My method for getting the best out of worn vinyl.

Sadly, sometimes a recording can only be found on worn records.

Worn records sound the best if the part of the grooves that is worn
by previous playing is partly skipped, and the unplayed part is read more.
How do you do that when using/trying different stylus shapes
to track the lesser worn part doesn't help enough?
There are many programs to reduce plops & ticks and constant hiss,
but non to lesser spread crackles or the distorted sound worn records give.

How is it done?:

It's done by playing the record underwater.
Not completely underwater, only partly, but
more wet, like is the case using the old Lenco Clean method,
something quite like it is sold as: Analogis Clean. Google it if needed.
Both brands come with liquids that leaves a residue, the Lenco version for sure,
making you have it play it again and again this way, at last the residue don't
dissolves completely enough. I only tried Lenco Clean without its brand liquid
but a home-made mix of 1/8 of 96% isopropyl alcohol & 7/8 distilled water,
I found its result unsatisfactory. The groove is cleaned well while being played
but that's all.

I developed a better version myself in the mid 70s
to improve the sound of rare records I couldn't get better copies of.
I love the pristine sound of CDs more, but also I like to help and share my method here,
If this is not a Vinyl Hospital story, what is?! (-;

We are going to create a water bubble between the record surface
and the bottom of your cartridge. My moving coil cartridge was not affected by
this or get shortcut. Don't know if a moving magnet can be affected by water.
Afterwards, just remove the needle/cantilever block from its cartridge and
blow both parts dry with a (camera) lens blower.
The needle will 'sail' through the groove in the bubble with a tiny layer
of water between needle & groove and this 'oils' and lifts the needle
tracking the unaffected walls of the groove and ploughs away easily
any dust now floating in water.

The result is a vast reducing of plops & ticks, but most notable crackles
and distortion and tracking noise!

In getting a constant water bubble in-between,
the record has to be cleaned from any grease first, because, with grease,
the water will roll of you rotating record and drip-splash on your turntable
chassis and maybe meet electric parts! Dangerous!
I cello taped every seam and keep tissue at hand for prompt drying.

First clean the record by washing it carefully by hand
(with shortcut & filed nails) like doing the dishes, just-cold water
and using a degreasing hand dishwashing fluid.

Look out for dis-colourisation of the labels, try to keep those dry,
especially red and orange fade easily. Also, water can bobble
parts of the paper label that's not firmly pressed onto the vinyl.

Don't use a brush, just hold your wet & soap sprinkled record
between your thumb (under) and your index finger (on top).
Now gently rotate the record with your other hand also between
your thumb & finger, feel as light as possible with your index finger(s)
were the dirt is. Don't push the grains if you feel such,
but use a lot of soapy water to soak and flush those away without scratching
the groove. Turn over and do the B-side. Rinse completely clean under the tap.
See to it that no hard objects, but a rubber mat is in the sink in case
the record slips out from your hands. Or better before you start
place a big towel over the kitchen counter and work above this.
If you were just cleaning the record, you must now as fast as possible
start drying it with a very soft clean cotton towel before
chalk in the water can settle down in the groove.

But in this case, we place it directly wet on the turntable.
We start spinning at 33 1/3 r.p.m. and keep water and a tablespoon at hand.
You drop the needle and, through cohesion (the intermolecular attraction
between like-molecules) the water will create a bubble between the record
surface and the bottom of your cartridge. Inside this bubble your needle
plays your record, producing a much lesser worn sound!
If no full bubble is created or the water runs of your rotating record pour some
water (from your spoon at hand) on the tacking area and start over.
Keep an eye on that the whole side! And repeat if necessary!
Because when the bubble is gone, the bad sound will be back almost instantly!

This is all quite a hassle and needs some practice with a useless record first.
But is a great way to let that rare but lousy-cared-for record sound much better.
Of course, you are not going to play that record this cumbersome way every time,
but only once to record it while playing, so one can play that
better sounding recording easily again and again.

Try it and you will be astounded.

For ultimate result you will have to tweak your anti-skating
setting a bit for wet instead of dry playing.
My old Thorens TD160 has a anti-skating scale for spherical (round)
or elliptical needles combined with dry or wet or playing combinations.
(Shibata or van der Hull tip is not given but tweaked as elliptical).
Google a picture of this scale, to figure out by yourself,
your temporary anti-skating (wet) setting. (tags:
Thorens TD 160 anti-skating spherical elliptical dry wet)

The end.
Thanks for reading this load. (-;

Last edit: typos corrected.

Interesting idea.

This is an old radio trick.

moonhazle
Thanks for reading this load. (-;

I assume that you would want to have a separate turntable for this, right? Not your regular turntable that you play good records on?

I’ve been told that if you do this, that the record will always play very noisy after this. Maybe even noisier than when you played it before doing this? Would you have to always play it wet after this?

I guess that’s no big deal if it’s already shot. And it would be good for getting one last good recording of whatever it is.

I read about an archive that uses a method similar to this to capture one last recording of an almost completely trashed record. I believe they have their own solution which they use.

I also saw a YouTube video of this fellow who uses WD-40! (motor oil). It did seem to improve the sound, but that’s pretty drastic!

Hi DarkSoda,

I used my old Thorens TD 160 with AT 155LC for this.
I know this turntable well and screwed it open
and knows where the electrical parts are situated.

Of course I needed a perfect turntable for this job,
after all I wanted 'the best' possible result for recording.
The Audio Technica 155LC gives a very neutral, detailed, dynamic sound.
The Thorens TD 160 still does his job great (bought in 1976!).

Electrolytically obtained water can be bough or distilled water,
it contains no chalk or other elements and does not leave any residue.
The records won't sound worse when you play them dry afterwards.

I will never use WD-40, [only specially developed for vinyl WD-33 & WD-45 ((- :]
I don't know what the WD-40 chemistry setting does to vinyl and needle...
but there are studios that have processed their Master Tapes with fish oil
and with amazing results (The Beau Brummels' Autumn Records), it gave it a
smoother surface, remedied wear and gave a better magnetic head .

Hope this answers your question, you're welcome.

Next thread: How to clean vinyl and needle from WD-40? (-:

moonhazle
Next thread: How to clean vinyl and needle from WD-40? (-:

Here’s the video link...

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=o2s-Sis0T80

Hi DarkSoda
The video shows putting WD-40 on vinyl, with great results,
but it doesn't show what I meant as next thread with a smiley:
Removing WD-40 from vinyl and your needle once you have
put it on.vinyl if you don't trust to leave it on.

This 'floating' needle method is something I had considered for some completely shot discs I have. I will give it a go.
Also going to look into WD33 and WD45 - oh, wait, 33, 45 LOL. You nearly had me there Moonhazle.

Hi Recaster_Discs
If I can be of any help about this method, let me know.