Finding Vinyl Records and Looking After Them
The easiest way to find Sue UK (and any other vinyl) records is to look at Discogs.
There are second hand record shops and some may be near where you live.
Google Search for local second hand record shops.
Compile a list of the shops near your location. Note their addresses, phone numbers, email addresses. Let them know you are looking for Sue UK records.
Oxfam Online and other charity sellers also sell second hand vinyl.
Make a list of the records you want.
Research prices of those recordings, and see how much they vary.
Is the item for sale pictured, and what condition is it in. Is the cover complete? Has the spindle hole worn badly? Are there any scratches on the tracks? Is the surface clean? (When I was on hospital radio, we were given old records which had had paint spilt all over the playing surfaces.) Will they play it for you?
Is the seller a regular seller and are there any customer comments.
Set a limit on how much you are prepared to pay. Consider having the money you have set aside for purchases in a separate savings account so you do not overspend.
Precision Pressing of Ontario, Canada online guide to buying second hand records.
Looking After Vinyl Records
Vinyl records cost money, so it is worth while spending a little more money on storing them properly so they last longer and do not deteriorate.
Vinyl records should be kept in a clean dry place, avoiding extreme temperatures and humidity. They should be stored vertically, like in the image. (Having them in a pile causes the records to warp because vinyl records can be heavy.If they warp, they will not play correctly.)
Avoid touching the playing surfaces with your hands and fingers, because oils in your skin can enter the grooves and then attract dust, which will affect the sound quality when you play the records, and your fingernails could scratch the record surface. Always handle your records either by the edges or by using the printed centre labels.
The image shows some records on or near the floor. This is not a good idea. Storing records on the floor increases the risk of accidents, humidity and dust; the records may also pick up mould and mildew from the floor and from the colder air near the floor. (Warm air rises, but cold air sinks and becomes more humid and damp.)
Vinyl records are usually stored in a sleeve. The basic sleeve is a paper bag with holes cut so you can read the labels. Some 7" records have an inner paper sleeve inside a card outer sleeve which carries art work. You can buy polyethylene outer sleeves which keep them cleaner and protect them from ultraviolet light (UV). Unlike PVC sleeves, they are also acid free. If the inner paper sleeves - or the paper bags provided with seven inch singles - gets torn or worn, you can buy replacement bags.
For twelve inch vinyl albums, normally these are provided with an outer card sleeve with art work and an inner bag usually made of paper with a poly lining. The inner bag is essential for albums. Keeping the album in just the outer cardboard sleeve greatly increases the risk of scratching by the card. It is also easier for dust and damp to get in to the record if there is no inner bag. Often the bags have curved corners which makes it easier to get the bag in and out of the outer sleeve.
If a vinyl record is looking dirty, it needs cleaning to bring back the performance. DO NOT use normal domestic cleaning products on vinyl records, they will cause considerable damage.
Invest in a soft brush, like a carbon fibre brush, to brush away dust from the grooves. For general cleaning of the whole vinyl record, using a soft microfibre cloth is recommended. Microfibre cloths can be used dry or wet. Do not brush from side to side of the record; wipe gently, following the grooves. For a deeper clean the wet method is best; use vinyl cleaning solution or a mix of distilled water and isopropyl alcohol, and a clean microfibre cloth. Complete vinyl record cleaning kits are available online from sites like amazon.
Image: Wired
103 | 27 March 2026
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