Any Idea On How To Clean Up A Polished/buffed 45?

[Guest DAWEEDSMOKA]

So i recently found a 45 (nothing HUGE, but still a good one), and it's pretty obvious that the previous owner had attempted to remove some scratches/marrings with some sort of rubbing compound. The S.O.B. didn't even do a good job at that, as the grooves are white with whatever the dummy used. Ive tried lighter fluid, and even auto degreaser and I just can't seem to remove the wax build up.

I have no idea who the previous owner was as I found it in a junk shop for less than a dollar.

The 45 in question is made of vinyl. Has anyone ever successfully un-buffed a 45? If so what worked for you?

Edited June 6, 2010 by DAWEEDSMOKA

[Guest john s]

[boba]

So i recently found a 45 (nothing HUGE, but still a good one), and it's pretty obvious that the previous owner had attempted to remove some scratches/marrings with some sort of rubbing compound. The S.O.B. didn't even do a good job at that, as the grooves are white with whatever the dummy used. Ive tried lighter fluid, and even auto degreaser and I just can't seem to remove the wax build up.

I have no idea who the previous owner was as I found it in a junk shop for less than a dollar.

The 45 in question is made of vinyl. Has anyone ever successfully un-buffed a 45? If so what worked for you?

i've gotten the crap out of the grooves before. the grooves will still have a dull look when you're done though. i can clean it for you if you want. if it's styrene, the grooves might be permanently whitened / distorted.

[Guest]

So i recently found a 45 (nothing HUGE, but still a good one), and it's pretty obvious that the previous owner had attempted to remove some scratches/marrings with some sort of rubbing compound. The S.O.B. didn't even do a good job at that, as the grooves are white with whatever the dummy used. Ive tried lighter fluid, and even auto degreaser and I just can't seem to remove the wax build up.

I have no idea who the previous owner was as I found it in a junk shop for less than a dollar.

The 45 in question is made of vinyl. Has anyone ever successfully un-buffed a 45? If so what worked for you?

give it another light rub with T Cut - while the T Cut is still wet - apply fairy liquid and hand soap - light brush with an old toothbrush and rub the grooves with your

thumbs

rinse with hot water and dry with toilet roll.

then spray windolene and play the record

that should get the crap out

[Kris Holmes]

give it another light rub with T Cut - while the T Cut is still wet - apply fairy liquid and hand soap - light brush with an old toothbrush and rub the grooves with your

thumbs

rinse with hot water and dry with toilet roll.

then spray windolene and play the record

that should get the crap out

I don't know about hot water, it will probably warp, best method i've had is lukewarm water + dish liquid + soft toothbrush for really dirty 45s, rinse with water from the tap to flush the grooves, then dry with a clean towel. There is also the pva/elmers glue method. Also if you have an old stylus & soften the stuff in the grooves up with the toothbrush method you could try playing the 45 while it's still wet because that can carve the crud out of the grooves too. Really though you're probably better keeping an eye out for a clean copy to buy off ebay or something if it's not a huge record. But yeah, the other things I mentioned have all helped when the VPI machine doesn't quite sort it. Good luck.

[Guest son of stan]

I posted the following in another thread earlier,

"I know some people swear by the use of PVA glue to clean records. You spread it over the playing surface, leave it 24 hours to dry then it peels off in one piece bringing all the crud out of the grooves with it. Amazing results, apparently.

That's the theory anyway... always been too scared / lazy to try it . There was actually a record cleaning product available in France which worked in the same way and was basically expensive PVA glue.

(There was a lengthy discussion of this technique on another board that I could point you in the direction of if anyone is feeling brave!)"

Apparently it significantly bumps up the "grading" of a record.

[Northern Soul Uk]

beleive me, and i done this a thousand times when I had record shops, and it's worked.

WARM water in a bowl, not hot, 2 drops of washing up liquid and stir with you finger, don't let it bubble.

Rub the record with a soft cloth after dabbing the cloth in the liquid, you can be quite aggressive it won't harm,

then run the record under a cold water tap making sure not to get the label wet. Then dry with a dry cloth or kitchen towel.

If it doesn't work, do it again, and if no joy then, go to the chemist shop and ask for some 'isopropenol', tell them what you want it for

or they might not sell it to you. The get a soft clean cloth and wipe the record with it, the Isopropanol evaporates very quickly, so no need to dry the record.

As I say these methods have worked for me thousands of times

Hope this helps

Steve X

Edited June 9, 2010 by steveluigi

[Haydn]

I have used the T-cut with washing up liquid and tape head cleaner(Isopropenol) and had great results.

Normally I find that some records give a dry look after cleaning. In order to replace the shine, I have given a quick wipe with car dashboard wipes (a pound at the poundshop) and results are miles better(imo).

H