Cleaning my Galibier, what's best to use?

[Dan_ed]

Hi all,

I'm starting this thread to capture the best ways folks might suggest to keep the Galibier clean, especially the graphite platter surface. I mentioned over on A'gon that I made the mistake once of using straight Simple Green on the platter surface and caused a bit of discoloration in one spot. So now I've limited my TT cleaning solutions to non-streak Windex. What do others use?

Thanks,

Dan

[palasr]

Hi Dan,

I use the microfiber cleaning cloth with a little purified water - scrub with light to moderate pressure and it seems to remove most icky things like fingerprints, record spuck and the like. I haven't tried any other type of solvent since I was pretty sure some bad things might happen - I tend to think there's a light coating of some type of sealant or clearcoat on it, else we'd all have black fingers from the graphite; I'm sure Thom could expound on this point. My guess with something like tape residue on the graphite would be to use a slightly more sticky tape to try to remove the residue already present. I clean my tape travel area on the side of the platter with an 80%/20% mix of purified water and isopropyl alcohol (94%)...lots of gunk comes off of there due to the Mylar shedding the backing (I must try Doug and Paul's etching creme technique- anything that can improve pulley to belt traction ought to be a good thing).

I use the same process on the base (I have the polished "natural" finish - ooh, shiney) and the microfiber cleans off most dust and airborne grime easily, although I dust my table nowhere near the amount I probably ought to - I like to vacuum, but the virtues of dusting have always eluded me. With all this theoretical cleaning with the microfiber cloth, it begs the question, "How do you clean your microfiber cloth"? It's been two years, and mine has never seen the washer? the Woolite? dishsoap? There may even be washing instructions on the thing that I've simply ignored. The normal disclaimers apply.

-Richard

[Dan_ed]

Thanks, Richard. It is very possible that the real culprit was the drop of silicon oil I was trying to clean up. Nasty stuff to clean and not something I wanted to have left on my platter. I've found Simple Green to work best at getting that slimy stuff up. I suppose the logical thing to do is lift the graphite surface and try a cleaner on the bottom side first.

I know what you mean about dusting. Sometimes it seems like it just moves the dust around. I have had good luck with micro-fiber cloths as well, also those Swifter dusters seem to pick up a lot of dirt and they don't let go of it.

How about polish for the shiny bits? I assume something like Mother's would do good but I'd rather hear what others have found.

[Salectric]

Sorry to be so ignorant, but what is a "microfiber cleaning cloth"?

The only thing I've ever used for cleaning is a slightly moistened paper towel for the aluminum parts and a dry cloth for the graphite platter top.

Dave

[Dan_ed]

HI Dave,

You can find the micro-fiber cloths at Wal-Mart and I think at HOme Depot as well. The material is somewhat reminiscent of polar fleece to the sight and touch. It does a good job of trapping dust and fine particles in the threads. I'm not at home or I would post the label on the last package I bought. Mine are kind of a light green color.

Some folks have started using these instead of the carbon fiber brush before playing. Not me, but some folks.

[galibier_numero_un]

Hi Dan,

Yes, a dry "whisk" with a soft brush or soft, dry cloth is all that you should use to dust graphite with. Unfortunately for me, I move these things around so frequently, that my graphite mat sees several lifetimes of abuse in a period of a few months.

Paper towels and glass cleaner for the aluminum components (whether anodized or not) are fine. There are aluminum polishes out there for the silver rigs (bare, polished aluminum) that work very well. It's something that you might think about doing perhaps once/year, but cleaning a turntable extensively can be dangerous to your cantilever's health, so I wouldn't consider this to be a weekly thing

For most people's skill level, I would recommend sending the graphite mat back to me for refinishing. You're handier than I am however, and I'll explain offline in a phone conversation both the specific lacquer I use as well as how to apply and refinish it.

It's real pity that sonics and durability are at odds with each other - or at least, I've yet to find a sealant that sounds as good as this particular lacquer.

The micro fiber cloths are strictly speaking not necessary for polished 'tables or polished/anodized ones.

In the early days of anozizing, I put out a few 'tables which prepped by bead blasting instead of polishing. The slightly rough texture had the effect of showing up any small bit of lint (paper towels), and the micro fiber cleaning cloths were the perfect solution.

Cheers,
Thom