Another thing to watch out for, you ultra hi-end types who use the VPI machine:
It seems that a lot of people like to use a cork platter mat on their VPI unit. I noticed that after loaning my 45s to Ned for dubbing to disc, I found a mystery stain on some of the 45s, a mottled impression, like streaks in the wax. How could that be, since the 45 was professionally cleaned? Why would there now be marks in the record - usually found at the inner edge in my case.
After trying to find an answer (was it the cleaning solution itself?), I did read a complaint on line about the cork mat getting too hot when using the VPI machine constantly. Evidently it does not allow the heat to vent away from the platter - it traps it, thus causing the mat to heat up. Evidently, the impression from the cork mat 'burns' into the wax. And no amount cleaning will remove it. It hasn't affected the sound quality, thankfully.
Just wanted to point that out, and offer the notion that sometimes going too 'anal' with the cleaning methods can cause unwanted / undesired results.
I still clean the old fashioned way - distilled warm water, a very tiny amount of dishwasher liquid soap, and a dual dry on a lint free mat and towel. I'm sure you can hear a difference between the manual method and the VPI if you have a $20K sound set up to playback the results. But for me, a man of mediocre means, I hear no difference.
I also bought a few 45s from a guy in Europe that auctioned off his garage 45 collection...I think it was about 10 years ago, i recall the auction closed on New Years Day or Eve. anyway, when the 45s arrived, they were clean, but I noticed some sort of substance in the trail-off area of the groove, like a white-ish color. I realized that this guy must have used the glue method of cleaning- he wasn't able to get the entire disc clean or was lazy near the label edge. Jeez. Between this crap, and guys who sell 45s that have been cleaning with alcohol/ glass cleaner and buffed with shoe polish, you really wish ebay sellers and kno-nuthin record pimps would just leave these discs dirty / uncleaned.
