2. analog
  3. 1234117012

Record Cleaning brushes - experimentation?

I know we tend to beat the subject of record cleaning to death (but we all love it so much) - yet I don't remember seeing much of a discussion of record cleaning brushes.

I scrub my records when I clean them. I use mostly MoFi fluids and brushes, but since I recently bought my 2nd VPI machine, I've been experimenting with VPI fluid and brushes. The VPI brush seems a little hard and bristly, but after going back and forth with it versus that MoFi brushes, I'm not sure it doesn't get a little deeper into the grooves and perhaps dislodge a bit more debris. But I only use the VPI brush with the VPI fluid...so maybe it's in part the fluid I'm responding to. However, the MoFi enzyme-based fluid seems to dissolve some debris that the VPI doesn't catch (as I've noticed when I go back to VPI-cleaned Lps and do them over with MoFi). (In fact, I can go back after a MoFi cleaning and get some improvement with the VPI brush and fluid, but also go back after a VPI cleaning and get some improvement with the MoFi brushes and fluids.)

Probably the answer is to continue to mix and match, and on really problematic records, use it all. But I'm curious to hear from record-cleaning folks that have experimented with different brushes. What do you like? One, or another, or a combination?

Thanks
eweedhome

Showing 2 responses by eweedhome

eweedhome OP
227 posts
 
Oilmanmojo - Thanks much. So I'm clear, you consider the MoFi brush to be a "microfiber" brush? (I don't really know what "microfiber" means, to be honest.) The stiff microfibre brush that you use for wet cleaning, first step, is that a MoFi brush? And would you consider the VPI brush to be a "standard bristle" brush?

Thanks
eweedhome OP
227 posts
 
Here is a partial answer to my own question, based on some experimentation: Based upon some recommendations, I tried some Disc Doctor brushes. They are similar to the MoFi brushes, but a little easier to work with IF you are doing some scrubbing while the record is turning on the RCM (which is what I do). I really can't say that they're better for certain...I just find the smaller shape a little easier to work with. I have ordered a brush from Osage (which carries AI fluids) that is like a VPI brush, and that is reportedly a bit better for scrubbing.

In doing some digging into fluids, I've gotten some different answers about the MoFi "enzyme" fluid I referred to in the original post. I was referring to the MoFi Super Deep Clean. Several sources would suggest that it has no enzymes, although Music Direct reports to me that there are some enzymes in it (but not as much as the new Mo Fi Enzyme cleaner), and advises that it is best left on for about 4 minutes. I have indeed gotten better results with the waiting, and the scrubbing.
More to discover