sound deterioration after cleaning

[gulliver]

Hi everyone,

I just got an ION Profile lp, played eight records and it worked fine. Then I decided to clean a record I had already played in order to try and get a better sound. I poured a couple of deionised(distilled) water drops on an anti-static tissue then cleaned the record in a circular motion then dried it with the dry part of the tissue. I left it to dry for about 15 minutes then tried it. It had played very well the first time (though with crackles) after cleaning the sound first got muddy then went completely distorted
Is it the needle or the disc and is either ruined? Should I have left the record longer to dry?

Thanks

 

[kuruvilajacob]

Dear gulliver,

When you wet a record, and then let it dry,you are actually allowing the dirt inside the groove to cement itself . So, when you play after this, you will hear more crackle noise as the dirt inside the groove has clotted . And if the dirt is not fully dried, it will all get clogged on to the tip making your listening a real pain.
kuruvilajacob

 

[omishra]

Also whatever tissue you used, might have gone into grooves. I have done this mistake. Then washed the record again, used velvet cloth to scrub it in circular motion and dry with "3M car detailer" cloth. All in circular motion.

 

[gulliver]

Ok thanks. Can an incident like this one damage the disc and should I change the stylus or is there a way I can clean it from the clogged dirt?

 

[omishra]

Ok thanks. Can an incident like this one damage the disc and should I change the stylus or is there a way I can clean it from the clogged dirt?

That depends what and how you cleaned. If only dirt moved inside the groove then washing again will cure the things. Though vacuum is best bet to remove water post washing, Aalternatively you rum some precious distilled water over the scrubbed record. This will wash away the dirt before wiping.

For cleaning stylus tip, IMO special dry cleaning brush method using gently should do. This brush is smooth brush similar to smallest brush what comes inside makeup kit. Motion of cleaning will be gentle along length of cantilever starting from suspension side towards tip from left and right side. Otherwise something like magic eraser have to be used. For this you have cue stylus tip over the piece of ME for couple of times.

There are stylus cleaner liquids are available but I never used one.

 

[sachu888]

Never play wet records.It may damage cantilever.Most of the cantilever are made of Aluminum and wet playing can lead to corrosion.I use Magic Eraser and soft painting brush(all dry) use to clean the stylus.This method works best for me.

Regards,
Sachin

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

Do not use tissue. The wood fibres are quite abrasive. None of the car-detailing enthusiasts on Team-BHP would ever allow a tissue to touch their paintwork, and jewellery fans should not even use paper tissue on gold or silver: it will scratch!

I use micro-fibre cloth to clean really dirty records, but I am not a TT expert.

 

[omishra]

Do not use tissue. The wood fibres are quite abrasive. None of the car-detailing enthusiasts on Team-BHP would ever allow a tissue to touch their paintwork, and jewellery fans should not even use paper tissue on gold or silver: it will scratch!

I use micro-fibre cloth to clean really dirty records, but I am not a TT expert.

You are correct Thad. That 3 M car detailer cloth is microfibres lint free cloth.

 

[souravin]

The very desi microfibre cloth is from Scrotch Bright (Rs 99/ per piece) available at all supermarkets. This is a sky blue colored cloth.

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

Microfibre cloths come in all kinds of weeve and texture. I use a very fine, soft one so that the fibres can reach down into the grooves.

I do the cleaning on the TT itself, but, for anything more than light dust removal, I turn the TT/record by hand. Moist cleaning means quite a lot of friction, and I don't think we should subject the motor to that load.

 

[gulliver]

When you wet a record, and then let it dry,you are actually allowing the dirt inside the groove to cement itself . So, when you play after this, you will hear more crackle noise as the dirt inside the groove has clotted
kuruvilajacob

Thanks for the replies everyone. So if I got this right water is bad for vinyl records?

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

Not necessarily, although I suggest you search (probably on this site) for better solutions (hah hah, no pun intended) than pure water.

I use a mixture of Isopopyl Alcohol and water. Please search for the right proportions.

Again, think of this like car cleaning: is water bad for you car? No. Is getting the dust on your car wet and leaving it to dry bad? Yes! Is rubbing the dust into the paint bad? Yes!

 

[reubensm]

There's an old Russian saying, "If it isn't broken, don't fix it". Don't intend to sound offensive but your Ion table is not likely to sound significantly better with a cleaner record (unless the one you were playing was really dusty)

Its better to experiment with an old record, and only after reading up as much as you can on turntables and record cleaning. You've not mentioned whether our turntable sounded muddy and distorted only on this cleaned record or all records played on it, thereafter. If all records sound the same, your stylus needs cleaning, if only the cleaned record sounds like like, then carefully re-clean the record using proper techniques. Avoid using tissues, fibres will definitely fall off and into the grooves.

Hi everyone,

I just got an ION Profile lp, played eight records and it worked fine. Then I decided to clean a record I had already played in order to try and get a better sound. I poured a couple of deionised(distilled) water drops on an anti-static tissue then cleaned the record in a circular motion then dried it with the dry part of the tissue. I left it to dry for about 15 minutes then tried it. It had played very well the first time (though with crackles) after cleaning the sound first got muddy then went completely distorted
Is it the needle or the disc and is either ruined? Should I have left the record longer to dry?

Thanks

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

I can remember, back in 1960-something, taking a record into the bathroom and washing it in the sink with soap. I think I'd spilt my dinner on it or something.

No, I don't recommend that, especially as even the most basic TT/cartridge/stylus will be far advanced to my single-box gramophone of those days! But the point is not to make too big a deal of this kind of thing. Do not do anything more than remove dry dust from your LPs unless they really need it. And when they do, use something that does really clean the record; don't leave mud in the grooves.

Above all, remember that vinyl is soft, and very, very easy to damage.

 

[jls001]

But the point is not to make too big a deal of this kind of thing.

Well said! Sometimes we make too much of a molehill.

Use the zero paisa method. It works for me very well. My "tweak" to the method is to do it twice.

 

[kuruvilajacob]

Some dirt on the stylus will not go with brushing with dry brush. You may need to use some spirit which evaporates fast to get rid of dirt which get stuck to the tip. Never ever brush from left to right. It should always be from back to front
kuruvilajacob

 

[reubensm]

Some dirt on the stylus will not go with brushing with dry brush. You may need to use some spirit which evaporates fast to get rid of dirt which get stuck to the tip. Never ever brush from left to right. It should always be from back to front
kuruvilajacob

+1 to that, to add, I suggest that the brush be dipped in dilute isopropyl alcohol. Also, should be used only for specific cleaning instances. Using spirit on an on-going basis may cause the stylus to detach from the cantilever. It is glued after all. Best bet would be to kill the dirt at the source.

 

[the engine]

you softened the dirt....the styles collected it...the problem is sometimes that cleaning also reveals scratches which then become audible .
Can't win can we ?
TCH !

 

[the engine]

If in India they sell kids toys which 'walk' down windows ....they're made of a tacky rubber . Cut a piece out....rest your stylus on it for a second then lift it off.....repeat till spotless....thank me later guys !!!!

 

[jls001]

If in India they sell kids toys which 'walk' down windows ....they're made of a tacky rubber . Cut a piece out....rest your stylus on it for a second then lift it off.....repeat till spotless....thank me later guys !!!!

We do have a couple of (huge) Hamley's here in my town. Are these toys - by any chance - available at Hamley's?