Rubbing "stearin" on discs before playing?

[rasmus.baath]

I was watching a video on youtube where the "Colonel" is comparing fibre and steel needles. Around 3:22 in the video (http://youtu.be/9XYCI9Ud2QE?t=3m22s) he seems to put some white substance, looking like tallow or stearin, on the record before playing. As he seems like he knows what he is doing I was wondering if anybody knows what that substance is and why he is putting it on his record?

/Rasmus

[OrthoSean]

It's just plain candle wax. I'm not exactly sure why he does it, but he does. Not something I would do with my records, personally, but to each their own.

Sean

[estott]

It isn't something I'd do either but he does have some authority for this. EMG recommended a lubricant for "Difficult" records- here is a link to the Colonel's recent thread where he reproduces an interesting leaflet

I can see that a record dressing could be of some use, mostly with fibre or thorn needles on particular records. I can't see that a small amount of wax does much harm. On the other hand I once bought some records from a country antique shop where the owner had rubbed each record with an oily rag to dust them and make them shiny. It was like trying to separate slices of cheese- I wouldn't have bothered with going through them but that was where i found my first copy of LET US NOT FORGET for $2.00

[HisMastersVoice]

I can't see that a small amount of wax does much harm.

I don't think the wax inherently harms the record, but it's nearly if not impossible to get off. It may be ok when working with fibre needles, but good luck trying to play it on a modern turntable. The stylus will be gummed up faster than you can say Ada Jones. I don't consider myself the final owner of any record, machine, or the like, so I always try to keep future collectors in mind when altering something.

[OrthoSean]

I don't think the wax inherently harms the record, but it's nearly if not impossible to get off. It may be ok when working with fibre needles, but good luck trying to play it on a modern turntable. The stylus will be gummed up faster than you can say Ada Jones.

True that! I can tell you first hand any modern stylus will clog right up. Even if it appears the wax is cleaned off after a good cleaning, it's still there and it's very frustrating when trying to make a decent digital transfer with modern equipement from a disc that's been "waxed" one way or another. There were also treatments that had some sort of graphite in them. Good luck with those too. There was some sort of treatment you see on occasion that actually left a hard film over the grooves that actually doesn't seem to hinder "modern" playback, but I don't think it was some sort of wax, if it was (or is), it's VERY hard, but it doesn't clog up a modern stylus like softer waxes will.

Sean

[kirtley2012]

i have tried using wax before and it comes off easily, a play with a needle gets it out of the groove then when the surface of the record is rubbed with a micro-fiber cloth (or even a sock which i was using) it removes the rest but i dont have a 78 rpm capable turntable so i am unsure first hand if the stylus clogs up

[OrthoSean]

i am unsure first hand if the stylus clogs up

It does. This comes from many years of audio restoration experience and working with thousands of records, Alex. Once the wax is in the grooves, it's there, even if you can't see it, you will after about 30 seconds of playing with modern equipment.

Sean

[kirtley2012]

well its just aswell i dont use it any more