Having used a Keith Monks RCM for many years I have used the Industrial Methylated Spirit/deionised water mix recommended by Keith himself. I have tried a number of other proprietary cleaning fluids but have never found anything as good as the alcohol mix. I have given it to some friends to try and they're all coverts. The problem is that the IMS is difficult to obtain unless you're in a profession that uses it (me) or you have a licence from HM Customs & Excise.
When I was in B&Q I noticed Bio Ethanol for sale. It's denatured 95% ethanol (as is IMS) and I can see no reason why this shouldn't be a good substitute. I have looked on the Internet for it's composition and it appears to have the same additives (to make it unpalatable). I've done an evaporation test with IMS as a control by leaving a drop of both to evaporate on a glass surface (Fraim glass) and there are no crystalline residues.
I have also cleaned a second hand record I bought from the market today with one side cleaned with the IMS mix and the other side cleaned with the Bio Ethanol mix. There is no discernible difference in the physical nature of the liquid on the record ( the way it spreads on the surface) or in SQ between the two sides.
I will clean a few more LPs in due course and post the results. This could be an excellent and more easily obtained alternative to IMS and other propriety cleaning solutions. It can be used with any suction RCM. It's also cheaper than IMS at £5 for 2 litres.
Steve
When I was in B&Q I noticed Bio Ethanol for sale. It's denatured 95% ethanol (as is IMS) and I can see no reason why this shouldn't be a good substitute. I have looked on the Internet for it's composition and it appears to have the same additives (to make it unpalatable). I've done an evaporation test with IMS as a control by leaving a drop of both to evaporate on a glass surface (Fraim glass) and there are no crystalline residues.
I have also cleaned a second hand record I bought from the market today with one side cleaned with the IMS mix and the other side cleaned with the Bio Ethanol mix. There is no discernible difference in the physical nature of the liquid on the record ( the way it spreads on the surface) or in SQ between the two sides.
I will clean a few more LPs in due course and post the results. This could be an excellent and more easily obtained alternative to IMS and other propriety cleaning solutions. It can be used with any suction RCM. It's also cheaper than IMS at £5 for 2 litres.
Steve