The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I have a couple of records with some dirt that I can't get off. It looks like brown specs in the grooves, and it is only present in certain areas so it can't be record wear. I used my trusted cleaning method (lukewarm water with some halamid in it (to kill fungus), a nailbrush and a drop of dishwasher) with only minimal result.

So perhaps some of you know what this stuff is, and how I can clean it off.

I made a photo of the affected grooves.

bart1927 wrote:I have a couple of records with some dirt that I can't get off. It looks like brown specs in the grooves, and it is only present in certain areas so it can't be record wear. I used my trusted cleaning method (lukewarm water with some halamid in it (to kill fungus), a nailbrush and a drop of dishwasher) with only minimal result.

You can use D4+. Works good on shellac and vinyl.

To me it looks like the remains of a (bamboo) fibre needle. It would explain why it is so hard to clean because of the waxed bamboo fibre pieces. Hopefully D4+ will work with this one.

It appears to be on the run-in & run-out areas of the disc too, so I doubt it's bamboo fibres.
I've a couple disc that looked like this, but I could scratch it off the run-out area with fingernail so after a few plays it was nearly all gone.
I've also had 1 or 2 that look as though the abrasives or some other ingredient hasn't been mixed through the shellac properly, which of course there is no way to remove, but you can easily tell it was present when the record was moulded, and it's not something sitting on the record surface.

WD 40, is that really a good item to spray on records? I think I have seen comments on this but I have read that on things such as clocks the product may get it going but eventually attracts dirt. Wouldn't it do the same on records? Don't know just curious. I too need to find the best way to clean up grooves without damaging the surface. I have tended to notice that cleaning is not very prone to eliminate noises which must be more in the record than on the surface in many cases.

Larry

larryh wrote:WD 40, is that really a good item to spray on records? I think I have seen comments on this but I have read that on things such as clocks the product may get it going but eventually attracts dirt. Wouldn't it do the same on records? Don't know just curious. I too need to find the best way to clean up grooves without damaging the surface. I have tended to notice that cleaning is not very prone to eliminate noises which must be more in the record than on the surface in many cases.

Larry

I don't think d4+ is the same as WD40. The dirt is not mixed in with the shellack, I can feel it on the surface, it feels like sand. I don't know if they sell d4+ over here in the Netherlands, but I will look around.

Another possibility could be remains of builder's dust, depending on where and how this record was stored.

Magic sponge by Mr. Klean and lighter fluid (it dissolves glue etc.)

[quote="bart1927"]
So perhaps some of you know what this stuff is, and how I can clean it off.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gyvipBs6Vs

The glue trick is interesting and apparently works well, at least on vinyl.

Not familiar with D4+, but plan to check it out. Have had some luck on some things spilled on 78s with Goo Gone.

Clay