Cleaning a shellac record with hand cleaner

Cleaning a shellac record with hand cleaner - does it work?

Рет қаралды 885

Күн бұрын

An experiment with cleaning a shellac 78RPM record with Swarfega hand cleaner. Does it work and what does the record sounds like on my HMV 130 gramophone? Would you use it for cleaning - and if not what do you use? Thanks
#78rpm
#78rpmshellac
#vintageaudio
#gramophone
#phonograph
#victrola

Пікірлер: 50

@neilgoloy3582 5 ай бұрын

Interesting. Shall try it on some of my dirty records. Many thanks for this wonderful idea.

@mrrgstuff 4 ай бұрын

Glad you found it interesting. It is just an idea, though. Seemed to work on this record, but it does seem to take an awful lot of rubbing to remove it from the surface, and I really don't know if it is good for the record, either. Thanks 👍 😀

@goober890 4 ай бұрын

mrrgstuff heres a random fact about a gramophone or turntable, if you put the needle on the record with a gramophone or turntable or whatever if the gramophone or whatever it is is not that old then the needle will clean your record its like the needle is your own record cleaner but my old turntable that doesnt work just puts dirt on it and with my new turntable it kinda puts dirt on it but if you have a not really old gramophone and the needle cleans the dirt off well then your lucky mrrgstuff 😄

@tarstarkusz 5 ай бұрын

I think you should dampen the rag, at minimum. These soaps are designed to clean with water. Also, a lot of these hand soaps have grit. Hopefully this one doesn't. Because the grit will scratch the record.

@mrrgstuff 4 ай бұрын

Yes, this one is grit free. I have another cheaper one which isn't, so don't use that on anything except for my hands! Hadn't thought to add water as I think it is mainly water based already, but worth a try. Thanks 👍 😀

@tarstarkusz 4 ай бұрын

@@mrrgstuff Virtually all hand soaps are designed to be used with water. The fact that they have a water base is completely meaningless. They come maybe 10% water, but are designed to work best at a much higher concentration.

@Timothycan 5 ай бұрын

I used to use that stuff back in the 70s, when fixing my motorbike. But I found that my hands got rather devastated with dermatitis so I stopped using it. Probably, just slightly soapy water might be best for shellac records, then a wipe with a cloth dampened with plain water. Never use solvents such as isopropanol on shellac, but I guess you knew that!

@davidk6271 5 ай бұрын

I’m hearing you with the hand issues. I’m a major investor in band aids , or should be. I spent a lifetime scrubbing my hands with all sorts of rubbish and am now in a mess. I wish I had worn gloves more often.

@mrrgstuff 4 ай бұрын

Yes, good point. I've not really used this on my hands, but I agree, there may be issues using it. I should try with soapy water too. Thanks 👍 😀

@mrrgstuff 4 ай бұрын

Didn't think to wear gloves in this video, but I have cleaned some more records since, and wore gloves for that. Just bought a new box of disposable gloves too. Thanks 👍 😀

@vinylman1973return Ай бұрын

This process is not cleaning. It's just wax. You should wash with water and soap if found record was dirty.

@mrrgstuff Ай бұрын

@vinylman1973return It was just an experiment, and I am not claiming it is a good or effective way to clean a shellac record. However, I don't believe this hand cleaner is wax. It does clean as dirt is clearly removed. I will try soap and water in a future video, though I know lots of people do use that. Thanks

@wrichard11 Ай бұрын

My view is that swarfega is probably only highly concentrated washing up liquid. I would probably clean with water and a couple of drops of washing up liquid give a rinse and dry off with a dry cloth always following the grooves. Also depending on the wood finish I would say unless there's a lot of oil light dusting is preferable. Some varnishes respond well to linseed oil but try a bit discretely first

@mrrgstuff Ай бұрын

I'm not really sure what Swarfega is like, but it doesn't appear to be a soap, like washing up liquid. Having said that, it can be thinned with water and makes the cleaning process quicker. I do plan on trying washing up liquid as I know many people have had success with it. I also hope to do another experiment with wood and Swarfega. Again I don't know why, but it does seem quite effective at cleaning it up. Thanks 😀 👍

@davidk6271 5 ай бұрын

Interesting. I’m never sure after cleaning or using a polish on a record whether the stuff attached to the needle is dirt or part of the records surface. I don’t see it when the record is dry.

@mrrgstuff 4 ай бұрын

Yes, indeed. I wonder this too! I used to clean more of the records I found, but now only if they look too dirty to play. Thanks 👍 😀

@debramaarberg5738 4 ай бұрын

I read that the schalac records are made to be played with a steel needle that should be changed with every record played but does anyone know how many of these records can be played on the more modern 3 mil diamond needle?

@mrrgstuff 4 ай бұрын

According to the Audio Technica website, the conical stylus fitted to my AT-VM95SP should be good for about 500 hours of playing. You may find this video interesting: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g4mqlK2urNGAj8U Thanks 👍 😀

@Tmilitaria 4 ай бұрын

Before people judge I was advised to use a mixture of washing up liquid and water for cleaning my records, thus spreading the mixture on the record then allowing it to soak into the record, then afterwards removing it off with a towel, getting rid of any excess water and ensuring that the record is then dry. Then I go over with it with a micro fibre cloth and stick it onto the gramophone for playing. This will then remove any left over dirt from the grooves which can easily be wiped on. I’ve been using this method for months now, and it hasn’t done me or my records any harm. However it looks like there are multiple ways of cleaning records however personally I stick to how I’m comfortable. Good video! Kind Regards, TM.

@mrrgstuff 4 ай бұрын

Thanks 👍 😀. Glad you liked the video. Yes, there are many different ways of cleaning records and I don't know which really is best. Water and washing up liquid (which appears to be 'dish soap' in American English) does seem to be a widely recognised method, and I should really try it! 🤔 😉. Thanks again 😀

@digidoridvideos3672 5 ай бұрын

Nice cleaning experiment!

@mrrgstuff 4 ай бұрын

Thanks 👍 😀. Yes, wasn't a failure, but probably not the best method either. Took a lot of polishing to get the record 'dry' again 🤔🤣

@0michelleki020 4 ай бұрын

Really nice video

@mrrgstuff 4 ай бұрын

Thanks 👍 😀

@microbi46 5 ай бұрын

I use wood furniture cleaner to clean my shellac records. After playing once the dirt goes out

@mrrgstuff 4 ай бұрын

Playing after cleaning does seem to clean the groves out, indeed. I have used furniture polish, but I worry about the fumes it gives off, so I am avoiding it now. A very small amount used as a final polish to an already clean record does help for my Apollo as it has a small motor and heavy traffic. Thanks 👍 😀

@microbi46 4 ай бұрын

@@mrrgstuffI do not see any problems using furniture cleaner. Also after playing a record the needle shows a lot of dirt and the record shines 😃

@Mrpurple75 5 ай бұрын

Maybe a before and after of a record that isn't in as bad of shape

@mrrgstuff 4 ай бұрын

Good point, thanks 👍 😀

@Mrpurple75 4 ай бұрын

@@mrrgstuff excellent job on the cleaning

@mrrgstuff 4 ай бұрын

Thanks 👍 😀

@HooverLux 5 ай бұрын

It did do a good job, these old shellac record are so tough.

@mrrgstuff 4 ай бұрын

Yes, it seems to work, though requires an awful lot of rubbing to get the record 'dry' again 🤔🤣. I've no reason to think it's harming the records, other than possibly the amount of stuff which seems to come out of the grooves, but time will tell. Still on the lookout for other options. Thanks 👍 😀

@goober890 5 ай бұрын

i clean my records with wet sponge

@mrrgstuff 4 ай бұрын

Yes, probably works quite well. Thanks 👍 😀

@goober890 4 ай бұрын

yeah it does work when i cleaned it with wet sponge it was as clear like it was new

@goober890 4 ай бұрын

and no problem btw :)😃😃

@tiga4180 4 ай бұрын

Certainly appears effective, but pleased that you describe the video as experimental, rather than tutorial. As records become rarer & are irreplaceable, I believe collectors should be highly cautious re cleaning methods. As so called 'shellac' records are a composite (varying down the ages & differing between companies) of several organic & inorganic chemicals, who knows what potentially detrimental interactions may occur between cleaning agents & the surface? Ironically, dirt, dust, wear particles & record surfaces are usually of dark colouration, so its hard to know if the darkened cloth, or the slurry the needle ploughs out of the grooves, is 100% unwanted dirt, or at least in part, dissolved from the record surface. I well recall, as a teenager, using motor oil to quieten an record with a rough start. What I thought was simple lubrication, partially dissolved the grooves, making the problem worse!

@mrrgstuff 4 ай бұрын

Yes, it's very difficult to know how best to clean these. I've done a bunch with the Swarfega now, but it is still early days, and I am certainly not recommending it, though I haven't seen any bad effects so far. It also takes a lot of wiping to get the record dry again, as it doesn't really evaporate. Water may help, too, but I have not tried that yet. I am trying to avoid cleaning records that don't need it. However despite the growing rarity of them, I am still finding job lots of very poorly stored records, and it is often easier just to buy the lot and sort through them later (much later unfortunately in most cases). It's a case of saving what I can, so records and sleeves have to be cleaned or discarded 😟. I have some more dirty ones to deal with, so I may try some other methods, too. Thanks 👍 😀

@tiga4180 4 ай бұрын

@@mrrgstuff I recall a job lot of records, all minus their covers & can only guess they came from the days when old records could be returned for a small allowance against a new one. I was surprised that despite surface scuffing, they played reasonably well. I've found that good eye & a fingernail test can distinguish between innocent but unsightly surface scuffing & actual groove damage, which of course ruins the sound. Needless to say, such records benefit from a clean. A warning: Don't attempt to clean wax cylinders as they're actually made of a form of hard soap: You'll be forever blowing bubbles🙂!

@leighdurrant9116 5 ай бұрын

Always find soapy water and a microfiber cloth followed by another cloth with plain water works, dry with kitchen paper. Finish the wood cleaning with Briwax or similar.

@mrrgstuff 4 ай бұрын

Thanks 👍 😀