Vinyl Care

mahler123

That sounds like a good option,as I probably only have about 20 albums that I will ever listen to that need deep cleaning.

I will check out my record shops to see if maybe they offer this service.

Thanks

@richardbrand I'm completely humbled sir, you're right!

@faustuss 

As far as the diamond creating "static" as you people like to call it, last I heard diamonds are made of carbon which is the most conductive material known to man.

You must still be a few years short of getting a degree in materials science!

Carbon has four valence electrons and exists as several allotropes with enormously varying characteristics.  Even in this modern world of false facts, I still find Wikipedia to be reliable, see  Carbon - Wikipedia

Diamond is the hardest naturally occurring substance on earth, while another allotrope, graphite, is one of the softest.  What makes diamond so hard is that all its electrons are fully occupied forming covalent bonds.  There are no free electrons, making diamond an excellent electrical insulator.  Perversely, it is the best thermal conductor.

From Wikipedia:

The system of carbon allotropes spans a range of extremes:

Graphite is one of the softest materials known.	Synthetic nanocrystalline diamond is the hardest material known.[30]
Graphite is a very good lubricant, displaying superlubricity.[31]	Diamond is the ultimate abrasive.
Graphite is a conductor of electricity.[32]	Diamond is an excellent electrical insulator,[33] and has the highest breakdown electric field of any known material.
Some forms of graphite are used for thermal insulation (i.e. firebreaks and heat shields), but some other forms are good thermal conductors.	Diamond is the best known naturally occurring thermal conductor.
Graphite is opaque.	Diamond is highly transparent.
Graphite crystallizes in the hexagonal system.[34]	Diamond crystallizes in the cubic system.
Amorphous carbon is completely isotropic.	Carbon nanotubes are among the most anisotropic materials known.

 

First, no fluids touch my records. Other than desperate measures, no liquid, Keep it simple. Used for every record, every time I use an Audio Technica Sonic Broom (AT-6012). It’s been around for years. While most cleaners of this type push dirt around the record, this actually picks it up. It picks up dust going one direction and releases it going the opposite. I have a zero-stat but seldom use it as we have few problems with static.

I’ve been in the audio and record business for decades. My friends say I own more speakers that some women have shoes. While that’s not completely true I do have a collection. Records potentially usually have one or two problems: scratches and dirt. Scratches can’t be fixed. Live with it or find another copy. Dirt often can be lifted. It may take time and patience and multiple cleanings. I use a vacuum device found on ebay (Vinyl Vac 33 for $29.97) and an old rim drive turntable w a 3lb platter as a workstation. It uses my vacuum cleaners suction, so I’m not spending money on some whimpey vacuum built into a cute little box that spins my record.  Take the time to understand where the problem areas are and focus your work on those areas. I’ve cleaned disastrous recordings to near perfect condition many times.

Again, skip the fluids. I’ve never found a fluid that in some way altered the sound. Some leave more noise than before I started. Others may seem like vinyl noise is reduced but so are subtle dynamics and sound stage. I sold LAST in my store for years, but over time regretted using it. Sure, those records have held their own, but the before mention changes are permanent.

If kept clean, none of these problems should occur. I’m talking about fixing problems. Mostly 2^nd hand but sometimes new records had issues too. Brand new records in modern times seldom have issues. Good and bad are the 180-gram reproductions of older records. At first, I thought these were awesome, and in some cases, you’d never find the original. Often, these are overproduced lifeless copies of something that once sounded real. But that’s another story.

Tonearm / cartridge combination will determine record wear (which comes back to noise and sound quality). And why someone would spend serious money on a turntable with no dustcover is beyond me. I bought a collection of Microacoutics cartridges (just to have backup) and have been running the same 382 for more than 25 years at 1.25 grams. 100’s and 100’s of hours of use and neither it nor the records show any signs of wear. Some of my favorite demo discs used in the 80’s still demo very well and have been played more time than anyone would care to know.

@zobel 

have been running the same 382 for more than 25 years at 1.25 grams

I think the Micro Acoustics 382 is a moving magnet cartridge, I suspect with removable stylus.  How many playing hours do you estimate you get from one stylus, and what is its tip profile?  Just interested ...

@richardbrand Roger Russell called it "electret" or piezo with a beryllium cantilever and fine line stylus.

"I think the Micro Acoustics 382 is a moving magnet cartridge, I suspect with removable stylus.  How many playing hours do you estimate you get from one stylus, and what is its tip profile?  Just interested ..."