Phonoland

Does anyone know if you can use regular household "hydrogen peroxide" to clean 78's? I have used it successfully to clean really dirty lps and 45's. Will it harm Shellac records?

I only use a mild soap and water on shellac records. Unlike vinyl, chemicals may penetrate the surface, and cause seperation of the layers, or softening of the surface. I guess you could try it on an unwanted 78, but theres probably no need for any strong solutions.

The problem is this record is filthy and it looks like there is mold growing in the grooves. I tried just soap and water but it really did not improve it much. Any other suggestions?

I've used bleach and tap-water to remove mold from 78s. (Standard shellac based 78s; as opposed to Edison Diamond Discs, which should not be exposed to water.)

Wearing rubber gloves, dip a small cotton rag in straight bleach and wipe the record's surface, until the gunk comes off. Then, carefully rinse the record under a tap (medium-warm water), and quickly pat the label dry. I recommend setting the record in a dish-rack to dry over night. The next day, wipe the grooves with a heavy, cotton cloth, or a velvet record brush, etc.

The type of shellac based surface varies from brand to brand and era to era, so before trying this, test the bleach with a Q-tip in the runoff area of the record. If the Q-tip turns black or leaves a mark, then don't try this method.

I have discovered that nothing cleans the grooves like playing the record wet.

For pure vinyl records, I use a 50//50 mix of distilled water and isopropanol. I use an old Windex bottle to spray it on the record while it plays. Keep the fluid off the label.

For shellac and filled vinyllite records (looks like vinyl, but doesn't flex like vinyl), I use distilled water with a very tiny bit of Dawn. You can use another spray bottle, but empty it between uses. Keep the fluid off the label, and rinse the record with distilled water after the wet play.

Put enough on the grooves to make the record surface look like a mirror. Periodically add fluid as it gets dry.

I use an Autocleanica arm to track the wet record with a cleaning pad and pick up the loosened gunk. You can see it at the rear of the turntable in the avatar on this post. A larger copy of the photo is at:

http://geocities.com/midimagic@sbcglobal.net/collaro.htm

Hmm, I remember someone writing on a website on shellac records, not to play them after contact with water for at least 24 hours. The reason for this is that shellac absorbs some of the water, making the material softer. Playing the record in this condition might ruin the grooves.
I use water and soft soap, and a rather stirdy paintbrush, to track the grooves whilst the record is spinning. But recently I rebuild my "plattofix" (it's really called this way ! ), glueing paintbrush hairs to the sides, having the same result.
Sobie

I never use wet play unless the grooves are really full of gunk.

The only 78s that absorb water are the ones made in the World War II era (1839-1947) which were made of substitute materials. Cheap binders were mixed with the shellac, and some of them might be water-soluble.

The best way to clean a 78 record is with WD40, spray a small amount on top of the record, rub with a soft cloth, wait for 5 minutes and play the record, you will see ALL the dirt coming out in one shot sticked to the needle, try to believe... : ))

WD40 will dissolve the shellac too.

Record-changer wrote:WD40 will dissolve the shellac too.

I'm not so sure. I use WD40 to clean spray paint and grease etc, off my hands, and the only thing I've found it won't remove is shellac (french polish).
STILL- I would NOT trust it on my records. It may not effect the shellac itself, but there are a lot of other ingredients in a record that it might effect. I'd also be worried about it penetrating the surface, and lifting the layers (like on Columbia's of the late 20's that had a paper layer between the 'inner' disc, and the outer pressed surface)

If Wd40 dissolve Shellac all my collection of 1200 records would be a lump of black material at this stage, after all this time I'm using it. Seriously.

I've used WD40 after reading somewhere that it was used 70 years ago. It isn't any good at all. It's actually quite disgusting the state it leaves records and sleeves in.

I now use household dishwashing detergent on a clean, wet shoe brush. I put the record on a towel and scrub lightly along the groove then rinse the bubbles and gunk off under a tap. Flip the record over and go again, then place it on the drying rack.

I have excellent results with this method often getting a sheen back to records that seem past their prime.

I have used a product called Goo-Gone very succesfully. It is available at most hardware stores. It is made to remove the gunk left by stickers and labels but works great on older records and it evaporates quickly. It even resores a little of the old shine to the records. I have cleaned many hundreds of records with it and it has not harmed them in the least.

Lately I have discovered furniture polish works well. I lay a soft cotton t-shirt on the floor, put the record on it and spray the polish, rub with another soft t-shirt going in circles with the grooves, then turn the rag and buff (in circles) If you use a cleaner / polish it actually cleans pretty well. And like with the wd-40, the first couple of plays collects dirt on the needle. I do re-buff the record again a day or two later. I haven't noticed any adverse effects on the records yet.

Gents,

Furniture polish like Pledge is an old trick used by disreputable dealers-it makes any record look shiny and new. Some of the "gunk" you see in old records is steel from needles and shellac from damaged grooves. That damage can't be fixed. A small amount of mild soap and water is just about the safest way to clean shellac records. Water softens shellac, playing a damp record will harm it. let the record dry for at least twenty four hours. Buildfords, that gunk coming out of the record grooves is probably the wax in the polish you just put on it. I find in reading on-line that many spray polishes contain solvents.

WD-40 was developed in 1953. It is 50% mineral spirits-a mild solvent. It is used, among other things, to thin lacquers and varnishes. Shellac's durability against abrasives and many common solvents, including organic solvents (Like water) is not very good, it provides an excellent barrier against water vapor penetration. It is soluble in alkaline solutions. Putting the above statements from Wikipedia together makes me very wary of using WD-40 on my 78's. I have dashed off a note to the WD-40 company, hopefully I'll hear from them regarding this within the week.

Eric, if there is actually mold growing in the grooves, which although possible, would be unusual, then the record is probably ruined already. The mold is eating something-the record surface most likely. Although I have heard that records played primarily with fibre, thorn or cactus needles can develop a mold that is feeding off the bamboo, thorn or cactus fragments. I would try Joe_DS's remedy. And remember do not play the disc until it is completely dry.

Regards,
J.