Just tried graphene car finish detailer on some vinyl . This detailer has no solids, leaves a very low friction finish, and seems to reduce static, friction and tracing noise. In addition, the skating force seems to have decreased by approximately 2x. Anyone else try anything like this ?
Graphene or ceramic detailer preservative
- Thread starter Deaconblues
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Setup- Dual 1219, Shure v15 type iv, vn45MR stylus, Douk T4 preamp with tube headphone amplifier, Beyerdynamic DT990 pro 600 Ohm headphones.
No valuable pressings treated yet. Used 2nd hand pressings treated with Turtle Wax Graphene detailer after cleaning with Discwasher brush and distilled water, applied and buffed with same brush after cleaning. Old ABC and CBS pressings that were already pretty quiet after cleaning. But noticeable reduction in tracing noise and static. No reduction of high frequency definition (cymbals, snare, etc). Less anti-skate force needed, like with wet-play.
No valuable pressings treated yet. Used 2nd hand pressings treated with Turtle Wax Graphene detailer after cleaning with Discwasher brush and distilled water, applied and buffed with same brush after cleaning. Old ABC and CBS pressings that were already pretty quiet after cleaning. But noticeable reduction in tracing noise and static. No reduction of high frequency definition (cymbals, snare, etc). Less anti-skate force needed, like with wet-play.
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Interesting report.
Not entirely dissimilar from the L'Art du Son fluid which adds something to the record surface that reduces static. It contains lipophilic (fat soluable) chemicals in a proprietary mixture. I've heard reports that it reduces stylus friction but cannot confirm that.
Another one is Gruv Glide, which adds a thin layer of lubricant to the record's surface that reduces static and purportedly reduces stylus friction and thus stylus wear.
Then there is the LAST record preservative which embeds a multi-molecular layered coating onto the record that claims to strengthen the vinyl and reduce noise. I used this many years ago when it first came out and experienced no ill effects to the record.
Today I'm not inclined to add anything to my records.
Not entirely dissimilar from the L'Art du Son fluid which adds something to the record surface that reduces static. It contains lipophilic (fat soluable) chemicals in a proprietary mixture. I've heard reports that it reduces stylus friction but cannot confirm that.
Another one is Gruv Glide, which adds a thin layer of lubricant to the record's surface that reduces static and purportedly reduces stylus friction and thus stylus wear.
Then there is the LAST record preservative which embeds a multi-molecular layered coating onto the record that claims to strengthen the vinyl and reduce noise. I used this many years ago when it first came out and experienced no ill effects to the record.
Today I'm not inclined to add anything to my records.
A stylus I purchased was supposedly treated with LAST preservative before each playing. I found deposits on the cantilever that seem very difficult to remove. I'm not sure they are benign sonically.
Graphene is especially intriguing as a preservative coating. Graphene inherently forms an atomic monolayer that is exceptionally electrically conductive, with mechanically diamond-like hardness, and conforms exactly the surface being coated. At least, it seems to do no harm to playback fidelity, and the reduction in friction is clear.
FYI, according to this post, https://www.vinylengine.com/turntable_forum/viewtopic.php?p=549626#p549626
the active ingredients were cationic surfactants that would leave a residue that was very hygroscopic and absorb water forming an ionic solution that would neutralize static. However these catoonic surfactants can have limited capacity at low humidity <about 30%.
I say the ingredients past tense since the latest Gruv-glide may only be water and isopropyl alcohol which will wet the record enough to neutralize any surface static, but an antistatic residue coating is not left behind.
the active ingredients were cationic surfactants that would leave a residue that was very hygroscopic and absorb water forming an ionic solution that would neutralize static. However these catoonic surfactants can have limited capacity at low humidity <about 30%.
I say the ingredients past tense since the latest Gruv-glide may only be water and isopropyl alcohol which will wet the record enough to neutralize any surface static, but an antistatic residue coating is not left behind.
The more records I try with the graphene coating, the more I'm convinced that I need to reduce the antiskating force applied. Now at roughly 40% of the VTF using the calibration scale for elliptical styli. This seems to hold even for microline styli. It seems like this can only be a good thing.
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You mention physical treatment and consequences (reduced friction, lowered anti-skating force) of using the Turtle Wax Graphene on LPs. Wrt 'no harm to playback fidelity' would you share what is in the system you use for evaluating the treatment? Thanks.
Setup- Dual 1219, Shure v15 type iv, vn45MR stylus, Douk T4 preamp with tube headphone amplifier, Beyerdynamic DT990 pro 600 Ohm headphones. This isn’t my main system, it’s in a lab i set up for restoring audio equipment.
Thinking about trying a grooveless test record to quantify reduction in skating force with and w/o the surface treatment. Does anyone know where’s the best source for such a record?
Thinking about trying a grooveless test record to quantify reduction in skating force with and w/o the surface treatment. Does anyone know where’s the best source for such a record?
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