Knosti disco antistat - lowish quality but top results

by **minwah** » 25 Feb 2011 11:56

minwah wrote:I have cut up a rubber glove and stuck onto the clamps (completely covering the inside)...I'm not sure this will stop the fluid 100% but it will almost certainly help. I haven't tried it yet though...

Tried this last night...probably helped slightly but not much. One advantage is that the rubber in contact with the record is smoother so it doesn't 'cut' into the label like the bare clamp sometimes does. However it also grips the record better so makes removing the clamp harder.

by **minwah** » 25 Feb 2011 11:58

leepal wrote:I just ordered one of these so I'll see how the supplied fluid works, if I have problems (as some people seem to) I'll make up a cleaning solution. Presumably distilled water and isopropyl alcohol is what to use?

Yes most people use that...~80% distilled water, ~20% alcohol. Some people also add a few drops of photographic wetting agent. I haven't mixed my own fluid yet but am planning to do so soon...there are lots of threads about it if you want more info try a search.

by **kelvinMunson** » 25 Feb 2011 12:26

minwah wrote:Tried this last night...probably helped slightly but not much. One advantage is that the rubber in contact with the record is smoother so it doesn't 'cut' into the label like the bare clamp sometimes does. However it also grips the record better so makes removing the clamp harder.

I have cleaned hundreds of LPs with the Knosti and never had a label damaged by the cleaning solution (80/20 water/Isoprop) nor have I ever 'cut into' a label......... you must be screwing up the clamp extremely tightly ?

by **kelvinMunson** » 25 Feb 2011 12:29

leepal wrote:I just ordered one of these so I'll see how the supplied fluid works, if I have problems (as some people seem to) I'll make up a cleaning solution. Presumably distilled water and isopropyl alcohol is what to use?

I have cleaned several hundred LPs with the Knosti; I have never used the supplied cleaning material, after reading about the problems others have had with residue. I simply use a mixture of distilled water and isopropyl alcohol (80/20) to wash and then carry out a rinse in the Knosti with distilled water.

by **leepal** » 25 Feb 2011 12:49

kelvinMunson wrote:
leepal wrote:I just ordered one of these so I'll see how the supplied fluid works, if I have problems (as some people seem to) I'll make up a cleaning solution. Presumably distilled water and isopropyl alcohol is what to use?

I have cleaned several hundred LPs with the Knosti; I have never used the supplied cleaning material, after reading about the problems others have had with residue. I simply use a mixture of distilled water and isopropyl alcohol (80/20) to wash and then carry out a rinse in the Knosti with distilled water.

Thanks....probably a daft question but where can I buy distilled water and isopropyl at a reasonable price?

by **kelvinMunson** » 25 Feb 2011 13:18

Probably the cheapest place to buy Isoprop online is Biostain, who also sell through ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... K:MEWAX:IT

They will supply in any quantity you like, large or small; I usually buy 5 litres at a time, which costs me £18 including delivery.

Distilled water can be bought from most supermarkets.......... last time I bought it from Tesco; who sell it at 2.5 litres for just over £1.
Again you can buy it more cheaply if you go elsewhere for larger qtys.

by **minwah** » 25 Feb 2011 14:11

kelvinMunson wrote:I have cleaned hundreds of LPs with the Knosti and never had a label damaged by the cleaning solution (80/20 water/Isoprop) nor have I ever 'cut into' a label......... you must be screwing up the clamp extremely tightly ?

No not extremely tight...but the inside edge of the clamp on mine is quite sharp. Depending on the material of the label, I have had one or two get slightly marked. 'Cut' might be the wrong word, scratched or grazed is probably a better word. From memory the one this happened to was a 60's LP with a 'rough' paper label, as opposed to a smooth almost shiny label a lot of records have.

That said, generally the labels are absolutely fine even after getting slightly wet. The only other problem I have had is that on one record, the fluid seemed to dissolve part of the print...it seemed almost like it was paint. This record was an early 60's one.

To put in perspective I have cleaned 65 records and have only had these 2 or 3 problems.

by **leepal** » 25 Feb 2011 14:19

Is isopropyl not available in the shops? I couldn't find any in B&Q, they sold distilled water but in fairly small amounts.

by **minwah** » 25 Feb 2011 14:22

I just thought I would add a few tips I have found (probably nothing new):

I use two of the Knosti 'baths'...the first for cleaning fluid, and the second for distilled water. This way I can give the record a good rinse.

The brushes in my Knosti are white which is good for keeping an eye on the fluid (both cleaning and water) to see when it starts to get cloudy...I use this as a gauge for when to change the fluid.

I use a couple of paper coffee filters as well as the filter in the Knosti 'funnel' for filtering fluid. This seems to work pretty well and I can get a bit more life out of the fluid.

A nice bright spotlight is a good tool for inspecting before and after cleaning. I've got some records which I thought were very good under normal lighting, but look filthy under a halogen spotlight I was recently given. It also shows up light scratches which are not always visible.

by **minwah** » 25 Feb 2011 14:24

leepal wrote:Is isopropyl not available in the shops? I couldn't find any in B&Q, they sold distilled water but in fairly small amounts.

Not sure if any shops sell Isopropyl, but Robert Dyas sells distilled (de-ionised) water in 5 litre tubs for £3.99.

by **kelvinMunson** » 25 Feb 2011 15:19

No-one stocks isopropyl anymore.......... due to various regulations; you can purchase through a dispensing chemist but you would normally have to pre-order it.

by **tommy6206** » 25 Feb 2011 15:36

try your local Maplins or online

by **kelvinMunson** » 25 Feb 2011 16:59

Been through Maplins etc............ they will only sell you a very expensive aerosol can

by **kelvinMunson** » 25 Feb 2011 17:01

tommy6206 wrote:try your local Maplins or online

Online suggestion was made in an earlier response

Probably the cheapest place to buy Isoprop online is Biostain, who also sell through ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayI.....K:MEWAX:IT

They will supply in any quantity you like, large or small; I usually buy 5 litres at a time, which costs me £18 including delivery.