“I used this stuff a long time ago and since I have been using vinyl a lot more lately, I bought a new bottle of Preservative from you. The thing I don’t understand is this. When I wet the pad, even with more than is recommended, I only get about 1/2 – 3/4 of the way around one side of the record before all evaporates. I can see it go almost immediately from the record. But once I swipe around the record, the record is no longer wet and the pad is completely dry.
Honestly it almost seems like it is something like liquid either. That is how fast it evaporates. I don’t remember this being the case in the past. So I have to ask if there is something wrong with what I have, and how can it be treating the record if the pad is dry. You say to go around a few times. Do I have to re-wet the pad every 1/2 turn? Please explain. I was considering replacing my old Stylus treatment (I have no idea how long the stuff lasts and mine is pretty old), but this caused me concern.”
Thanks, G.
I’ll explain what is happening and hope the explanation will eliminate your concern. The path of “wetness” that trails after the applicator pad, is caused when the carrier (in which the preservation treatment is contained) evaporates quickly – therefore the disappearance of the shiny wet path. However, the pad still contains the preservative, and continues to apply it even though there is no visual indication of its presence. The size of the molecules of the preservative are much less than the wavelength of light, and the presence of the treatment cannot be seen. The treatment creates an “equipotential surface on the record” which in effect distributes it evenly across the entire playing surface. The reason we suggest continuing to sweep the applicator pad around the record surface for two revolutions, is to help ensure the even distribution of the preservation treatment. The reason you didn’t notice such rapid evaporation in the past has to do with the change in chemistry of the carrier. Some time ago we changed to a effective carrier that does not contain any Chlorine (which is implicated in ozone depletion). This was done when many industries moved away from Chloro-Carbons (Air Conditioners, Refrigerants, etc.).
Your old bottle of STYLAST should be as safe and effective as when new. One of the reasons our preservation treatments work as they do, has to do with the inherent stability of the products themselves. This ensures not only a long, consistent shelf life, but also a long useful operating life time.
Thank you for your queries.
Sincerely, Walter Davies
