Records, Vinyl, LP’s etc. Are you caring for your precious records properly?

Vinyl Records

Cracks and Pops

Vinyl records have a reputation for being scratchy, crackly, noisy etc. This need not be the case.

Records will always have some noise, that is just part of the way it works. When the stylus drags through the grooves in your LP, there will be friction. If your record is absolutely pristine, that will be the only noise, and it will be very quiet.

But the cracks and pops? Dust, dirt, grime, scratches.

Scratches cannot really be fixed. There have been a few cases where scratches deep enough to cause a record to skip or repeat have been straightened, but the damage is already done (besides, the process is bloody tedious, and likely to cause more damage). There is nothing that can be done to repair a scratch.

Dust. Microscopic particles of dirt etc, are surprisingly hard. When the stylus drags over these little particles, it is almost like sand, which can wear down the surface of the stylus. Which in turn, can cause the stylus to do more wear on your records.

When you put a record on, using something like a carbon fiber brush to brush some of the dust away can really prolong the life of your records. It is not perfect, but it can reduce wear over time.

Record cleaning fluid and an anti-static cloth can help remove grime or dirt, and pick up even more dust.

In some extreme cases, when there is so much dust and crap set so deep in the grooves, you may want to use something like Record Revirginizer. It is a sticky, anti-static compound that is also non toxic. It is a 12 hour process per side. You smear on the fluid, let it set, and after 12 hours or so, peel it all off. It sinks deep into the grooves and attaches to all the dirt and dust. When you peel it away, sometimes the records can sound better than new.

There are also wet vac machines like the Record Doctor, or the Pro-Ject VC-S that rely on a cleaning fluid being put on the records, then vacuumed off with the machine. They are extremely effective, and much MUCH faster than using the Record Revirginizer.

There is also the issue of static. It is literally a dust magnet. Static can also cause noise. Anti-Static guns, brushes, fluids etc are a must have when playing your records. The last thing you want is more dust just quickly gathering on your records.

Store your records vertically. When stacked on top of each other, they get VERY heavy, and flatten out the grooves. Also store them out of sunlight. Make sure you have the best sleeves you can get to store them in. The paper ones usually aren’t great, can cause minor damage (so I hear), and many of the better ones have anti-static properties.

Don’t leave them on the turntable when you are done playing them. Unless you have a dust cover (not all of them come with one).

Make sure your turntable is set up properly. Make sure it is level, and your stylus downforce is set to the correct weight (Ortofon 2M cartridges are rated to 1.75 grams). If your weight is set too high, the stylus presses much harder. Increasing wear on the record and stylus. DJ’s tend to use much higher weights to keep the stylus in the groove when they are being scratched or mixed.

When you handle them, avoid touching the playing surface. Handle the record by the label in the center. Touching the surface won’t damage them (unless handled very roughly), but the oils and grease from your fingers can trap dust. Greasy dust is harder to remove.

When putting the stylus down onto your record, avoid doing it by hand. The lever next to the base of the tonearm will raise and lower, and usually is much more gentle than by hand.

Just a collection of random tips to get your records to last longer, and sound better.

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