The "Very Best Record Cleaning Formulation"


The "Very Best Record Cleaning Formulation"

 

I am providing this formulation for all who are interested in the very best, and can be proven and demonstrated to be the "Very Best". It can easily be made from available ingredients. On the surface, it appears to be very simple. However, it is based on extensive complex chemistry along with precise mathematical calculations and verifiable data.

 

You may use it with absolute confidence and be truly assured that it is beyond doubt the "Very Best". You may use it for your personal needs. Or, archival entities may use it for their purposes with confidence. Or, you may choose to start an enterprise that makes and packages quantities as either a "ready-to-use" or a "Semi-concentrated" version for sale and distribution knowing that nothing better exists. You have my blessings and encouragement with one condition. And, that is, that the pricing represents a "fair margin", and, not an obscene gouging, typical for such products.

 

Initially, I had prepared a presentation that briefly introduced myself, and provided the thought processes, design parameters, and the necessary basics of chemistry, physics, and mathematics to assure you and allow you to be absolutely confident in this formulation. I made a considerable effort to keep it as simple, but, also as thorough enough to achieve this confidence. However, that presentation entailed 5,239 words, typical of such a requirement, however, unacceptable in length by this website forum.

 

I have no option other than to offer the formulation as a 100% parts by weight version suitable to produce 1 Kilogram of the cleaner, and, invite you to question me about any aspect of the formulation.

 

Professionally, I am a Chemist, more specifically a Polyurethane Chemist. I have a Doctorate in Chemistry as well as two other Doctorates and a M.B.A.. I held prominent positions in significant corporations before being encouraged to start our (wife and I) manufacturing facility servicing those I previously worked for. We started, owned, and fully operated this business. We eventually obtained 85+% Market Share in our sector in Medical, Automotive, Sporting Goods, and Footwear areas before retirement.

 

The Audio Industry is extremely technical and many brilliant minds have contributed their talents over the decades in order that we may enjoy music today as we choose. Like many other technical industries, those of lesser minds and values invade the arena with their "magical" inspired revelations and offer their "magical" ingredients and items to all at extremely high prices. They promise that if only we are willing to part with our money - they can provide these items to you that make your audio system sound as if the orchestra, or vocalist, is in your room with you. And, after all, "magical items" must be expensive, otherwise, they would not be "magical".

 

This disturbs me enormously, and, it is for such reasons, I feel compelled to provide realistic and truthful information that conforms to basic Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematical Principals in those areas with which I am very knowledgeable and familiar.

 

          "Ultimate Record Cleaner Solution"

 

   Ingredient                                          Amount by Weight (Grams)

 

Distilled Water                                     779.962

 

Ethyl Alcohol                                       220.000

 

Tergitol 15-S-7 (Dow Chemical)            0.038  (Approx. = 2 Drops)

                                                         1,000.000

 

Important and/or Relevant Criteria

 

1.)  Distilled Water ONLY. Do not use deionized, tap, rain, or spring water. Distilled Water is readily available in most grocery stores. Check labeling to be certain that it is distilled and not deionized. The pricing is comparable.

 

2.)  Ethanol must be purchased at a "Liquor Store" or a "Liquor Control Board" that is suitable for human consumption, and the appropriate taxes must be paid. This assures that the alcohol consists of only Ethyl Alcohol and water. You need to purchase the 95+% version, also known as 180+ Proof. NOTHING ELSE is acceptable. (100% Ethyl Alcohol is not available under "normal" circumstances). Denatured alcohol from a Hardware Store or elsewhere is PROHIBITED, as well as ANY other alcohols.

 

3.)  Tergitol 15-S-7 is made by Dow and is available on the internet in small quantities from Laboratory Supply Houses such as Fisher and Advance, etc.. I have no affiliations with either Dow Chemical, or Fisher, or Advance. You MUST use Tergitol 15-S-7 ONLY. No other Tergitol product is acceptable for this designed formula, and you need to acquire the undiluted form only.

 

4.)  The above cleaner formula will result in a non-foaming (VLF) Surfactant Formulation that exhibits the following:

            Surface Tension of 28.5 dynes/centimeter @ 20 C. (68.0 F.)

            Surface Tension of 28.2 dynes/centimeter @ 25 C. (77.0 F.)

 

5.). A Surface Tension of 28.5 dynes/centimeter is Remarkable and will properly clean records of all organic soilings, and all oily substances, as well as very significant amounts of inorganic soilings.  This available Surface Tension coupled with the Azeotropic Characteristics of very rapid evaporation and spotless drying occur because of the selection of Ethyl Alcohol and the very specific concentration determined as 22.00% p.b.w., further improves the products abilities.  The "Ease-of-Use" and "Spot-Free" results are to be accepted.

 

6.). Be aware that an "ideal temperature of use" also exists for this formulation.  And, that reasonable temperature is 40 C. (104.0 F.). Further increases in temperature offers no improvement, therefore, confirming the proper use of the term "ideal". I mention this not because of of any substantial improvement, but, only to be aware of its’ existence. And, if you have a choice to utilize a room that is warmer than another, select the warmer room closer to 104.0 F. There is no need to elevate the temperature of the records or the materials. Simply be aware that 104.0 F. Is ideal.

 

If interest is expressed in this submission, I am willing to provide additional submissions regarding other materials, and, other areas of interest.  Such as"Best Contact Substance", "Best lubricants for turntables", " Better Dampening Materials" for turntables and tonearms, and, most significantly, "Best" material for "Turntable Platter/Vinyl Record Interface" usually called "Record Mats". The last item will certainly disturb many individuals and anger many suppliers.

 

Whatever I may contribute is substantiated by Science and Testing, and Verifiable. Science has no Opinions. Opinions in these matters are best reserved for those who rely on their imagination and wishful thinking.

 

Also, I have no vested interests in this Industry. Simply possess some scientific knowledge that also relates to some aspects of the Audio Area, and I am willing to share that information if requested!

128x128wizzzard

Showing 9 responses by mijostyn

@wizzzard 

Valerie, I am not even the last thing you need to worry about now. Wish your husband well for me. Mike

@wizzzard ,

I looked at the prices of Clearaudio Solutions and decided to use my own at a far lower price. 

I suspect we will never know why the seal failed but I had the pump apart in no time, dried everything out, established a new seal and reinstalled the pump. I also have a spare pump, just in case.  You will enjoy the Clear audio machine. It is way easier to use than the VPI and it is way faster. It is extremely easy to work on if something goes south which more than likely will be that pump. Taking it apart is easy. You pop off the rubber feet with a little screw driver. Underneath are 5 mm Allen button head screws which you remove and the bottom comes off. There is a ground wire attached to a welded on stud you remove with a 10 mm wrench. It is very easy to break the stud off so be careful. The side panels then slide out of the corners giving you exposure to everything except  the electronics. Each side panel has the same ground wire you have to remove. 

Using the machine is easy, but it does have several quirks. You really have to push the record clamp down hard or the record will slip when the vacuum comes on. I keep the machine on a low table making it much easier to push down. The microfiber brushes are held in by magnets. Do not release the arms until the vacuum stops or the brushes will pop off and wind up on the floor. 

I can only find 75% Ethanol at the liqueur store. I might be able to get it from a lab supply shop sending it to my brother's company.

I doubt I will be able to get Larostat in the US. I put two drops of BAK in my solution. Do you see any problems with that? 

Yes, I live in New Hampshire and we have huge State stores. They only stock the 75%. I did not ask if I could order 100 %. I'll give it a try. If you could get the Lorostat for me I would greatly appreciate it. Just let me know how much I owe plus shipping and we will make arrangements. 

@lewm 

I get denatured alcohol on me all the time. It is the primary solvent in shellac. When French polishing furniture we handle tampons of cotton cloth filled with cotton balls soaked in shellac for hours at a time. Methanol is only a problem if you drink it which is why it is in the ethanol. Can you get drunk pouring ethanol on your skin? Lacquer and lacquer thinner are another proposition altogether. I wear gloves and a mask for that. 

@wizzzard 

Thanx for the update, but I never French polish anymore. It is a beautiful finish,but way too easy to damage, one drop of scotch will do it. It is also a PITA to do. I have the equipment to shoot any sprayable material. I usually use either a polyester or catalyzed lacquer on horizontal surfaces, the polyester on some show pieces and speakers/subwoofers and oil based finishes on everything else.

@wizzzard 

I am not far from Lowell at all. I can drive there or you can send me some. I am perfectly happy to pay for it. 

Did you get your Sonic Pro yet??

"Wizzzard Banter."  Here is your first question. What do you think a tonearm wand should be made of?

@wizzzard 

Thanx Wiz, 

I would use needle bearings, no stiction. The only problem with aluminum is that it is boring. Audiophiles want something glamorous, something with a really high Young’s modulus like ……Diamond😎 Titanium nitride would work. You would have to grow it on an aluminum form. Forget machining it. Nice gold color. Some form of alumina might work. Cost is not a factor. It is only 6 inches long.

@wizzzard 

Grease will dampen the bearing. A hardened steel needle in a ruby cup is a very simple reliable design. Any 4 Point user will tell you that. 

As for the length of the wand, that is a long story, but it ends in straight line tracker. 

@wizzzard 

Any news on the Larostat?

The arm wand section is only 6 inches because the tonearm we are working on is a straight line tracker based on a new motor design used by the semiconductor industry in robots that position chips under lasers. Our motor is about 1/10th the size of the original. It is a linear motor that has no mechanical contacts, floating on opposing magnetic fields. No friction, no noise. It can be controlled within nanometers. We should be able to maintain tangency within a few seconds and level will not bother it at all. It could actually track a record vertically. There are three of us involved, a robotic mechanical engineer, a retired electronics engineer who specializes in robotic control systems and me. We have not decided yet if this is practical to do. We have to finish our CAD drawings then price everything out. We need to keep it under $50,000. I'm hoping for $20,000. If we can bring it in that low we will sell a pile of them. The other problem is the possible effect of all that magnetism and control noise noise on the cartridge. We won't know this until we build one. 

@wizzzard ,

I got the 200 proof ETOH online and found a source for the Lorastat 264A in Chelmsford MA. They are sending me two 8 oz sample bottles otherwise I would have to buy a drum for $3000.00. Their minimum effective concentration is 5% and it is supplied in a 35% aqueous solution. Each liter of formula would have to have about  140cc of Lorastat. 8 oz is not going to go far. I will try a lot less first.

Did you get the Double Matrix yet? The pump I repaired is starting to go. I have a brand new pump standing by. This seems to be the machine's weakest link. Having a spare on hand is advised. The American importer, Musical Surroundings keeps them in stock which should tell you something. They are $250 each. 

The Larastat has the consistency of wax. I may actually serve as a groove lubricant and could, at least theoretically reduce background noise. The question is how much will it gum up the stylus.