Flaws in vinyl and need for record sleeves

[mtroo]

So I was up until 1 am cleaning records with my Klaudio RCM. The RCM has nothing to do with the (not so slight?) imperfections I'm seeing in some LP's.
As for outer sleeves, I had already bought them, so I am using them. The inner sleeves make way more sense, it would seem.

[Weirdcuba]

I use the outer sleeves on pretty much every record. If kept vertical and out of extreme temps, vinyl will last a really long time and I like having the outer jacket as nice as possible. Of course, YMMV.

[cleeds]

It is extremely difficult to assess what an LP will sound like from visual inspection alone. I've seen what appeared to be perfect discs that were filled with pops and clicks and sounded dreadful. I've seen discs with apparent scuff marks and other cosmetic "flaws" that played perfectly.

As for outer jacket sleeves - they have one major problem. They really increase the amount of space needed to store an LP collection.

[mtroo]

Originally Posted by cleeds

It is extremely difficult to assess what an LP will sound like from visual inspection alone. I've seen what appeared to be perfect discs that were filled with pops and clicks and sounded dreadful. I've seen discs with apparent scuff marks and other cosmetic "flaws" that played perfectly.

As for outer jacket sleeves - they have one major problem. They really increase the amount of space needed to store an LP collection.

For now, space is not so much an issue. With both kids soon to be in college, it seems like the house is getting bigger.

[baddog]

I use outer sleeves. For most albums I have them oriented with the opening of the sleeve on the top. That way I place the lp itself into the outer sleeve from the top, with the lp (in its inner sleeve) on the outside of the back of the album cover, as opposed to storing the LP inside the album cover.

Makes it very easy to both remove the LP and place it back when done.

[NZ421291]

I strongly recommend outer sleeves. A water main leaked at home & flooded my garage. My records were stored in a free standing cupboard which soaked-up the water!

If it weren't for the outer sleeves, about 200 of my records would have had water damage.

I simply replaced the sleeves with new ones, and there was no water damage to my records!

[mtroo]

Originally Posted by NZ421291

I strongly recommend outer sleeves. A water main leaked at home & flooded my garage. My records were stored in a free standing cupboard which soaked-up the water!

If it weren't for the outer sleeves, about 200 of my records would have had water damage.

I simply replaced the sleeves with new ones, and there was no water damage to my records!

Good planning results in good luck. I have a big batch of sleeves, so I am using them. The double albums are a little more work than I'd like.

[tima]

When a new or used record arrives it gets cleaned using the Audio Desk RCM.
Then I:

• put the original inner sleeve inside the cardboard album cover.
• put the cardboard album cover with or without shrink wrap inside a thick polypropylene outer sleeve (typically from Sleeve City.)
• put the record into a new Sleeve City inner sleeve
• put the inner sleeve between the record cover back and the outer sleeve with the opening of the inner sleeve pointed in the direction of the opening of the cardboard and the opening of the outer sleeve facing up.

This makes removal of the record much easier and less riskly, saves wear on the album cover and the thick outer sleeves protect well.
Being doing this for a long time.

[mtroo]

Originally Posted by tima

When a new or used record arrives it gets cleaned using the Audio Desk RCM.
Then I:

• put the original inner sleeve inside the cardboard album cover.
• put the cardboard album cover with or without shrink wrap inside a thick polypropylene outer sleeve (typically from Sleeve City.)
• put the record into a new Sleeve City inner sleeve
• put the inner sleeve between the record cover back and the outer sleeve with the opening of the inner sleeve pointed in the direction of the opening of the cardboard and the opening of the outer sleeve facing up.

This makes removal of the record much easier and less riskly, saves wear on the album cover and the thick outer sleeves protect well.
Being doing this for a long time.

I think this would be an excellent approach for me. I guess you need to exercise a little more caution with the LP's being out of their protective cardboard, but since I'm not in college anymore, this should not be a problem.
Thanks for the reply

[scirica]

Originally Posted by tima

When a new or used record arrives it gets cleaned using the Audio Desk RCM.

Then I:

• put the original inner sleeve inside the cardboard album cover.
  
• put the cardboard album cover with or without shrink wrap inside a thick polypropylene outer sleeve (typically from Sleeve City.)
  
• put the record into a new Sleeve City inner sleeve
  
• put the inner sleeve between the record cover back and the outer sleeve with the opening of the inner sleeve pointed in the direction of the opening of the cardboard and the opening of the outer sleeve facing up.
  

This makes removal of the record much easier and less riskly, saves wear on the album cover and the thick outer sleeves protect well.

Being doing this for a long time.

Wow! That's quite a thoroughly thought through process. I may adopt that for mine as it can be a pain to get records in and out of their cardboard, especially if one has kept the original inner sleeve inside.

Thanks for the idea!