  Propylene glycol is not toxic Ethylene Glycol and Propylene Glycol Toxicity: What is Propylene Glycol? | Environmental Medicine | ATSDR. 

Kirmuss admits to using "propanol 1,2 diol" KirmussAudio-V8.3-User-Manual-Vinyl-Restoration-Feb-19-2019.pdf which should be propylene glycol (Propane-1,2-diol) Propylene glycol - Wikipedia.  

Propylene glycol is often used in general cleaning agents; it's used as a stabilizer Liquid Detergents - Propylene Glycol Sector Group.  

“there's too much Propylene Glycol in your surfactant solution then"

Funny, We used to use it for cleaning the ears of dogs and cats as it softens the ear wax. Hummmm

Thanks for the correction, Antinn. Although I think it’s a matter of the degree of toxicity. Both are poisonous but ethylene more than propylene