Steam cleaning records 2

All a slight warping is almost normal when steam cleaning. In my experience some record companies vinyl warps more than others when steaming. As you pass the steamer to the inside of the LP the warping will stop and the LP will return to its original state. I have yet to leave a warp in a vinyl LP that i have steamed. And if you notice i have my Perfection Steamer apex 2 or 3 inches from the surface of the LP. Speaking of David Bowie i've had a MFSL pressing and its sound was fine. Now that i know all of my LPs must be steam cleaned i recently played the LP and put it in my steaming bin. All the difference in better sound from playing before and after is so audible its not funny. Steam cleaning is the best way i know to prepare a vinyl LP for a quite and super sounding playing session.

Crem i only hope that the people who live up the Atlantic seaboard don't experience the full furry of a cat 3 or better Hurricane. A lot of those areas are under sea level like us and it would be a sobering ordeal to live through. We are packing now to return to the big easy after escaping Gustav, from what i am seeing now from Ike it does not look good for the gulf coast. I'm Hopping all stay out of harms way.

I have a simple question for those that use micro-fiber cloths on their LP's.

How do you clean/wash the cloth's?

So I just watched Stltrains video again and noticed that the steaming time is much longer than I have been doing. I have the same steamer and it runs out of steam after about 3-4 seconds. If I ever hold it in place long enough for the record to rotate fully - then move it closer to the spindle to do the same, I'll run out.

I was thinking that I need to be quicker, but now I see that I should be doing it longer. But even the way I'm doing it, when I go to do my 'rinse' I can't make it across the record.

Any ideas why I am running out of steam so fast?

Crem,
Yes, my Highway 61 does have the charcoal of BD inside. This was a great find. Only problem, I didn't find it first. A local dealer did, and he knew what he had. I debated for several days whether I should pay him what he was asking or wait to maybe find one on my own. In the end, I paid VG+ price for what is clearly better than VG+ but not quite MN. The matrix # on side one is 1B. I'm not sure if I'll see this again. Hopefully the steaming will help it sound it's best. Happy hunting.

crem,

thanks a ton for taking the trouble to check things out for me!!! really appreciate it. next week a steam cleaner is in the order line and a homemade vacuum set up. cant wait to hear what all the guys here are hearing from their lps.

halcro,
thanks for that experiment of only steaming and a rinse. sure don't make sense spending unnecessarily!!! will try it out first before moving (if necessary!) to a cleaner.

regards

Madfloyd,if you are using the measuring cup to add the proper amount of water to the steamer,try adding about half,it seems there is more room inside the steamer for more steam to buildup,just a suggestion.

Madfloyd,
I may be wrong (Stltrains correct me if I am) but I always assumed that Stltrains got a little distracted by talking, filiming and steaming at the same time. If you pay close attention and use a watch, I think he says steam for 10-15 seconds or something like that but then actually runs the steamer for over 30 sec while demonstrating. I've been under the assumption that he didn't mean to run it that long. Just hard to do two things at once. I've been doing about 15 seconds or so and it seems to work fine.

I wonder if I my steamer is simply a dud. I guess for $15 I can try buying another.

Another question: I'm still confused about rinsing - not the logic behind it but this: wouldn't another steam blast be just as good of a rinse?

Madfloyd : May I ask what brand of Steam Cleaner are you using and is it under warrenty ?

PS Hanna Talk: Lots of Wind & Rain to the North of me most power is out but I'm doing well in Cub Hill, MD (our lines underground , most trannies on ground) .

Stevieboy : No problem. Welcome to the WorldWide Steam Cleaning Club. S, one "Q" do you have a good source for distilled or what is referred to a "Super-Water" ??

Sonofjim : I was surprised to find one in a discarded cover to be trashed. I have to locate my 61 & to determine its vintage. Thanks, the hunt is to be continued ...

Crem1, I'm using the one recommended in this thread (the one Strltrains used in his video) - forget the name offhand.

Madfloyd, has your steamer got the nozzle with the right angle downturn at the end which allows you to keep the steamer body vertical?
If you only have the straight nozzle, you would be tilting the steamer and thus uncovering the bottom element leading to loss of steam?

Madfloyd : Should that steam cleaner be the "Perfection" , it may well be defective ; Walgreens should accept it as a return , or for exchange.

According your description, that steam making machine isn't fuctioning properly. Please, consider another steaming unit to lessen any potential danger of a dangerious malfuction. Once they start to malfuction who knows where that will end.

Sonofjim you are so right in your post above it was a little difficult doing the filming. Sorry for the delay in replying we just returned home yesterday and had a lot of cleaning up to do.

In the end your vinyl will not be harmed by the time you steam. On some lps that are in real bad shape with grunge and dirt take the extra time to get that lp clean. On others like new sealed lps you might not need that much time passing the steamer.

Halcro, I am using the same attachment as Stltrains does in his video.

Crem1: Yes, it's the perfection and I'll replace it.

Question for all you experts;

Would not an extra steam application (without use of any cleaners) be the equivalent of a rinse?

The best water I have is simply distilled and I'm wondering what my best option (with distilled) is to rinse - pour on distilled or another steam application.

Thanks.

I just tried my Perfection again. If I fill it up all the way, I get enough for a full application (before running out of steam and having to reheat).

Sometimes on the 2nd applications (about 20-30 seconds later) I can run out though.

I do have the lid on tight - otherwise steam escapes and it's obvious.

Here's what I do: place the nozzle 4 inches from outside edge. Start steaming. After full revolution, move 1" towards spindle & repeat. Four positions covers the record.

Now three other things I'm noticing:

1) I can't help but warp every LP that's less than 180g (noticible jump of needle during playback)

2) There are settings on the steamer where the nozzle attaches, eg. "I", "II" etc. Does this setting matter?

3) I can't seem to clean out blotches on the LP - stuff that looks like, I dunno, mildew or discolorations. Is that to be expected?

Thanks guys

Madfloyd : I believe that the exception to using steam only are dirty LPs , I believe your description qualifies.

When I clean dirty LPs , I use steam, add a fluid record cleaner , lightly scrubb w/ brush and steam rinse, then dry (by air or micro cloth). Some steam posters report excellent results with a liquid rinse then drying. If any consensus exists its that : Rinses are OK to V. Good To Excellent!

Perhaps (by technique) or dumb luck but I haven't yet warped any LP thru cleaning. Perhaps, that is also because I inspect every LP using downward light and angeling the over-head light to disclose any surface irregularites before I buy. I've been doing that for so long that in a glance I discount 50-90% of what I suspect are good buys... Naa, just dumb luck.

crem,

distilled or 'super water' as you've mentioned is a search i have to do now where i live. there are a few manufacturers i have found online through business directories. going around might take a while depending on work load. am aiming to get triple distilled or the purest i can source from my city or another one.

Stevieboy , A potential solution. Locate the cleanest/freshest water ,available , gently boil for 2-5 minutes , then cool. Using a funnel pour the cooled water into a clean glass container with a threaded lid. Store in a cool place. With an eye dropper, splash 2 or 3 drops of clear bleach into the water,give a quick shake. The bleach is to retard bacteria growth & will not affect steam cleaning (NMT 3 drops per Imperial Gallon).

This method passed to me by an audiophile mentor for record rinsing. I think it an acceptable subtitute until other water options are sourced. All the best.

crem you're full of surprises! have noted that in case i cant get some distilled water. thanks once again!

Stevieboy , My pleasure to assist you. I hope you source a reliable water supply , say a medical supply house or dry goods store. All the best.

Bought a new Perfection.

Unfortunately it's no different. I can clean 2 records; after that I can only get 8 seconds of steam at a time - not enough to do a side of an LP.

I wait for the red light to go off (indicating the unit is ready to steam again), but still runs out quickly. Doesn't seem to matter whether I have a full tank or not.

It's as if the heating light goes off prematurely; I'm going to try waiting several minutes and see if it comes back stronger.

I'm very puzzled.

Madfloyd, Wait and wait a tad longer. I let my Steam Cleaner sit for 15-20 minutes , plugged and topped off w/ water before I start to steam. Othertimes less , or more. All the best.

Great thread, as was the first one. I noticed the first thread early on and gave it a try soon after. This was because I already had a hand-held steamer at my disposal. My wife several years ago bought a Eureka Hot Shot, and after a couple of days of use, put it away in a cupboard where it sat for several years. It was waiting there for me when I needed it. Steaming records is now part of my record cleaning process, because it works. Not all of my records come out silent, but they all do show improvement with the steaming. I also use the "Quickie" back brush that was recommended in the first thread.

After a while, I bought a Perfection steamer since there was some indication here that it might be superior. After having used both, I'd have to say that's true, but they both work. The Hot Shot does have a tendency to "spit". I have noticed with both that they cycle heat to the boiler which would account for the steam coming out stronger at times than others. My guess is that was designed in for either safety reasons, or to extend the life of the heating element, or both. I find that if I'm getting a weak blast of steam, if I wait a short time, it will be stronger the next time I need it. I haven't run into the problems described by Madfloyd. I can only guess that his local Walgreens maybe got a bad batch of Perfection steamers. Who knows?

Anyway, thanks crem for bringing this method of cleaning record to our attention. I never would have thought of it on my own.

This may be a dumb question, but....

There's a red light on the Perfection? Where? I don't see one.

It's near the base, it is lit when the thermostat calls for the steamer to heat up. So it goes on and off as the need for steam is called for. It always goes on when first plugged in until the thermostat shuts it down.

Nickiguy: Thanks for your support. Later this year or perhaps a little later, I will be posting some helpful hints to clean difficult LPs. So far these methods have been sucessful with a handful of recordings that resisted steam cleaning. Nickiguy, all the best.

FYI : On Sunday, a "Professional" steam cleaner "exploded"(complete failure)in my Kitchen. No damage done to humans or the surroundings. For reasons currently unkmown, the unit exploded shortly after I left the room to answer a line-line phone call. This is a reminder, sometimes, steam cleaning units can fail.The explosion was contained in-itself & not a danger , just a lot of water on the foor. I shall to take the steamer to a repair house for details. Be assured it scared the S--- out of me.

FYI : A local repair shop has expressed interest in attempting a repair. The unit has tamper-proof screws so the job is better left to someone that can work on a steamer. I am curious to learn what exactly failed and what that part was made of, plastic or metal.

FYI: I know that most viewers and posters do not use the larger home steamers for record steaming. Nevertheless, this is my very first complete equipment failure since I started steaming , in my home or otherwise. I hope the cash outlay to learn the whys of this problem may translate to assist the few of you that do in-fact use the larger models to steam clean records as a few postings suggested. That is an open question & not easily answered. I can say the steam unit did not have many hours of useage.

Crem'
I'm using the VPI 16.5 with my Perfection steamer(no lead poisoning yet that I can tell) Have you heard of the new Walker Vortex wand for the 16.5? It's available at Elusive Disc and comes with two rubber O-rings around the center spindle to "suspend" the disc off the platter. This appears to be more likely to lead to warping of the disc if steam is applied while it's suspended in the middle and not the sides. Any thoughts?

Sonofjim : I did view the Walker Wand . The "O" rings do concern me .

Some unanswered questions come to mind: What if a record already has a slight warp ? Will the wand scrape against the raised surfaces ? Do the "O" rings cause the LP to be unstable when revolving ? Will steaming w/ the "O" rings cause the LP to heat-up to the extent that warping is possible? The old addage "buyer-be-awaire" seems to apply at least to the "O" rings. As for this tweak , please advise me of your success or challenges , should you purchase.

Perhaps, an email to Mr. Walker might resolve the matter. Perhaps he has already thought this thru as far as steaming is concerned. I know he is awaire of steam cleaning because I personally informed him in a phone call several years ago.

As for the lead business , I prefer to follow the recommendations put out by Researchers @ Johns Hopkins regarding lead exposure, keeping that as matter of choice rather than discussion. See an old dog can learn new tricks. All the best.

Crem1, the o rings go under the tube holder, not the LP.

Headsnappin: Thanks.

Wand Owners: I would appreciate users comments to understand what improvement the wand & rings make. If your a steamer all the better.

Sonofjim : Is your understanding the same as Heads ?

Readers: Do you think it possible to re-use the VPI wand , put 2 O rings under the tube holder and achieve the same results as the Walker tweak? I guess the rings can be had for about a buck , once its understood what they are composed of .

Headsnappin, here is what is posted on the Elusive Disk site:
"Two included rubber rings hold the record above the platter, removing unwanted contact and reducing the risk of additional contaminants coming into contact with the surface."

Now that tells me that the rings go under the lp, next to the cork mat. Or am I reading things incorrectly?

Thanks all for the clarification, I was not aware of that.

I've recently taken off my cork mat and exchanged it for an anti-static mat. Does anyone have any experience with with the static buildup (or lack thereof) when cleaning the LP resting on the o-rings?

I may purchase this tweak. In addition to the concern of the o-rings predisposing to warping when used with a steamer, I also wonder if the mat under the suspended disc would collect a lot of moisture from steam. I understand the wand can be used without the o-rings which may be the most sensible if a steamer is employed.

Readers: Excellent Thread/posting can now be found on the Forum for the Walker Vortex. More knowledgable because they are relating actual experiences. Worth the read.

Is possible that steam cleaning could cause harm in anyway?; Im asking you this because I think after cleaning with steam some of my LPs I've lost some highs, sound is darker and flatter now. Is this just my imagination?

Never noticed that either.

well must be my imagination .....

Don't ever play your records more than once every six hours. The vinyl needs time to recover. Supposedly, virgin vinyl records are more durable. I don't know if that is Urban Legend or not, but I have lived by it since the late 70's.

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