Weird coating on 78s

mjbarnes · Post by **mjbarnes** » Thu Jan 22, 2026 12:41 am

I was playing a Lena Horne 78 with a modern stylus at 3 g. The needle got gummed up with black oily gunk from the grooves. What is it?

I don't yet have a stylus brush so have just been blowing dust off. But this pasty stuff I am struggling to remove with tweezers.

I am curious to know what is in those grooves. Thanks.

Post by **JerryVan** » Thu Jan 22, 2026 6:28 am

Impossible for us to say. Just clean the record and try again.

Post by **poodling around** » Thu Jan 22, 2026 1:52 pm

just maybe a photograph would be helpful ?

Marc Hildebrant · Post by **Marc Hildebrant** » Thu Jan 22, 2026 7:07 pm

Clean with Soap and water. Do not use alcohol as that will soften the shellac.

Marc

howardpgh · Post by **howardpgh** » Fri Jan 23, 2026 1:42 pm

I have heard of people spraying records with "ArmorAll" or "WD40" to make them look shiny.
Clean the stylus with a small brush dipped in Isopropyl Alcohol.

mjbarnes · Post by **mjbarnes** » Sun Jan 25, 2026 11:01 pm

Thanks, everyone for the suggestions.

Weird coating on 78s

Weird coating on 78s

Re: Weird coating on 78s

Re: Weird coating on 78s

Re: Weird coating on 78s

Re: Weird coating on 78s

Re: Weird coating on 78s