Vinyl Asylum Welcome Licorice Pizza (LP) lovers! Setup guides and Vinyl FAQ.

---

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] Thread: [ Display  All  Email ] [ Vinyl Asylum ] [ Return to Search Results ]

---

[ Alert Moderator ]

---

The Microfiber Miracle

Posted by mr.bear (A) on March 31, 2017 at 12:00:32

In Reply to: Record cleaning fluid controversies posted by magiccarpetride on March 30, 2017 at 10:33:52:

Microfiber Cloths are very important for record cleaning IMO. Here's some fascinating information on Microfiber from a firm that sells little knives- **VERY** little knives, the size used to cut DNA apart - Structure Probe Incorporatee (2spi.com).

SPI sez microfiber cloths leave NO RESIDUE WHATSOEVR under an electron microscope: "The concept of a microfiber cloth is nothing short of revolutionary, and in many respects, for scientific and technical "wiping." Their structure is described as having filaments made up of a unique fluted core of nylon with wedge-shaped (or pie-shaped, depending on your perspective) polyester fitting into the "flutes" of the core nylon. Both types of fibers will attract water as well as oil and the relative sharp edges of the pie-shaped filaments literally "cut" through stains on a surface, with the stain and other particles being drawn into the crevices of the structure of the cloth. Conventional fabrics leave the particles adhering to their outside surfaces, allowing them to scratch and harm delicate surfaces but with the microfiber construction, the "dirt" particles are literally drawn inside the texture of the cloth, and keeping them from causing harm to the surface.

"Microfiber cloths are a combination of polyester - usually 80-85% - with the balance being polyamide (e.g. Nylon). Two things distinguish microfiber from more conventional wiping materials: a) The individual fibers making up the fabric are much thinner, only 1/100 the diameter of a human hair and b) The cross-sectional shape of the microfiber is more triangular or wedge shaped, rather than being round or oval. This unique combination of fiber diameter and fiber cross-section can be used either wet or dry, and can be used for applications ranging from high tech precision surfaces to microscope lenses or eye glasses."

It goes on to mention that under an electron microscope, surfaces wiped with microfiber cloth and IPA leave no residue whatsoever. It is possible just wiping with microfiber cloth completely eliminates bacteria on nonporous surfaces.)

Good enough for my rekkids, guys. Incidentally, SPI uses Triton to clean the teenie-tiny knives before they cut apart DNA: "A 0.08% solution is prepared using filtered deionized and distilled water. It is used at this concentration as an aid for the cleaning of diamond knives and making certain microbiological preparations. ...used at the lowest possible concentration, [it does] not to contaminate the specimen..." [In my homebrew cleaner 10 drops/liter (one drop = 1/480 fl. ounce) used in home-brew record cleaning solution is approximately 0.06% solution']

Note that washing and drying Microfiber cloths I believe kills the aforementioned magic action. It still looks like a fluffy Microfiber cloth but its just a rag, best relegated to wiping the cat's paws...

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

---

[ Top of Page ] [ Contact Us ] [ Support/Wish List ] [ Copyright © 2024, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]

---

[ General ] [ Speakers ] [ Tubes ] [ Vinyl ] [ Digital ] [ Hi-Rez ] [ Video Asylum ] [ Cables ] [ Tweaks/DIY ] [ Music ] [ Films ]

---