Vinyl cleaning - Isopropyl alcohol safe to use?
Anthony Newland
I'm afraid I missed much of the LP cleaning thread, so apologies if
this was already answered, but I was wanting to check whether it is
safe to use isopropyl alcohol to clean vinyl?
Thanks in advance!
Regards
Anthony
Weirdhowlr
hi Antony
Yes Isopropynl is perfect, if not the ONLY substance although if you
use it with a vacuum removal mchine (ala keith Monks record cleaning
machine) you can use a 50/50 mix with distilled or purified
water. keeps costs down.
regards and good luck,
howard, Sheffield, Uk
Duane Goldman
As a matter of chemisty, regardless of how safe high concentrations of
isopropyl alcohol may be to vinyl, it is, with or without Photo-flo or
your favorite dishwashing detergent, not a thorough cleaner of the
contaminants usually found as contaminants on vinyl grooves,
regardless of whether you clean by appropriate manual methods or use a
vacuum to remove fluids.
happy cleaning and listening,
Duane Goldman
Anthony Newland wrote:
>
> Greetings
>
> I'm afraid I missed much of the LP cleaning thread, so apologies if
> this was already answered, but I was wanting to check whether it is
> safe to use isopropyl alcohol to clean vinyl?
>
> Thanks in advance!
>
> Regards
> Anthony
--
h. duane goldman, ph.d. | P.O. Box 37066 St. Louis, MO 63141
lagniappe chem. ltd. | (314) 205 1388
voice/fax/modem
"for the sound you thought you bought" | http://discdoc.com
meg...@abacom.com
>( . . . ) I was wanting to check whether it is
> safe to use isopropyl alcohol to clean vinyl?
Think of it all as trying to find the least
damaging solution as possible for each record.
What sort of "stain" or "smudge" is the problem
with a SPECIFIC record ?
Keep as close to water as you can.
Be mindful both of the record and your stylus,
as the type of chemicals you use quite possibly
could damage either, or both, step by step.
I use a left-over bottle of Nagaoka record cleaning fluid,
if unavoidable,
but prefer, by far, to use my Statibrush.
This is NOT available anymore, but the DECCA RECORD BRUSH
still is, improved too, more conductile: consider getting one.
About $15-20 US: saw it on the 'net somewhere,
perhaps Gramophone's website (UK music & audio magazine).
Andre Jean Quintal
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Fred Whitlock
>As a matter of chemisty, regardless of how safe high concentrations of
>isopropyl alcohol may be to vinyl, it is, with or without Photo-flo or
>your favorite dishwashing detergent, not a thorough cleaner of the
>contaminants usually found as contaminants on vinyl grooves,
>regardless of whether you clean by appropriate manual methods or use a
>vacuum to remove fluids.
>happy cleaning and listening,
>Duane Goldman
True, the cleaning results from the scrubbing with a brush. It's of
no value simply to flood the record surface and then vacuum it. You
really need to apply the brush to get the grooves clean. Good
listening.
Fred
AudioNow!
http://www.audionow.com
an...@evansville.net
ago. Here's what I concluded:
Some records (notably used) contain some dirt in the grooves which is
insoluble in water. I have found a white wax material in some
records, enough to cause it to skip. Only way I could remove was to
saturate a q-tip with isopropyl and gently rub the spot. As soon as
it vanished, I would clean the entire record on my cleaning machine
(or with sponge and dish soap if you don't have a machine). On some
really cruddy records, notably those which had received a heavy
dosage of "anti-static" spray in an earlier life; I lightly rub the
whole surface with isopropyl. I rub in the direction of the grooves,
of course. I then quickly dry it with a cotton undershirt and get it
onto the cleaning machine. I have had very good results with these
methods. A chemist has told me that prolonged contact with isopropyl
will leach out some of the plasticizers in the vinyl (could cause
brittleness), but that brief contact should have no notable effect.
So far my records show no degradation. But, I emphasize use isopropyl
only when needed, then get it off the record ASAP.
Andy
Curtis Leeds
> As a matter of chemisty, regardless of how safe high concentrations of
> isopropyl alcohol may be to vinyl, it is, with or without Photo-flo or
> your favorite dishwashing detergent, not a thorough cleaner of the
> contaminants usually found...
Whoa, Duane, not so fast please! Do you mean to say that
isopropyl *is* safe for LPs??? Many people have claimed
otherwise, so I'd like to know your view on this.
--
***************************************************
cle...@idt.net "I stood unwound beneath the skies
And clouds unbound by laws.
The cryin' rain like a trumpet sang
And asked for no applause." (Bob Dylan)
***************************************************
Robert McFee
alcohol) for records? I wouldn't think it would would be any harder
on the vinyl than isopropyl. How about ethanol or other solvents?
Robert BElshaw
turntable, tubes and vinyl. ( the kids are old enough now to stay
away)
I have several full bottles of Last cleaner and preservative left
over from the mid eighties. (along with the stickers)
What's the current consensus on these products? Will the
preservative ( Last Formula 2) have a harmful effect over time? I
could go back and listen to the LPs I treated 15 years ago, but my
hearing, and my memory, isn't as good as it was then. And the older
Lps--generally-- don't sound as good as the new stuff I'm getting.
I'm reluctant to treat my new acquisitions until I know this stuff is
safe in the long run (even though now I buy two copies of everything)
What do more experienced, cogent minds think of Last?
Michael R. Clements
comparison below, what is true of the Nitty Gritty is also true of
most other good quality vacuum powered automatic cleaning machines
such as the VPI. To compare:
The LAST takes over 30 minutes per record to clean it thoroughly, the
Nitty Gritty takes about 3 minutes per record.
The LAST gets the record about 75% as clean as the Nitty Gritty --
almost but not quite as clean.
The LAST gives a bigger opportunity to damage the record. One slip and
you're done! You'd have to try a lot harder to harm a record with the
Nitty Gritty.
The LAST is cheaper to start up (don't have to buy a machine) but more
expensive in the long term because you can't get the fluid and brushes
in economy packs. That's why I never went back to LAST. It's good
stuff and it works, but my experience is that cleaning machines work
better.
Tomas Bvrjeson
wrote:
>Any thoughts on methanol (also known as metyl hydrate or methyl
>alcohol) for records? I wouldn't think it would would be any harder
>on the vinyl than isopropyl. How about ethanol or other solvents?
You can probably use any PURE alcohol. Vinyl is a fairly insoluble
plastic, but records are often made with vinyl and some kind of filler
material and it's difficult to predict how it would react to prolonged
exposure to alcohol and other solvents.
Don't use anything in your drinks cabinet !!! (High grade vodka would
probably be OK).
I have tried ammonia on some stubborn contamination on a couple of
records and it worked quite well.
Tomas