SwingMan's elixir and method for cleaning 78rpm records

[TheVideostunad]

Hi Swingman;

This is the BEST cleaning method i've tried.I'm gonna keep it.What a great way to clean them and easier than most other methods i've tried.Kudos Swingman! Sal

[SwingMan1937]

@TheVideostunad Right on, Sal - I'm not sure how it'll work on vinyl, but it does absolute wonders for 78's. :)

Remember: about 7 oz. of clear ammonia to a gallon of water. ;)

[TheVideostunad]

@SwingMan1937

Yes,Thanks so much Swingman.It's the best method and it gets the records really DEEP DOWN clean too!

 SAl

[grassulo]

@SwingMan1937 Also, my friend Chelsea who is a biochem major just overheard you say "it's not caustic" and she goes "hah, you bet your ass ammonium hydroxide is caustic! Just at that concentration it's just strong enough to get off the muck without destroying the shellac" She suggested I try it and reiterated that you got your ratio wrong (sorry, math geeks here!), guess it's off to family dollar for some parsons ammonia and distilled water.

[SwingMan1937]

@grassulo Yeah, I got the numbers crossed - for whatever reason, I stated the amount of clear ammonia for a 32 oz. squirt bottle as opposed to a gallon jug. I usually put 7-8 oz. of clear ammonia into a gallon jug of water.

NO on the distilled water! Filtered tap water is what I've used all this time and, for safety's sake, I'd stick with that.

I used to be a numbers geek, so shake hands. ;)

Thing is, this method is time-tested & it's far from ruined any of my 78's in 2 decades of repeat cleans.

[grassulo]

@SwingMan1937 not to be a pain in the ass but a 20:1 ratio would be 6.4oz to a gallon. 2oz to a gallon is 64:1. I think I've owned one too many 2 stroke bikes in my time! I'm going to try this method on a few really just filthy 78s even though like in my previous comment, I was told never ever EVER use ammonia or alcohol on shellac but hell if it works on those I'll be sold.

[bujamal]

thanks for than man !! i will use your method to clean more than 300 very rare 78 dated back to 1930's shellac records for Bahrain Radio :)

Many many thanks, easy and effective.

[SwingMan1937]

@bujamal You're very welcome. :)

On more soiled 78's, you can actually use a soft toothbrush (in the same, radial clockwise motion) to great effect as well.

[Condorsat10]

Hi, you have been using this mixture for 15 years ... what percentage of old records do you find that won't respond to the cleaning ... groove damage ... too far gone ... etc. What is your "cull" rate? In other words ... two thirds are keepers ... discard the rest? Just curious ... I'm interested in your results using your method of cleaning.

[SwingMan1937]

@Condorsat10 My cull rate? Very miniscule. ;)

I've had great results with this method & elixir - no matter the condition, the records are markedly improved. I nean, there's no way to reverse physical damage, but this removes, virtually, all the dirt and gunk that's in there.

Take a look at what may have been an otherwise "culled" 78 in "Tin Tin Daeo" & Birks Works" by Dizzy Gillespie on DeeGee 3600 at my channel - had to use a toothbrush on that one, but some of the highs were indeed restored.

[legOldtimer]

Hi Mark, I've also tried your recipe and it works much better if other recipes of cleaning fluids. I add a very small drop of detergent, to break the surface-tension of water. You can see the effect on the record, the water spreads better.

Question: How do you clean "Hit of the Week" records?

Thanks for this excellent tip!

Greetings, Ben

[SwingMan1937]

@legOldtimer Hmmm - how to clean HOTW's?

VERY carefully. ;)

Nah seriously - I couldn't tell ya, as I don't currently own any HOTW's & have never tried cleaning them. Now, YouTube user "althazarr" has a stack of HOTW's & he might have a tip or two on maintaining 'em.

Always good to hear feedback on this - so far, everyone who's tried it has had great results & I'll swear by it for these conventional 78's.

[MKULTRA63]

Ammonia should never be used to clean your SHELLAC 78's.

No matter what dilution. Distilled water and a drop of non-additive

dish detergent is all you need.

Never use ammonia. Leave a drop on a record for a while and see

why.

[SwingMan1937]

@MKULTRA63 Oh, I have - hasn't done a thing to harm any of my records. I've had a full 1/3 of the playing surface of a 78 sit in said mixture overnight due to OLD chewing gum on it - it removed the gum and played just fine. You can hear the cut on my channel: "Little Jazz" by Artie Shaw and his Orchestra.

Not like this is some fly-by-night scheme - I've been using this mixture for 15 years. It's time-tested & I'll continue to swear by it.

[legOldtimer]

@SwingMan1937 Hi Mark, and MKUKTRA63, I have a few damaged records, same pieces broke of, I will try the ammonia pure on one of these disk for a night and will report what happened.

Regards,

Ben Oldtimer

[SwingMan1937]

@legOldtimer Pure ammonia?

If the record is broken ok, but, I wouldn't recommend undiluted ANYTHING for records, including tap water (filtered or unfiltered), ammonia, detergents or anything of the kind. I wouldn't even recommend what I did to my "Little Jazz" 78 above, but that was an extreme case (that practically embedded gum was decades old!).

MKULTRA's got a valid point, but, save for rubbing alcohol and maybe scrubbers like Comet, when properly mixed there's not a lot that can hurt 78's.

[Turkeydoodlers]

geesh you got enought for a whole volume of records on there

[SwingMan1937]

@Turkeydoodlers But it works. ;)

Take a listen at a few of my videos - I clean 'em before every single play using this method.

[taggartjs]

Thanks for the video, Uncle Swing. I'm going to try this. After that, it's into the computer for a bit of archiving. Now I just wish I had an assembly line to help clean my collection. I've inherited hundreds of '78s from my Dad and Uncle. Wish me luck and thanks again for the info!

[SwingMan1937]

@taggartjs Right on, tag - I think you'll be pleased with the results.

Had one of my subscribers/subscribees tell me that, after using my method, he could actually, clearly, make out lyrics on a worn, 1920's acoustic recording. It won't restore extremely worn 78's, but it'll make 'em sound brighter, richer and more vibrant in addition to preserving 'em.

Good luck & congrats on the inheritance! You'll have to start posting 'em so we can hear 'em. :)

[spannerworks1]

Mark

I have my Ammonia and now having re-watched the video ready to clean my collection I will let you know how I get on.

Kind regards

Richard

[SwingMan1937]

Good deal, Richard! Can't wait to hear the results. :)

Now, I have no idea whatsoever how this stuff does on modern (late-1960's & later) vinyl, so I'd do a small test before you do a complete cleaning on those. Earlier "plastic compund" vinyl from the late 1940's - early-mid 1960's it does great on.

[spannerworks1]

Mark

Many thanks I use a different method to clean Vinyl a alcohol based cleaner which is very good.

Richard

[SwingMan1937]

Ouch!

If it works on vinyl record, ok - but I make it a practice to stay away from anything alcohol related when cleaning records.

So, have you been able to apply my method here to any of your 78's yet? I'm kinda anxious to hear the results. ;)

[spannerworks1]

Mark

I got a 350mls bottle today from the local shop and Ammonia for the hardware store and I have made a 17.5 sol to 350 mls of water. I am ready so will let you know as soon as I have had a chance to try it out.

With my LP I use a solution called Servisol. it works for me and I ahve loads of LPs and not one has been damaged ot I would not use it.

Regards

Richard

[SwingMan1937]

Right on, guy - looking forward to the "before & after" results. :)

[althazarr]

Nice tutorial Mark!

[SwingMan1937]

Thanks, Lloyd - my first one, actually. ;)

[Shabannie]

Thank you for posting this. Good idea!

----------Ellen

[SwingMan1937]

You bet, Ellen - hope it helps. :)

[RaymondTVinyl]

Great to see this SwingMan! I do the same thing basically. Works great. After the record has been cleaned, as I play them, I just use a rag with distilled water. I try to take good care of them after the inital deep cleaning. Again...thanks for sharing. This will help to save some records!!  :-)

[SwingMan1937]

I sure hope so, Raymond - thanks, guy. :)

[TrabalRipoll]

Hey Mark!! Really with such collection of jewels that your records are, the care that you take with them is perfect!!!

Super!!!

Juan

[SwingMan1937]

Thanks, Juan. :)

[SlimeTron5000]

That looks too much!

[SwingMan1937]

Had to use a little more than usual thanks to the sticky soda or whatever crap was on that rare Kai Winding 78. Really doesn't matter how much fluid you use, though - so long as you don't let the stuff dry in the grooves.

[chompo7]

thanks for the info,very good!

[SwingMan1937]

You're very welcome, chompo. :)

[spannerworks1]

Mark

Many thanks I will try your method. In the past I use washing up liquid and water.

Warm regards

Richard

[lrh1966]

Thank you for the video on 78 cleaning. Also, never use alcohol based LP record cleaning fluid on 78's, unless they are the later vinyl 78's made at end of 78 era.

I used LP cleaning fluid many years ago when I was about age 15-16 on a 78 and ruined it by accident when the alcohol formula dissolved the grooves. That is when I learned(the hard way!!) alcohol will destroy shellac 78's.

[SwingMan1937]

Oh man - towards ANY record (78, LP, 45, whatever), I make it a rule to NEVER use anything with alcohol. That stuff just eats at any playing surface.

[lrh1966]

I will use your ammonia formula for all my records.

Why record cleaner makers lean on alcohol formula?...I don't know..

[MrInkSpotsBillKenny]

Thanks for this Vid it really helped me.

[SwingMan1937]

You bet, Bill. :)

[JeffN727]

Thanks for this method. I'm sure this elixir would work with my record cleaning machine. I would use distilled water though. I don't trust my bleach loaded tap water.

Favorited!

[SlimeTron5000]

This is what I do.

[SwingMan1937]

Crap, I KNEW I forgot something - I'm so used to filtered water at my place, I forgot to mention that.

Good point - I wouldn't necessarily trust unfiltered tap water either, ammonia or not.

[Vinylrecordsneverdie]

I notice tap water can leave spots on records.

[SwingMan1937]

Oh yeah, if it's just straight tap water with no additives, it'll leave nice spots for your stylus to snag on.

[RCALennon]

Wow thanks for this video! I keep trying differnt products from online (the one from Garage a Records works great) but I'm DEFINITELY gonna try this method. I hope it works good for the sound as you say, I have quite a few that look brand new but sound very static filled for some mysterious reason and other cleaners don't seem to improve it.

[SwingMan1937]

Yeah, that sounds like stuff that's almost, like, embedded in the grooves - had a couple like that & it just took multiple cleanings and more than a bit of elbow grease. LOL!

[sideshowtink]

Thanks for the info, Swingman! Very interesting! I like using cloth diapers as my rags. They work good and take washing over & over getting softer each time! That looks super shiny!

[SwingMan1937]

You bet, Tink - 78's are not nearly as sensitive as vinyl as far as picking up "static" if the wrong type of cloth is used - as long as it's soft and doesn't leave any type of "handling" marks, any cloth ought to do great with 78's.

Yeah, this process doesn't really restore the appearance, but it goes a LONG way towards restoring sound. Raymond used this on one of his 1920's OKeh label "Goofus Five" 78's and he told me (in the lounge) that formerly garbled lyrics became clear afterwards. :)