Cleaning Record with Wood Glue

Share your phonograph repair & restoration techniques here
Post Reply
User avatar
audiophile102
Victor IV
Posts: 1236
Joined: Tue May 12, 2015 12:50 pm
Personal Text: Say to yourself I am so happy hurray!
Location: Brookfield, Illinois

Cleaning Record with Wood Glue

Post by audiophile102 »

I bought a record on Ebay that was in terrible shape. The seller misrepresented the condition. I did get a full refund, but I hated to toss the record in the trash so I turned to You Tube and found this video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDiF-eVOgoI
Naturally I would never try this unless the record was really bad. I had a hard time getting the glue off, but I was surprised at the improvement. The record is still badly worn, but now it plays without all the dirt ground in the groves. I wouldn't do it again unless the record was hopelessly dirty.
"You can't take the phonographs nor the money with you, but the contentment the phonographs bring may well make your life better, and happier lives make the world a better place."

User avatar
Oceangoer1
Victor III
Posts: 617
Joined: Mon Mar 09, 2015 9:43 pm
Personal Text: "I dreamt of Paris again last night"-Roger
Location: Southaven, Mississippi

Re: Cleaning Record with Wood Glue

Post by Oceangoer1 »

I use the wood glue method mainly on 45's and 33's and it works really well! I always do a wet clean before just to make sure they are squeaky clean. I did see a few videos on YouTube where someone did it on a 78 and they said it worked well too. The only problem I could think of is if there is a chip in the shellac, it could cause more of it to chip and split as you pull the glue off. But on a good intact record, this should work great as a follow up to a wet clean or just by itself!

Don't quote me on this for 78's as I'm not sure if there's alcohol or anything harmful in the glue. :D

I've also been experimenting with GOO-GONE and other petroleum solvent based cleaning products as I've heard shellac records are impervious to petroleum products.

GOO-GONE is actually working very well and I might post a before and after of it!

Post Reply