Is anyone using HFE solvent (Freon replacement) to clean records?

How would you use it?

in a sink with gloves.
It's actually pretty safe.
It's used to clean aviation quality oxygen components and near zero residue

Edited January 19, 20206 yr by Peter-E

I'd be thinking that the time-tested formula of distilled water, 10% isopropol alcohol (omit if used for 78s), and a couple of drops of mild detergent as a wetting agent works fine.  Google for the many slight variants of these ingredients and proportions.  No need to experiment with other substances, IMHO (unless you need special variants for particular types of dirt). 

40 minutes ago, audiofeline said:

I'd be thinking that the time-tested formula of distilled water, 10% isopropol alcohol (omit if used for 78s), and a couple of drops of mild detergent as a wetting agent works fine.  Google for the many slight variants of these ingredients and proportions.  No need to experiment with other substances, IMHO (unless you need special variants for particular types of dirt). 

Have 1 gallon of IPA sitting around too.
Thanks

14 hours ago, Peter-E said:

Is anyone using HFE solvent (Freon replacement) to clean records?

Try it out on a trashed record you can't clean any other way. It may be a god send or the most destructive thing you've ever done. Only one way to find out...

1 hour ago, t_mike said:

Try it out on a trashed record you can't clean any other way. It may be a god send or the most destructive thing you've ever done. Only one way to find out...

I have few old 45s that are not worth keeping. I'll give it a go

Clean one half of the disk with the HFE and the other half with water/detergent mix.  If there is a difference it should be heard as the needle passes in grooves positioned on one half or the other.

On 20/01/2020 at 10:28 AM, audiofeline said:

I'd be thinking that the time-tested formula of distilled water, 10% isopropol alcohol (omit if used for 78s), and a couple of drops of mild detergent as a wetting agent works fine.  Google for the many slight variants of these ingredients and proportions.  No need to experiment with other substances, IMHO (unless you need special variants for particular types of dirt). 

Stuck to this method. Works a treat

I tried the HFE today. It's the freon replacement. So far results were good. It would be great in one of those rotating baths. From a spray bottle it evaporates very quickly but removes finger prints fast with no residue

1 hour ago, Peter-E said:

I tried the HFE today. It's the freon replacement. So far results were good. It would be great in one of those rotating baths. From a spray bottle it evaporates very quickly but removes finger prints fast with no residue

 

What did you do with the HFE?  Simply spray it on ... then wipe it off?

 

If so - what did you use to wipe it off?

 

Andy

 

Whatever substances you use to clean vinyl, I always finish with a distilled water cycle (Moth RCM 2) to remove any trace of the chemicals used to clean the vinyl.

12 minutes ago, Southerly said:

Whatever substances you use to clean vinyl, I always finish with a distilled water cycle (Moth RCM 2) to remove any trace of the chemicals used to clean the vinyl.

HFE is used in aviation industry to clean oxygen equipment. Near zero residue as oxy gear has to be super clean

1 hour ago, andyr said:

 

What did you do with the HFE?  Simply spray it on ... then wipe it off?

 

If so - what did you use to wipe it off?

 

Andy

 

 

I just used a microfibre cloth. It evaporates almost instantly.

10 hours ago, Peter-E said:

I just used a microfibre cloth. It evaporates almost instantly.

 

Peter, "cleaning" a record - to me - is about getting the gunk out of the grooves (so there's nothing to impede the progress of the stylus) ... not taking it off the surface of the LP (where the stylus doesn't travel).

 

I can't see how wiping with a cloth gets down into the grooves.

 

Andy

 

13 hours ago, andyr said:

 

Peter, "cleaning" a record - to me - is about getting the gunk out of the grooves (so there's nothing to impede the progress of the stylus) ... not taking it off the surface of the LP (where the stylus doesn't travel).

 

I can't see how wiping with a cloth gets down into the grooves.

 

Andy

 

ATM that's the best I have. If I had a record cleaning bath I'd use HFE in that.
Oxy equipment is required to be extremely clean. That is no oils, no particulates. HFE is the best for doing that. Typically it's used in a ultrasonic bath but I haven't one that big