Resurfacing Records to Sound New Again
496,229
Published 2012-03-22
Today's needles record cleaning brushes go deep into the record's groove, allowing your stylus to pick up every nuance of the original sound. Trouble is, old Goodwill store records are covered in gunk, gouges and scratches. Thus, hiding the music behind a curtain of noise. Deep cleaning is essential and new tools exist that can do that safely and inexpensively. But the scratches and gouges on that $1 yard sale treasure you just picked up will still tick away 33 1/3 times a minute, no matter how well it's cleaned.
So fasten your seat belts and learn how to erase those aggravations. The resurfacing and cleaning tools I use are unconventional and audiophile terrifying, but they're safe, inexpensive and easy to get.
FYI: Vinyl is used in a lot of everyday things. It's so tough, trash cans, fences and siding for homes are made from it. Dichloromethane, Methylethylkeytone and Touluene are the only known chemicals that can hurt it. So unless vinyl cement and paint stripper are on your record cleaning list, I wouldn't let anyone using 1960's rules distract you. Technology and creative thought have addressed all their concerns... As you will see.
Thanks to Stacy Holt, one more chemical that's not good for vinyl has been brought to my attention... Diethyl-meta-toluamide, more commonly known as "Deet", used in insect repellants. I should have known this, having ruined an expensive pair of binoculars while sailing. Thanks Stacy.
All Comments (21)
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im always blown away when people take the time to make a video to help others and so many people feel comfortable being rude to him and coming of so arrogant and wise. easily done sitting behind a computer. give the guy a break he is brave enough to step up to the challenge.
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One thing that wasn't mentioned is fixing a record that jumps grooves because of a deep scratch. If you obtain a high magnification loupe (photographic), at least 8-10x, you can see the offending scratch, and judge which way the scratch is angling across the grooves. Using a sewing needle at a roughly 45 degree angle, gently press into the groove and rotate the platter in the opposite direction of record rotation so the needle moves across the scratch. Several passes will be required. Test after each time to see if the stylus still jumps. I've fixed many charity shop gems this way. Then using the fine sandpaper as above to remove the tick should do it. Thanks for the vid.
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It was a trashed record that Bruce took the time to show us a method he used to fix the issues. Bravo to you sir! I don’t understand why people feel the need to be rude or hate on a service you just provided that I find fascinating. You did what many are too afraid to do and I commend you for it. Thank you!
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guys stop hating on him all he is doing is trying is trying to give a ruined record one last shot at life this is obviously not a tutorial on how to treat your record collection you should stop judging it that way
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Wow, watched the whole video spellbound (cringing at moments) but I have to admit that it sure resulted in one quiet record. Hats off to you for your courage in experimenting with this technique, because I doubt I would have had the guts to work this out myself.
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Whatever works for you I say, I remember washing dirty records in the kitchen sink with a little washing up liquid and warm water. They came out clean and ready for another party ! I still play those old records today and they sound great.
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Wow I am so glad I found this post. I have my dad's record collection which hold incredible sentimental value. As a child I am sure I was responsible for causing some of those scratches 🙄 I look forward to trying out your methods to make them playable once more...cheers!
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Thank you Danny... You're the first person to endorse this technique first hand. Most are too skeptical and nervous (who wouldn't be) to actually take something that's destructive and use it on a treasured record. Thank you for the courage to use it, and thank you again for posting your results.
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So..aged 40 and this happens the first ever vinyl record I've bought. After watching this video last night and hearing Just A Gigolo for the first time I couldn't get that stunning first 30 seconds or so out of my head..so today I purchased myself a Dutch mono copy in outstanding condition on ebay. I can't wait for it to arrive so I can play it to death! Lost my old man last year and inherited a Technics SL 1800 Mk2 along with a gorgeous prog rock/soul record collection. Had the turntable restored and I think this will be the perfect record to christen it with. Think I may have got the bug..here goes any hope of future savings for retirement (though I'd take poverty any day as long as I have music like this!)
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I was really surprised about the sandpaper, but then I realized what you were up to and it made sense. Regardless, everything really did seem to improve the condition until it sounded almost perfect. Truly remarkable, it's a shame that very few people stuck around after the sandpaper to see what actually happened.
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6,000 views and you're the ONLY one to pick this up... You are truly awesome. Thanks, Chadergeist.
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Definitely sounds better than before. Great tip!
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Well what can I say, you can't argue with the results, it sounded way better!!! Funny reading all the comments! People freaking out over your process. I must be honest though when you busted out the sand paper and Goo Gone I was like WTF!!! but I sat through the whole video because I just had to hear the results and it sounded great! What ever works for you! You worked out that scratch and the record sounded good!!! People can be so mean btw!! Take care bro!!
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I thought I was the only person in the world to have that little anvil. I put it in my lunch box one day when I went to work and complained to the guys that my lunch box felt like it had an anvil in it. I then took it out and the guys laughed at it.
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This was fantastic to watch. Thanks for taking the time and effort!
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Bravo!!! 👏😀 You have inspired me to restore vinyl records. I purchased a National Panasonic SG-3060L, which I am repairing. The backlight for the radio tuner display is not lighting up, and the cassette deck is seized up. That's really minor; because the system is in absolute pristine condition. A brown tag on the system, indicates that it was kept in a stock room for the last twenty five years. What a find!! 😀👍 Your technique for restoring the sound quality, and fidelity, of vinyl records is so superior that I'm sharing it with a major YouTuber; he goes by the name of Technomoan. Very Best Regards, Simon
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I never thought about using a lint remover roller but will definitely try it on the next dirty record! Thanks for the hints and work you went through to educate people on saving our vinyls!
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Surprising. I thought the polishing compound would ruin the record but the treatment sounds like it worked. Anything that saves a record from being thrown out is worth a shot.
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It is the most incredible method I have ever seen to fix an LP. I was able to make my Iron Bitterfly album, which was literally a mess, look like new. And now it's like it came from the factory, I owe you my life brother
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Well done, and well presented; I enjoyed it very much. I've done a lot of spraying and then detailing of auto finishes and am pleased as punch to find that I'm already holding a lot of knowledge for this job thanks to you.
