For the same price as the Deoxit. I buy CRC 05103 QD Electronic Cleaner from the local parts store. It is about $11.00 US. and you get twice the amount of it. Works just as good, and you can find it at just about any auto parts store that sell CRC products.
Please support local record stores during these trying times if you can. Amazon is not going out of business but local stores will if we don’t show some support. Through their website, social media, or give them a call if you’re looking for something specific. Thanks and ✌🏼
If local record stores sold things cheaper than people would buy more things there.. Why would I spend more to buy it at a store when I can get it cheaper on Amazon?? Just saying
@@BlondeReaganite you make a good point. I spend a fortune on Amazon and honestly I think we will see more and more small shops disappear. In some ways TH-cam videos just like this have become the information resource we used to find at the small local record stores. (and other stores) I wonder if @ministerofdarkness would suggest we also avoid channels like this and just go to our local shop and ask questions. I’m not saying either way is correct. It’s really about change. Do we hold onto how it’s been or can we be open to what it is, and may become? The old days of the one local general store in town for all your needs will never come back. (Or will it…will Amazon be that resource???)
Ortofon doesn’t recommend ZeroDust type tools because there is a risk of damage to the stylus if the pad is allowed to move laterally while the stylus is in contact.
Great tips! I've only been collecting for a few years, but here are a few things I've noticed. 1) Join a community! From finding good deals or records to troubleshooting player problems and sharing cool finds, being a part of an online or in person community has been great! 2) Clearance bins! While they're certainly still full of old aunt Able's bossa nova and classical, some are starting to have more and more obscure stuff from the 70s - it's worth diving in and finding some gems. 3) Clean those clearance bin records! You will do your records and players a world of difference if you just clean used records a bit before playing. Take a look at them and get rid of any dust or scuffs you find. 4) Get to know your local record stores! Much like tip 1, knowing which stores in your area carry the kind of vinyl you're after is key. Take the time to talk to the owners. They'll often get to know your tastes and be able to let you know about some great records that you might otherwise miss.
Best record drying rack I’ve found is a foldable bamboo dish drying type. Once you unfold it into an “X” shape, you have around 20 slots to place your damp records in. I use it after a Spin Clean washing and wiping session before sleeving in Diskeeper 2.0 type sleeves. And once you fill the rack with cleaned records, you will know when to dump out the dirty water from the Spin Clean tank.
I use different sleeves, but my approach is about the same as yours, Donatello...The bamboo racks are great...I even found a small one at a rummage sale and use it for the 45's!
Great Tips for vinylphiles (and other vinyl people). Another equivalent Contact Cleaner is by GC Electronics DE-OX-ID Part #19-1906A. I buy at a local electronics shop (I try to patronize local shops) but when I can't it's available on line.
Hi Frank, great video, as usual. Your comment about moving house is so true. I last moved house 11 years ago and honestly the worst part was moving 9k+ records, almost felt like leaving them for the new owner, did not though. We only moved 15kms away across Melbourne Australia. Now im gearing up to move again only this time its 1,800kms to Queensland (once borders reopen thanks to covid-19) because Melbourne's cold winters are not agreeing with my faulty heat anymore. Certainly not looking forward to moving 12k+ records that distance. Anyway will let you know how it goes, take care and enjoy the music...…..
Protractors are certainly important! If your cartridge is off even a little, it will wear your records down really quickly! Then you'll have more to worry about than SQ! But if its aligned properly, you not only will get outstanding hi resolution sound, but you can play your records as much as you want with very little wear (depending on the vertical tracking)!
Great tips!! Another that works well for cleaning the stylus are the magic erasers. Normally used for basic household cleaning, but grips dust well off your stylus. Used in the exact same method and only cost you $ 5.00 or so. You are DEAD ON about the Uhaul boxes. They are perfect. I have about 40 of them in my storage right now and will never let them go lol. I have used them to move my collection 3 times lol!! During my last move the moving company actually dropped one box off the back of the truck. Fell about 4 feet or so onto the driveway. After I recovered from my black out, I saw that not a single records was damaged. Great subject my friend!!
Hey Brandon! I need to try this Magic Eraser trick. I would have freaked out if I saw someone drop a box of records. I am glad to hear the records were ok. Stay well!
When it comes to moving a record collection, hard to beat .99 cents per box... except for picking up French Fry boxes from McDonalds. Also the perfect size for LPs, super durable and most McDonalds are happy to give ya a few dozen, or more. Honestly, best thing I’ve gotten from the Golden Arches in ever.
That's a great idea! Thank you. I wouldn't be caught dead eating that garbage, but I'll be damned if I won't use their crates to keep the cat from scratching the hell out of my LP spines.
Great tips , FYI I use pipe insulation from Lowe's to place in the inside of the shelf .Then all albums are lined up in the front. Cheap and easy to cut and protects the vinyl outer sleeve
Deoxid D5 is the best contact cleaner ever. It is the reason that I started to go back to vinyl. I cleaned my old stereo with it and put a record on and I was hooked. I am a pro guitar player all my live, I tried so many cleaners for the pots on my guitars, nothing works like D5, best product ever.
@@joet_swbo101 Just cut a small block of the magic eraser and place that small magic eraser block under your stylus and lower the tonearm/stylus on it.
Cool tip on the MoonGel. As a drummer, I'm a little embarrassed that I hadn't thought of this brilliant substitute myself. Thanks for the tip. Btw....for the inquiring minds out there who may not know, but are curious....MoonGel is typicallly used to stick on your drum heads in order to remove any unwanted overtones, or just to "deaden" the drum's sound a little bit for a slightly different or dryer sound. It's particularly great for when you have some really old heads that need to be changed out (which are more difficult to keep in tune) and you may not have the time or the money to replace them at that moment.
Awesome again! Love that you repliy to every comment! A few years ago in eighth grade my teacher had a record player in the back of the class and he sent it home with me to fix and they used the oxygen and fix the parts on his stereo!
If you have a mini shop vac you can get an old attachment from a vacuum, drill a hole for the spindle & cut a slit in the side for sucking up the fluid from the record...line the slit with velvet or even felt works too. That's how I've cleaned all my records & haven't had any problems at all. Plus record gets dry immediately.
For moving records or books (which are likewise prohibitively heavy if you overdo it) I learned years ago to use doubled brown grocery bags. They're just the right size for not too many records and ideal for books because the loaded bundle can be easily wrapped closely around the books to make non-heavy, small packages that can easily be tucked into open corners in your load. Brown grocery bags cheaper than boxes and not so easily overloaded. I also use a much higher alcohol ratio in my cleaning solutions for quick drying. Do they no longer sell those balance stylus scales? I've always thought of those as much cheaper and simpler than those digital ones you show. I've also considered them to be pretty much unnecessary after initial setup. See if your friend has one you can borrow.
Excellent suggestions .... The moongel is already in my amazon basket! You can often find suppliers for eBay Chinese made kit in your locality if you hunt around enough. It might be a few more coins but it's often worth having the ability to easily return stuff if it's not up to scratch.
I'm not paid by Caig, either. Every audio fan ought to keep a can of D5 (for pots) and a can of F5 (for sliders) on hand at all times. The stuff works - PLAIN AND SIMPLE. I'm going to order some of those Moongels (they're in my cart, but not yet available). Hacks: Shop Craigslist for gear. Look for stuff WITHOUT pictures (many folks just gloss right over them) or misspellings of common names (Dennon, Pionerr. Oknyo, etc.) - they don't come up in brand searches. The names for shelves - EXPEDIT and KALLAX (search Craigslist and FB Marketplace for those) - also search IKEA CUBBIES Cheers, Frank.
On AliExpress they also sell a ZeroDust knockoff, for around $11,- Same shape etc. I, once in a while, use one off those gel-like christmas decoration thingies than you stick on the window. In different shapes and colors. And they too can be cleaned with some soapy water. These things cost a buck, for about twenty of them. Buy one set, and you have enough for years to come. And that cartridge, i think, if you do a blind test (letting someone choose the one to play first, so not knowing which cartridge you hear) you will be amazed at how good it is, really.
I love camelcamelcamel, I managed to buy a brand new Fluke 88 for under $250! (Granted I had to wait over a year and a half for it to drop that low) And that Deoxit works on the old temperature control wheels that some European cars had in the 80s. My old Benz also has a front/rear fader dial in the center console and that needed Deoxit to fix the crackling.
I love buying second hand records and i have been very lucky in "op shops" which is i gather like your goodwill shops, i have been going to op shops every day for about 15 years and have scored many rarities, i run into people who say they have never got anything good in op shops, but good stuff goes real quick so you need to go everyday, the other week i found a sealed copy of The Meters, Struttin,fantastic early funk, but i have found dozens of great lps over the years
To do the best and the most proper alignment with a protractor. There is a free download (that I don't remember where). That prints a arc protractor that you give first input the spindle to pivot point distance (then it will get you a customized for just YOUR TT. Then you chose what mathematical formula you want to use (Bergwall, Löfgren A/B..). I have studied graphs and concluded that Löfgren B have the least angel error over the longest travel from lead in to lead out on a record even better than the latest UNI-DIN calculation. Then you use it and adjust so you hit both of those null points without turning the platter (yes it is little PITA). But if you want to do it correctly there is no shortcuts..
Great video! For transporting records I still prefer to use liquor store 📦 boxes. The Uhaul boxes filled to capacity weigh a ton! Fine if you can dolly or hand truck them but taking them up a flight of stairs is too much for this old mans back! I’ve found the 1.75 liter boxes, generally vodka boxes Smirnoff, Svedka, Absolut are the perfect size for records. Other liquor boxes work just as well but may not be the right height. Plus the booze boxes are made better than the flimsy uhaul boxes with half the weight! And they’re FREE!! Thanks again for the video and please support local record stores!!
Hey Frank! I can do you one better on the boxes. If you have a good relationship with a record store or people who work in a record store ask them if they have any spare boxes. Pre Covid, record stores got weekly shipments from distributors. Find out which day the store gets their shipment and ask them to hold the boxes and come in either at the end of the business day or the next day. Now you are helping them out, recycling boxes and you have a box designed for your reords. Another tip, get a box or two more than you need when you move. Trust me, you will need it. For tape get the package tap with the strings, these work far better than the clear tape. When not in use, break down your record boxes and find a good place to store them. You will thank your past self when you move the next time. Also keep up with your collection, if your collection grows by...say...160 records next time you move, get enough boxes while you collect these so you are never short. Two more tips, Deoxit is great on guitar amplifieds and the guitar electronics. Last tip, if you are a guitar player, wardrobe boxes help moving guitars in cases and gig bags. Make sure you get a wardrobe box tall enough and make sure that you do not put anything of substantial weight on it. Mark the box with a G or a GU and no one will be none the wiser as you move your guitars. Also you may want to keep the wardrobe box to store your other boxes after the move 😉👍✨
These are all great. For the drying rack, I found a standing file folder from Office Depot that hold about a dozen pieces of vinyl. Costs about $10. For the protractor, it's VERY import not to use a generic one, b/c it's different for each turntable. A while back I found a small downloadable program (think it was originally built in a Microsoft Access DB) where you plugged in values/measurements from your specific TT and it created a printable protractor. I still have the program somewhere. I think I originally got the link from the Steve Hoffman site.
Thanks for the video. DeoxIT is voodoo in a can - I use it on my audio setup, my musical equipment (great on electric guitars and amps), studio gear - any piece that uses pots
Here's my record cleaning solution. Everything's available on Amazon. If you can get a friend two go in with you the solution is very inexpensive. The wetting agent and preservative can be shared among several people. Triton x-100 5 ml wetting agent Isopropyl alcohol 99.9% 100 ml Pura Cleen (quats) 8 ml preservative and antistat Distilled water 887 ml --pre dissolve Triton x-100 in isopropyl alcohol before adding to distilled water--
Same goes for noisy knobs/switches on electric guitars. I always thought I had a bad switch for switching pickups as it would pop and crackle. Nope...just spray some Deoxit in the pot and work the switch a little. Best $12 ever spent.
I may have mentioned this before, but if so it's still a good idea to remember. If one has a record that has become (or came) warped there is a simple hack to flatten it out. Get two panes of glass and sandwich the record between them (in it's protective inner sleeve of course). Then either set it out in the sun on a warm (not hot) day, or use a blow dryer to warm up the glass and the disc a bit (not too much). Let it sit for a day or two and the record should be flattened out.
@@blewharvest Three or four times, and it always worked. Never damaged a record by this method. As I say, the record should be in it's protective inner sleeve when placing it between the two panes of glass. I had one record that got severely warped because I accidentally left it in the car on a hot day (it was Yes's "Tales From Topographic Oceans") and I remembered reading about this method in a book about life hacks (they weren't called hacks at that time, just "helpful hints") and tried it. It worked and the records came out perfectly flat.
Is this a recent channel?.. Very good content and very well "produced".. Defenetly deserves more subs and im sure they will come around... Ty very much for the tips and keep the good work man... 😊
Can you use that metal dish rack with other genres too? I just ordered some moongel thanks for the tip! Brilliant video Frank, your gear tip videos are my favourite.
I clean my records with soap and water and it works just fine. I also use deoxit on my equipment. I use rubbing alcohol for cleaning my stylus I just pour some in the cap and i sit the stylus in it for a minute works perfectly.
Thank you for sharing these cost-saving solutions. As of Christmas I am getting back into listening to vinyl records. I am seeing this can become a very expensive hobby! I find it foolish to attempt a champagne lifestyle on a beer budget, and that includes record accessories. My new Audio Technica AT-LPGO-BT (Walmart version of the AT-LP60XBT), includes that cartridge you named. I purchased a spare ATN3600L ($24.99 US), because it was available. What is the cheap way to deal with static?
Saw the Photo Flo bottle and was immediately intrigued. I was going to watch anyway, but that definitely grabbed my attention (I use it nearly every day developing film). Awesome to know I can use it on my records, too.
make sure to highly dilute it with water and add one part 91% Isopropyl alcohol with just a little bit of photo flo makes a awesome record cleaner.the exact mixture can be found online.
The Audio Technica 3600L comes with a conical stylus. You can get an upgrade elliptical stylus that fits this cart from LP Gear for $40. This obviously negates some of the savings, but I have this setup and it's tough to hear a difference from my other turntable with a Shure M95HE.
Great tips! I have used a homemade record cleaning solution like the one you showed. It did a really good job cleaning my records and it is really cheap.
Great tips, Frank! Thanks... I have a zerodust, but what you showed looks like a much better deal. My cleaner solution is very similar... 75% distilled water, 25% Isopropyl Alcohol and 10 drops of Photo-Flo. Keep on spinning!
Interesting video which was quick and to the point. I shall watch again and make some notes. Just the right time as I got a new amp last week and also bought a new needle and belt for my turntable. Happy with the amp and the needle which is a Audio Technica replacement due to Linn K5 Cartridges not being made anymore. Slightly disappointed with the belt. It makes an audible low noise on 33 and 45. Not too bad on 45, so I use my old belt for 33 and cos it slips on 45, I use the new one for 45. Nice to play 12" 45s again.
Onzow is $80 on amazon.ca - that's ridiculous! Great video Frank!!! I just ordered the moongel pads ($9.89) and the neoteck force guage ($18.99) off amazon!!!
And I bought so many CDs from Columbia house and BMG back in the day! My friends and I would change around a couple of the letters in our names and sign up for multiple accounts. We called it, milking the clubs. We never got in trouble, but I don’t think it was an ethical procedure.
Two other cheaper alternatives for the Onzow Zerodust are the Hudson HiFi and Audio Technica AT617 stylus cleaner gel, which are basically the same thing. Instead of using a turntable speed app, you can also freely print out a strobe disc on paper and use a 50/60Hz lamp on it to check the speed. The strobe disc is more accurate than the accelerometer in your smartphone, but you have to keep the proper size and aspect, just like the protractor. As stylus tip cleaning liquid recommended by the famous cartridge craftsman Van den Hul is pure vodka, because pure vodka is alcohol that doesn't leave any residue and does not dissolve the glue of the stylus tip. The Kodak wetting agent is a good one! I've never seen that before!
@Marten Dekker Sounds interesting, when I look it up, I only find what seems to be part of the full article; most of it is filled up with Lorem Ipsum crap... probably to prevent copryright issues.
thanks for the moon gel tip. no more Needle Dr huh, you reminded me i needed a new p mount for my 2nd table in the studio. Found an AT85EP for 20 bucks, figure that should do okey. thanks again
How long do you let your records dry after cleaning?? I still clean mine with the good old RCA discwasher pad and the D4+ solution. And sometimes I'll play them right after a cleaning. I know it's probably not good for the needle but I've had good luck.
What about a REVOX B795 which a tracking weight of less that the tracking weight of a normal turntable, you might want to get the loan of a refrigerated transportation lorry.
Hey Frank, can you suggest a good pair of speaker stands? I have a pair of Sony bookshelf speakers. I have them paired with a pair of Sony tower speakers. The bookshelf's we're on an entertainment unit but we bought a 50" TV and I need to move them. Ideally I'd like them on stands right behind the towers. Much appreciated!
Hey Frank great job on doling out the advice you are always a pleasure to watch and listen to just a natural speaker,any ways thought of a couple tips as a viewer mentioned is there any way to remove scratches on a record well not really but maybe what they refer to is an audible pop or unpleasant sound from the scratch I find a toothpick the kind that are sharp on either end work great to fix a groove problem while using magnification from a jewlers loop or powerful magnifying glass and a bright flash light just very gently dig out the problem area but you must use extreme caution as too much force will further damage your record not a job for the faint of heart but it isn't doing the stylus any favors either in the records current state . Also another trick I use to control static build up is instead of a Milty Zero stat gun witch are expensive to buy I use a candle lighter or barbecue lighter the ones with a long barrel not all are effective as you need to find one with a strong electrical spark I just click it a few times around the record with the amplifier turned OFF and it really does reduce or remove the static Well that's about it.Happy to help and keep on doing what you love. Cheers.
Hello Frank, in regard to the homemade cleaning solution, I was using a mix of distilled water, alcohol and a small amount of distilled white vinegar based on a formula I found on line. I like the idea of the wetting agent and have started looking for an outlet for the Kodak photo flo. I saw another formula which called for dish washing rinse aid products like Jet dry? Any pro's or cons to using rinse aid versus photo flo. Planning to switch up my mix and want to know which way would be best. thanks
Frank how do you feel about those vinyl collectors that say the Onzow Zero Dust and similar products leave a residue on the stylus? Is there any truth to that? Curious how you feel about it!
HACK 4. the protractors to my knowledge do not work for a straight arm under hang dj turntable. The second measurement closest to the spindle can never be measured due to the under hang. Unless you know different Frank? I am all ears. Cheers!
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For the same price as the Deoxit. I buy CRC 05103 QD Electronic Cleaner from the local parts store. It is about $11.00 US. and you get twice the amount of it. Works just as good, and you can find it at just about any auto parts store that sell CRC products.
Had to look up "pots" to see what the heck that is, lol. Learn something new every day!
If I could re-do the video, I would explain that better. I've had a few comments similar to yours. Thanks for watching!
The little hinged plastic boxes that dental wax comes in from Walgreens or CVS are perfect for holding a single MoonGel pad.
Please support local record stores during these trying times if you can. Amazon is not going out of business but local stores will if we don’t show some support. Through their website, social media, or give them a call if you’re looking for something specific. Thanks and ✌🏼
If local record stores sold things cheaper than people would buy more things there.. Why would I spend more to buy it at a store when I can get it cheaper on Amazon?? Just saying
@@BlondeReaganite you make a good point.
I spend a fortune on Amazon and honestly I think we will see more and more small shops disappear.
In some ways TH-cam videos just like this have become the information resource we used to find at the small local record stores. (and other stores)
I wonder if @ministerofdarkness would suggest we also avoid channels like this and just go to our local shop and ask questions.
I’m not saying either way is correct.
It’s really about change. Do we hold onto how it’s been or can we be open to what it is, and may become?
The old days of the one local general store in town for all your needs will never come back. (Or will it…will Amazon be that resource???)
Ortofon doesn’t recommend ZeroDust type tools because there is a risk of damage to the stylus if the pad is allowed to move laterally while the stylus is in contact.
Great tips! I've only been collecting for a few years, but here are a few things I've noticed.
1) Join a community! From finding good deals or records to troubleshooting player problems and sharing cool finds, being a part of an online or in person community has been great!
2) Clearance bins! While they're certainly still full of old aunt Able's bossa nova and classical, some are starting to have more and more obscure stuff from the 70s - it's worth diving in and finding some gems.
3) Clean those clearance bin records! You will do your records and players a world of difference if you just clean used records a bit before playing. Take a look at them and get rid of any dust or scuffs you find.
4) Get to know your local record stores! Much like tip 1, knowing which stores in your area carry the kind of vinyl you're after is key. Take the time to talk to the owners. They'll often get to know your tastes and be able to let you know about some great records that you might otherwise miss.
Very good tips. Thanks!
I do all these in Australia. Online forums are great
Best record drying rack I’ve found is a foldable bamboo dish drying type. Once you unfold it into an “X” shape, you have around 20 slots to place your damp records in. I use it after a Spin Clean washing and wiping session before sleeving in Diskeeper 2.0 type sleeves. And once you fill the rack with cleaned records, you will know when to dump out the dirty water from the Spin Clean tank.
I use different sleeves, but my approach is about the same as yours, Donatello...The bamboo racks are great...I even found a small one at a rummage sale and use it for the 45's!
Great Tips for vinylphiles (and other vinyl people). Another equivalent Contact Cleaner is by GC Electronics DE-OX-ID Part #19-1906A. I buy at a local electronics shop (I try to patronize local shops) but when I can't it's available on line.
Hi Frank, great video, as usual. Your comment about moving house is so true. I last moved house 11 years ago and honestly the worst part was moving 9k+ records, almost felt like leaving them for the new owner, did not though. We only moved 15kms away across Melbourne Australia. Now im gearing up to move again only this time its 1,800kms to Queensland (once borders reopen thanks to covid-19) because Melbourne's cold winters are not agreeing with my faulty heat anymore. Certainly not looking forward to moving 12k+ records that distance. Anyway will let you know how it goes, take care and enjoy the music...…..
Protractors are certainly important! If your cartridge is off even a little, it will wear your records down really quickly! Then you'll have more to worry about than SQ! But if its aligned properly, you not only will get outstanding hi resolution sound, but you can play your records as much as you want with very little wear (depending on the vertical tracking)!
Great tips!! Another that works well for cleaning the stylus are the magic erasers. Normally used for basic household cleaning, but grips dust well off your stylus. Used in the exact same method and only cost you $ 5.00 or so. You are DEAD ON about the Uhaul boxes. They are perfect. I have about 40 of them in my storage right now and will never let them go lol. I have used them to move my collection 3 times lol!! During my last move the moving company actually dropped one box off the back of the truck. Fell about 4 feet or so onto the driveway. After I recovered from my black out, I saw that not a single records was damaged. Great subject my friend!!
Hey Brandon! I need to try this Magic Eraser trick. I would have freaked out if I saw someone drop a box of records. I am glad to hear the records were ok. Stay well!
instead of using moongels you can use those vending machine sticky hands, they're literally the same thing
This one never occurred to me. Good hack!
You have single handedly changed my life
I'm a drummer, I have a bunch of Moongels, so I laughed when that hack came up.
When it comes to moving a record collection, hard to beat .99 cents per box... except for picking up French Fry boxes from McDonalds. Also the perfect size for LPs, super durable and most McDonalds are happy to give ya a few dozen, or more. Honestly, best thing I’ve gotten from the Golden Arches in ever.
That's a great idea! Thank you. I wouldn't be caught dead eating that garbage, but I'll be damned if I won't use their crates to keep the cat from scratching the hell out of my LP spines.
@@TheComfortInStatic_Official i thought he meant the box they give you with fries lol you mean those plastic box things?
Great tips , FYI I use pipe insulation from Lowe's to place in the inside of the shelf .Then all albums are lined up in the front. Cheap and easy to cut and protects the vinyl outer sleeve
I have heard other mention this. Good hack!
You can also use tuner cleaner to clean the pots when they get dirty. But now I know of another way! Thanks & great video!
I am a beginner in turntables and vinyl. thanks for the good tips
Deoxid D5 is the best contact cleaner ever. It is the reason that I started to go back to vinyl. I cleaned my old stereo with it and put a record on and I was hooked. I am a pro guitar player all my live, I tried so many cleaners for the pots on my guitars, nothing works like D5, best product ever.
VWestlife knows his stuff, i trust that the AT-3600 is the same cart as the Rega Carbon.
Thanks Frank for the Damper Pads idea, I've ordered one from amazon. Take care!
No problem 👍
While I have a ZeroDust, I still find myself just using a small square of a dry Magic Eraser more.
I also use one and i have a vinyl passion dust buster too. Hello there mate 👋😁
Which dry magic Eraser & how do you actually use it on the stylus. Just touch it like the ZeroDust?
@@joet_swbo101 Just cut a small block of the magic eraser and place that small magic eraser block under your stylus and lower the tonearm/stylus on it.
Cool tip on the MoonGel. As a drummer, I'm a little embarrassed that I hadn't thought of this brilliant substitute myself. Thanks for the tip.
Btw....for the inquiring minds out there who may not know, but are curious....MoonGel is typicallly used to stick on your drum heads in order to remove any unwanted overtones, or just to "deaden" the drum's sound a little bit for a slightly different or dryer sound. It's particularly great for when you have some really old heads that need to be changed out (which are more difficult to keep in tune) and you may not have the time or the money to replace them at that moment.
I did not know this. Thanks for the info!
For cleaning, just spring for a VPI machine. However, yes, make your own liquid. Also, we used to call the spray you showed at the end "tuner spray."
Great Frank, thanks for the tips!!!
Awesome again! Love that you repliy to every comment! A few years ago in eighth grade my teacher had a record player in the back of the class and he sent it home with me to fix and they used the oxygen and fix the parts on his stereo!
I try my best to respond to as many comments as I can, but I can't get them all...
If you have a mini shop vac you can get an old attachment from a vacuum, drill a hole for the spindle & cut a slit in the side for sucking up the fluid from the record...line the slit with velvet or even felt works too. That's how I've cleaned all my records & haven't had any problems at all. Plus record gets dry immediately.
Good hack!
For moving records or books (which are likewise prohibitively heavy if you overdo it) I learned years ago to use doubled brown grocery bags. They're just the right size for not too many records and ideal for books because the loaded bundle can be easily wrapped closely around the books to make non-heavy, small packages that can easily be tucked into open corners in your load.
Brown grocery bags cheaper than boxes and not so easily overloaded.
I also use a much higher alcohol ratio in my cleaning solutions for quick drying.
Do they no longer sell those balance stylus scales? I've always thought of those as much cheaper and simpler than those digital ones you show. I've also considered them to be pretty much unnecessary after initial setup. See if your friend has one you can borrow.
Loved your previous video on clearing pots. Maybe one on sliders and push buttons?
I was hoping to one with sliders, but I don't really have any gear that has sliders... Push buttons is a good idea though.
Clening stulys then just dip it into blue tac. A proven way and it is also a tip from cartrige manufacturer Peter Ledermann (sound-smith).
Excellent suggestions .... The moongel is already in my amazon basket!
You can often find suppliers for eBay Chinese made kit in your locality if you hunt around enough. It might be a few more coins but it's often worth having the ability to easily return stuff if it's not up to scratch.
I'm not paid by Caig, either. Every audio fan ought to keep a can of D5 (for pots) and a can of F5 (for sliders) on hand at all times. The stuff works - PLAIN AND SIMPLE.
I'm going to order some of those Moongels (they're in my cart, but not yet available).
Hacks: Shop Craigslist for gear. Look for stuff WITHOUT pictures (many folks just gloss right over them) or misspellings of common names (Dennon, Pionerr. Oknyo, etc.) - they don't come up in brand searches.
The names for shelves - EXPEDIT and KALLAX (search Craigslist and FB Marketplace for those) - also search IKEA CUBBIES
Cheers, Frank.
Good hacks Paul. Thanks for sharing these.
Frank
Great tip i started using the kodak photo flo with my spin clean and the fluid makes the cleaning so easy
Glad to help.
Isn't 'jetdry' for dishwashers also a wetting agent ?
Hmmmm... not sure
i've heard of people using a couple drops of dish soap without issue as a wetting agent in home made record cleaning solution.
On AliExpress they also sell a ZeroDust knockoff, for around $11,- Same shape etc. I, once in a while, use one off those gel-like christmas decoration thingies than you stick on the window. In different shapes and colors. And they too can be cleaned with some soapy water. These things cost a buck, for about twenty of them. Buy one set, and you have enough for years to come. And that cartridge, i think, if you do a blind test (letting someone choose the one to play first, so not knowing which cartridge you hear) you will be amazed at how good it is, really.
Oh wow, I did not know about this. Great tip! Please send or post a link if you have one.
I just tried this...and it works!!! Thank you so much for that tip...
I love camelcamelcamel, I managed to buy a brand new Fluke 88 for under $250! (Granted I had to wait over a year and a half for it to drop that low)
And that Deoxit works on the old temperature control wheels that some European cars had in the 80s. My old Benz also has a front/rear fader dial in the center console and that needed Deoxit to fix the crackling.
Hi. Fantastic show. These tips are gold and I appreciate your wicked wisdom! \m/
Thank you!
I love buying second hand records and i have been very lucky in "op shops" which is i gather like your goodwill shops, i have been going to op shops every day for about 15 years and have scored many rarities, i run into people who say they have never got anything good in op shops, but good stuff goes real quick so you need to go everyday, the other week i found a sealed copy of The Meters, Struttin,fantastic early funk, but i have found dozens of great lps over the years
To do the best and the most proper alignment with a protractor.
There is a free download (that I don't remember where). That prints a arc protractor that you give first input the spindle to pivot point distance (then it will get you a customized for just YOUR TT. Then you chose what mathematical formula you want to use (Bergwall, Löfgren A/B..). I have studied graphs and concluded that Löfgren B have the least angel error over the longest travel from lead in to lead out on a record even better than the latest UNI-DIN calculation.
Then you use it and adjust so you hit both of those null points without turning the platter (yes it is little PITA).
But if you want to do it correctly there is no shortcuts..
Great video! For transporting records I still prefer to use liquor store 📦 boxes. The Uhaul boxes filled to capacity weigh a ton! Fine if you can dolly or hand truck them but taking them up a flight of stairs is too much for this old mans back! I’ve found the 1.75 liter boxes, generally vodka boxes Smirnoff, Svedka, Absolut are the perfect size for records. Other liquor boxes work just as well but may not be the right height. Plus the booze boxes are made better than the flimsy uhaul boxes with half the weight! And they’re FREE!! Thanks again for the video and please support local record stores!!
Hey Frank! I can do you one better on the boxes. If you have a good relationship with a record store or people who work in a record store ask them if they have any spare boxes. Pre Covid, record stores got weekly shipments from distributors. Find out which day the store gets their shipment and ask them to hold the boxes and come in either at the end of the business day or the next day. Now you are helping them out, recycling boxes and you have a box designed for your reords.
Another tip, get a box or two more than you need when you move. Trust me, you will need it. For tape get the package tap with the strings, these work far better than the clear tape. When not in use, break down your record boxes and find a good place to store them. You will thank your past self when you move the next time. Also keep up with your collection, if your collection grows by...say...160 records next time you move, get enough boxes while you collect these so you are never short.
Two more tips, Deoxit is great on guitar amplifieds and the guitar electronics. Last tip, if you are a guitar player, wardrobe boxes help moving guitars in cases and gig bags. Make sure you get a wardrobe box tall enough and make sure that you do not put anything of substantial weight on it. Mark the box with a G or a GU and no one will be none the wiser as you move your guitars. Also you may want to keep the wardrobe box to store your other boxes after the move 😉👍✨
These are all great. For the drying rack, I found a standing file folder from Office Depot that hold about a dozen pieces of vinyl. Costs about $10. For the protractor, it's VERY import not to use a generic one, b/c it's different for each turntable. A while back I found a small downloadable program (think it was originally built in a Microsoft Access DB) where you plugged in values/measurements from your specific TT and it created a printable protractor. I still have the program somewhere. I think I originally got the link from the Steve Hoffman site.
Each turntable I have bought the past 10 yrs had a protractor included.
Great tip on the Moongel. Thanks, you saved me some money as I was on the fence about the Onzow.
Great stuff. Thank you. Need to clean the pots on my receiver and now I know how.
good stuff to know...nice to share...peace my friend...rocky
Thanks for the video. DeoxIT is voodoo in a can - I use it on my audio setup, my musical equipment (great on electric guitars and amps), studio gear - any piece that uses pots
Voodoo in a can... good description!
These were some great tips, Frank. I'll be using some of them soon,
Glad it was helpful!
Here's my record cleaning solution. Everything's available on Amazon. If you can get a friend two go in with you the solution is very inexpensive. The wetting agent and preservative can be shared among several people.
Triton x-100 5 ml wetting agent
Isopropyl alcohol 99.9% 100 ml
Pura Cleen (quats) 8 ml preservative and antistat
Distilled water 887 ml
--pre dissolve Triton x-100 in isopropyl alcohol before adding to distilled water--
Same goes for noisy knobs/switches on electric guitars. I always thought I had a bad switch for switching pickups as it would pop and crackle. Nope...just spray some Deoxit in the pot and work the switch a little. Best $12 ever spent.
I may have mentioned this before, but if so it's still a good idea to remember. If one has a record that has become (or came) warped there is a simple hack to flatten it out. Get two panes of glass and sandwich the record between them (in it's protective inner sleeve of course). Then either set it out in the sun on a warm (not hot) day, or use a blow dryer to warm up the glass and the disc a bit (not too much). Let it sit for a day or two and the record should be flattened out.
Tom Furgas how many times have you done this? Have you ever damaged an album using this method?
@@blewharvest Three or four times, and it always worked. Never damaged a record by this method. As I say, the record should be in it's protective inner sleeve when placing it between the two panes of glass. I had one record that got severely warped because I accidentally left it in the car on a hot day (it was Yes's "Tales From Topographic Oceans") and I remembered reading about this method in a book about life hacks (they weren't called hacks at that time, just "helpful hints") and tried it. It worked and the records came out perfectly flat.
Thanks Mr. Landry. Great video and great content. Hope you and the family are doing well.
Thank you. All is well here (all things considered). Hope all is well with you too
Is this a recent channel?.. Very good content and very well "produced".. Defenetly deserves more subs and im sure they will come around... Ty very much for the tips and keep the good work man... 😊
Much appreciated!
Hey Frank, great episode man! Going to have to try out the Moon Gel pads. Have a great day man!
Thanks! You too!
Great video with some really nice hacks. I’m going to look into those dampening pads to use as a stylus cleaner. Thanks Frank!
Can you use that metal dish rack with other genres too? I just ordered some moongel thanks for the tip! Brilliant video Frank, your gear tip videos are my favourite.
LOL. Stay well my friend.
Thanks, I learned so much!
Glad it was helpful!
I clean my records with soap and water and it works just fine. I also use deoxit on my equipment. I use rubbing alcohol for cleaning my stylus I just pour some in the cap and i sit the stylus in it for a minute works perfectly.
great tips for me..new to the hobby
There's a brand on amazon called Kaiu that sells those gel stylus cleaners and it's only $15 and it comes in a nice case as well.
Thank you for sharing these cost-saving solutions. As of Christmas I am getting back into listening to vinyl records. I am seeing this can become a very expensive hobby! I find it foolish to attempt a champagne lifestyle on a beer budget, and that includes record accessories. My new Audio Technica AT-LPGO-BT (Walmart version of the AT-LP60XBT), includes that cartridge you named. I purchased a spare ATN3600L ($24.99 US), because it was available. What is the cheap way to deal with static?
Another great video Frank thank you for all the free advice! Peace
Hope all is well my friend
Saw the Photo Flo bottle and was immediately intrigued. I was going to watch anyway, but that definitely grabbed my attention (I use it nearly every day developing film). Awesome to know I can use it on my records, too.
make sure to highly dilute it with water and add one part 91% Isopropyl alcohol with just a little bit of photo flo makes a awesome record cleaner.the exact mixture can be found online.
how much should you use
I think the Thorens TAS-257 element is also the same as the AT 3600 L. I use it, and indeed a solid performer.
Good stuff. Thanks Frank!
The Audio Technica 3600L comes with a conical stylus. You can get an upgrade elliptical stylus that fits this cart from LP Gear for $40. This obviously negates some of the savings, but I have this setup and it's tough to hear a difference from my other turntable with a Shure M95HE.
Thanks for the great video. I will look into some of your tips
Great tips! I have used a homemade record cleaning solution like the one you showed. It did a really good job cleaning my records and it is really cheap.
Thanks Melinda! I hope all is well.
Superb video thank you for sharing.
Thanks for visiting
Thanks for this, Frank! Definitely some great tips for someone balling on a budget! All the best man!
Great tips keep em coming. I'm finally getting started on an actual music room move or reboot. Stay safe.
Some good tips and tricks Frank thanks for sharing
Thanx a lot!! I practice most of the tips you show us, except for the sticky gel I use a kind of paper glued to kill flies and insects and works cool
I love your KISS albums in the background! I'm jealous of that Originals II from Japan!
Thank you. It was a grail of mine!
Hi Frank. Great set of cheap tips. There seems to be always a cheap alternative. All the best. Cheers. /Paul
Outstanding tips, Frank. There's at least four things here I'm going to to try. Thanks for sharing this stuff.
This was budget brilliance! Great topic.
Genius tip on the Moongel drum head dampeners! I'll definitely give that a shot. Another good one that's even cheaper is Blue Tac. ;-) Cheers
Great tips, Frank! Thanks... I have a zerodust, but what you showed looks like a much better deal. My cleaner solution is very similar... 75% distilled water, 25% Isopropyl Alcohol and 10 drops of Photo-Flo. Keep on spinning!
Very nice tips, some stuff I definitely would use, thanks!
Great tips. Thanks.
Interesting video which was quick and to the point. I shall watch again and make some notes. Just the right time as I got a new amp last week and also bought a new needle and belt for my turntable. Happy with the amp and the needle which is a Audio Technica replacement due to Linn K5 Cartridges not being made anymore. Slightly disappointed with the belt. It makes an audible low noise on 33 and 45. Not too bad on 45, so I use my old belt for 33 and cos it slips on 45, I use the new one for 45. Nice to play 12" 45s again.
Does it oil film on belt
I also would like to have an update from your prospective on the onzow like products. Do they really leave residue on the stylus?
Lots of great info! Thanks Frank!!
Glad it was helpful!
I knew some of these points but there were still a lot of amazing ones I didn't know. I am going to try to use these.
I'm glad you found some stuff you could use in this vid.
Onzow is $80 on amazon.ca - that's ridiculous! Great video Frank!!! I just ordered the moongel pads ($9.89) and the neoteck force guage ($18.99) off amazon!!!
And I bought so many CDs from Columbia house and BMG back in the day! My friends and I would change around a couple of the letters in our names and sign up for multiple accounts. We called it,
milking the clubs. We never got in trouble, but I don’t think it was an ethical procedure.
Two other cheaper alternatives for the Onzow Zerodust are the Hudson HiFi and Audio Technica AT617 stylus cleaner gel, which are basically the same thing.
Instead of using a turntable speed app, you can also freely print out a strobe disc on paper and use a 50/60Hz lamp on it to check the speed.
The strobe disc is more accurate than the accelerometer in your smartphone, but you have to keep the proper size and aspect, just like the protractor.
As stylus tip cleaning liquid recommended by the famous cartridge craftsman Van den Hul is pure vodka, because pure vodka is alcohol that doesn't leave any residue and does not dissolve the glue of the stylus tip.
The Kodak wetting agent is a good one! I've never seen that before!
@Marten Dekker Sounds interesting, when I look it up, I only find what seems to be part of the full article; most of it is filled up with Lorem Ipsum crap... probably to prevent copryright issues.
thanks for the moon gel tip. no more Needle Dr huh, you reminded me i needed a new p mount for my 2nd table in the studio. Found an AT85EP for 20 bucks, figure that should do okey. thanks again
Glad you found some value in the vid. Moongel really does work.
How long do you let your records dry after cleaning?? I still clean mine with the good old RCA discwasher pad and the D4+ solution. And sometimes I'll play them right after a cleaning. I know it's probably not good for the needle but I've had good luck.
Frank ,Great stuff, can you advise link to the video on cleaning the pots! Many thanks ,Larry (BC)
Here you go!
th-cam.com/video/bKmqVBx9tsU/w-d-xo.html
Thanks a lot for the tips !!!!!
I use an Arm and Hammer magic eraser to clean my stylus...cheap and effective...happy Sunday Frank 🤘🏻
Great tips Frank!!!
Thanks for watching!
What about a REVOX B795 which a tracking weight of less that the tracking weight of a normal turntable, you might want to get the loan of a refrigerated transportation lorry.
Hey Frank, can you suggest a good pair of speaker stands? I have a pair of Sony bookshelf speakers. I have them paired with a pair of Sony tower speakers. The bookshelf's we're on an entertainment unit but we bought a 50" TV and I need to move them. Ideally I'd like them on stands right behind the towers. Much appreciated!
Hey Frank great job on doling out the advice you are always a pleasure to watch and listen to just a natural speaker,any ways thought of a couple tips as a viewer mentioned is there any way to remove scratches on a record well not really but maybe what they refer to is an audible pop or unpleasant sound from the scratch I find a toothpick the kind that are sharp on either end work great to fix a groove problem while using magnification from a jewlers loop or powerful magnifying glass and a bright flash light just very gently dig out the problem area but you must use extreme caution as too much force will further damage your record not a job for the faint of heart but it isn't doing the stylus any favors either in the records current state . Also another trick I use to control static build up is instead of a Milty Zero stat gun witch are expensive to buy I use a candle lighter or barbecue lighter the ones with a long barrel not all are effective as you need to find one with a strong electrical spark I just click it a few times around the record with the amplifier turned OFF and it really does reduce or remove the static Well that's about it.Happy to help and keep on doing what you love. Cheers.
Good hacks Matt. Thanks for for posting.
Frank
Hello Frank, in regard to the homemade cleaning solution, I was using a mix of distilled water, alcohol and a small amount of distilled white vinegar based on a formula I found on line. I like the idea of the wetting agent and have started looking for an outlet for the Kodak photo flo. I saw another formula which called for dish washing rinse aid products like Jet dry? Any pro's or cons to using rinse aid versus photo flo. Planning to switch up my mix and want to know which way would be best. thanks
Great video. Thanks!
Frank how do you feel about those vinyl collectors that say the Onzow Zero Dust and similar products leave a residue on the stylus? Is there any truth to that? Curious how you feel about it!
What happened to the brush that was mounted to the turntable for the stylus to cross and remove the dust?
I removed it. I still have it, and may put it back on there.
HACK 4. the protractors to my knowledge do not work for a straight arm under hang dj turntable. The second measurement closest to the spindle can never be measured due to the under hang. Unless you know different Frank? I am all ears. Cheers!
This, I am not sure about... I know there are different protractors
Very useful tips! Thanks Frank. You are miracle :)
Glad it was helpful!