PHOTOFLOW MIX RATIO FULL

On the Photo-Flo not being recommended, I think there was some discussion a while ago that this meant it hadn't been tested for vinyl LPs by the manufacturer, rather than that it was 'bad' for the records.Ĭlick to expand.It's a generalization perhaps (I'm in full agreement with your statement above) but I would say that there are many people who have tried the DIY route with respect to record cleaning fluids and then further experimented with commercial offerings who have found the DIY to be sorely lacking. I don't think the alcohol is a big deal if you get it on and off the record pretty quickly (for vinyl, not shellac or laminates). One archivist I know uses Photo-Flo and he is dealing with some serious old records. But, on occasion, I still find some pretty grotty old records that need additional work, multiple cleans using different fluids/methods. With a point nozzle vacuum machine, like the Monks, I've found that the fluid seems to matter less. I'm pretty agnostic when it comes to fluids and methods- I use a variety. And, for that reason, go for an additional rinse step of 'pure' water (whatever grade you are comfortable paying for) as additional insurance that the fluid/contaminant residue has been effectively removed. I think the real punchline here is getting whatever fluid you use- whether home brew or commercial- offthe record once the fluid has done its job. However I have used Photo-Flo in homebrew record cleaning solutions with alcohol and water, followed by a vacuum drying, water rinse, and another vacuum drying, and I personally don't hear any audible problems with residue. Whether it's more or less the case with Photo-Flo vs something like Tergitol, which is the surfactant the Library of Congress apparently uses in its record cleaning solution, is a question for a chemist, which I am definitely NOT. Whether or not the PG leaves a film behind that can't be rinsed off (and I think rinsing after cleaning with a fluid that has surfactants is probably a good idea), I dunno, maybe. Perhaps worth a shot.Īs to Photo-flo, it's 60 - 70% water, 25-30 % polypropylene glycol and 5 to 10 % p - tert - octylphenoxy polyethoxyethyl alcohol, according to its MSDS and used in a record cleaning solution at an extreme dilution, so you have almost just trace amoungs of PG and the alcohol in the final record cleaning substance. Stylast stylus treatment, also from Last, does claim to reduce friction, but I haven't tried it in years. Last Record Preservative, which doesn't claim to reduce friction, does seem to clean up high end into (it claims to reduce IMD), doesn't leave behind any kind of visible residue on the stylus and is very easy to apply. But I have yet to find a lubricating substance that doesn't have other problems such as leaving behind a residue that cakes a stylus or real challenges with application, etc. Well, lubrication that reduces stylus/groove friction definitely reduces the artifacts of stylus/groove friction - random pops and certain kinds of mechanical noise.

Photoflow mix ratio