Proper Use of Record Research Lab Cleaners

As many know, I use only RR fluids after having tried umpteen commercial and home-brew fluids. I have no interest or connection with RR except that of a satisfied user. I speak from my expereince, hoiping that others will have equal success. If you are happy with your own regimen, though, I am happy, too. This, in general, is how I proceed.

I nearly always use the Deep Cleaner first because it does the job on the pressing release agent on new records and most gunk on old records like virtually no other. I use LAST brushes. Using one, I saturate the pad so that it is good and soaked. Then, as I place the brush on the rotating record, I squirt a bit from a smaller squirt bottle in front of the leading edge of the pad. This ensures a good wet record bit is, perhaps, overkill. I then give it another pass using the same method with a separate brush, except this time using the Super Vinyl Wash.

I submit, though, that the directions could possibly stand a rewording. It does seem from an initial reading that one must wet the surface before using the fluid and that begs the "How" question. I think it just means don't start with a dry brush and then put the fluid on after you've started.

One school of thought holds that the entire record should be "flooded" so that liquid "stands" over the whole grooved surface in order for particles to be suspended and "float" out of the grooves. I use the RR fluids liberally, but not that liberally. In my experience, the vacuum pass is what really carries away the particles (making sure to vacuum the wand after each record. Using the RR fluids in this manner, I rarely have to wash an LP a second time and have no sonic signature when finished (something I cannot say about certain other fluids or especially when using distilled water. In fact, when I originally used distilled water as in a final "rinse" pass, I very often had surface noise to the point I thought the record was worn out. Using the Super Vinyl Wash in the final pass identified the real culprit.

I, too, use the paint pad brushes that Brian mentions in conjunction with the Groovmaster (see E-bay) for washing filthy garage sale LP's in the sink prior to VPI cleansing. They work really well and are almost exactly as wide as the grooved area.
David

Ha! Doug is correct. I am not even the only one in my house that uses the RR fluids. My son, a recent convert to vinyl, is now stealing mine to clean some of his new acquisitions!

I will place a qualifier with respect to the LAST brushes. Some will say that they feel the LAST brushes do not have sufficient "nap" to reach the bottom of the grooves to scrub out gunk. Many of these folks use the carbon fiber brushes or similar. As always I respect the , "whatever works theory". I use them mainly because they are effective for me and relatively inexpensive, especially if one gets gunked by accident and I feel it should be pitched.

Without going into boring detail of my admittedly anal regimen for cleaning, which is posted elsewhere, I will only say that I think it obviates the need for other brushes. Unless an LP is new or is less than moderately soiled, I give it a good cleaning at the sink first. This step allows deep cleaning of the grooves and, as such, the LAST brushes are always sufficient for me when using the VPI.

However, the actual brushes used (unless they could scratch) are less important than a good, clean, effective, no-signature fluid. RR is that for me.

As for Albert, my front end pales in comparison, and he bows to very few. But, I'll wager my records are just as clean! :-)

David