ScottW wrote:
I got the disc doctor kit some time back and spent time diligently
cleaning about a half dozen old albums that were noisy.... improvements
were little to none IMO and hardly worth the effort.

I'm not sure if Scott's post is the start of a serious discussion of LP
care or some kind of bait. Anyway, I'll bite and hopefully won't awaken
the r.a.o. howling monkeys.

Since the stylus contacts the vinyl with fairly high pressure any
contamination that causes audible noise is either embedded in the vinyl
groove or strongly adheres. Otherwise the stylus will just sweep it out
of the way or collect in a little ball where the tip and cantilever
meet. At any rate any kind of dry brush or other means to collect the
loose debris is not going to make a substantial difference in surface
noise. In my experience that includes using the Diskwasher with the
recommended 3 drops of fluid. Particles that will not yield under the
high pressure of the stylus are certainly not going to budge with brush
bristles. Collecting the loose dust is however is useful to prevent
grunge buildup on the stylus and cantilever.

A foreign particle embedded in the groove generally causes permanent
damage. If it is somehow dislodged then the groove is left with a
dimple which will make a less drastic "tick" so there can be some
improvement.

There is no hope for gritty recycled vinyl. The worst I've encountered
is pressings by Atlantic Records from he 70's.

Some contamination consists of material that only adhheres to the
groove and can be removed by chemical means. For mild cases I run a
thin stripe of fluid across the leading edge of the Diskwasher. Sweep
the record a few turns wet then use the dry part of the brush to gather
up the remaining liquid. I periodically clean the brush with a cotton
ball and 91% isopropyl alcohol (never put alcohol on a record!). For
tougher cases I prepare a dilute mixture of glycerin (in the form of
"Photo-Flo" used for developing film) and distilled water. I wet the
record thoroughly, wipe along the grooves with a cotton ball than rinse
with distilled water.

TB