Good bye to pops and whistles

[khfm865]

Dear all,

Previously I had posted for advice on record cleaning and optimum solutions. Having read a lot from many U.S forums, I bit the bullet and purchased a hand steamer with 5 litres of distilled water. I am using my vpi cleaning machine in the normal way 1st and then steaming the vinyl.

All I can say is wow. Records that were previously full of jumps, pops, clicks etc now have none or very few!

Really suggest giving this a chance even if you might have been sceptical.

Cheers

Bill

[paulf-2007]

which steamer do you have Bill?

[khfm865]

Hi Paul,

I got a vax infinity handheld from b and q. It is 50 bricks but honestly the best machine. I have been cleaning this morning and now sat listening to vinyl from the 60s brought back to life. If you are into vinyl, you have to get one.

Cheers

[Four Eyes]

Hi there,

Do you actually need to use distilled water - surely the water being boiled produces 'purified steam'and thus removes impurities from the original water.

Doesn'tit?

Cheers

Mike

[khfm865]

Hi Mike,

No idea to be honest. I am essentially following the instructions from some guys in the U.S. When you boil tap water though, I assume the ions and minerals will be present in the vapour hence using distilled. Go be honest, can't remember basic physics. Not expensive though. You can get it from the garage for a quid or so for several litres.

[Uncle Ants]

There won't be any minerals in the steam ... But it could fur up the innards of your steamer.

Ps. Is this the method that sends your vinyl all floppy and then springs back to shape? I have to admit a certain degree if scepticism ... But I also have a few discs which couldn't be made worse either.

[yoda900]

How about using an old freecycle record player to spin the LP under the steam jet so you only have to keep the steamer in one spot.?

How high off the LP do you hold the steamer? A wooden/ metal arm rest could be knocked up in minutes to help balance it in plce if it doesn't nedd moving.

I have lots of old vinyl that couldn't be made worse.

[Four Eyes]

Hello Uncle Ants,

Very pleased to see you put a post in this thread and to see that you own a 'record player shop - Needles - and Spins.

Reason I am pleased to see your post is that because on the 9th of Feb I purchased a new item from your website for just under £300. It arrived very quickly and I was very impressed with the initial service. Unfortunately when I opened the box I found missing items. Since then I have sent emailsvia your site and left messages on your answerphone - one of your numbers was even saying the message box was full - but I have still not received any reply communication fromNeedles - and Spinseither by email or phone regarding my request. As you might imagine my impression of the service offered by Needles - and - Spins has somewhat diminished.

Perhaps you might give me a call or send me an email. For your reference my order was placed on 2010-02-09 15.09:12.00.

Mike

(Guys sorry to hijack this thread with this post but actually seeing Uncle Ants post displaying his status just couldn't be ignored given my position - hope I will be forgiven)

[Four Eyes]

Hi all,

Yes tap water would certainly furr up the steamer quicker than distilled but could be descaled just like a kettle. Using distilled will certainly reduce the furring process - not sure if it totally stops the problem though.

How about putting the record in a Knosti record cleaner and just standing the steamer in front of the record and spinning the record as you would normally do if using the Knosti.

Cheers,

Mike

[Uncle Ants]

Mike you have PM

[Four Eyes]

Hi all,

Just to confirm that I have had immediate response from Tony re the missing parts and communication problem mentioned in my earlier post in this thread. Tonyhas promised to sort this all out for me on Monday.

Regards,

Mike

[khfm865]

Uncle Ants wrote:

There won't be any minerals in the steam ... But it could fur up the innards of your steamer.

Ps. Is this the method that sends your vinyl all floppy and then springs back to shape? I have to admit a certain degree if scepticism ... But I also have a few discs which couldn't be made worse either.

Hi Uncle Ants,

I have cleaned around 20 records so far. None have yet warped or even gone floppy despite the hot steam.

Cheers

[khfm865]

yoda900 wrote:

How about using an old freecycle record player to spin the LP under the steam jet so you only have to keep the steamer in one spot.?

How high off the LP do you hold the steamer? A wooden/ metal arm rest could be knocked up in minutes to help balance it in plce if it doesn't nedd moving.

I have lots of old vinyl that couldn't be made worse.

Hi Yoda = I would say the freecycle record player would be completely fine.

I hold the steamer around 3 inches from the vinyl - no warping or malformation on the circa 20 I have cleaned so far

[paulf-2007]

khfm865 wrote:

Hi Paul,

I got a vax infinity handheld from b and q. It is 50 bricks but honestly the best machine. I have been cleaning this morning and now sat listening to vinyl from the 60s brought back to life. If you are into vinyl, you have to get one.

Cheers

I guess it produces a jet of steam like a pressure washer, I will have to try the one we have. I may use my revolver tt as nobody seems interested in buying it. Will have to separate the electrical parts from it and protect the motor.

[avinunca1]

Must try this. I have a wallpaper steamer stashed away somewhere. Never was much good at what it was bought for.

[PeteVid]

Do you need to protect the label to stop it peeling off, if so how?

[khfm865]

PeteVid wrote:

Do you need to protect the label to stop it peeling off, if so how?

yeah - I had similar concerns myself, but took no evasive action other than the obvious firing the jet not near to the label. I have not damaged one yet.

[khfm865]

For those of you who did not see this on a previous thread, this is the process. Btw, I am not going through the mulitple rinse cycles etc.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6OjtKUZ048

[flaxton]

i mentioned using a steamer a few months ago. no one seemed interested then.

[Four Eyes]

Hi all,

Pleased to say that I have now received my missing parts from Uncle Ants at Needles and Spins.

Faith restored.

Mike