Cleaning Solutions

The HR&R Story:  Because it worked so well, "Head, Red & Roll Cleaner" (HR&R) was a very popular product.  Unlike anything previously available to the audio professional, HR&R was a true industrial product. Where Alcohol and so-called Rubber Cleaner's failed, HR&R excelled. Where other products were toxic for you or potentially harmful to your recorder, HR&R was not. For years, we were able to provide you with HR&R's industrial strength chemistry. Tested and used by us all over our shop, HR&R was safe to use and the most effective cleaning, defluxing agent on the market!  With its amazing cleaning power, rapid evaporation, non-flammability, and low toxicity, it was nick-named "the Right Stuff". The name stuck. (in fact, it's still stuck on the bottle.)

Flash back:  In 2005, due to epa regulations and the limits placed on various ozone depleting chemicals, the principal ingredient in HR&R was effectively banned.  We knew this was coming, so we stocked up but were nonetheless forced to discontinue the product once we sold out of our stockpiled reserves. Those of you who had been using HR&R in and around the studio were, needless to say, very disappointed. To us, it looked like the tape based recorder was nearing the end-of-life and so, the quest for a new chemical formula didn't seem to make sense. We were wrong!  You die-hards not only kept your tape recorders, but without many options, you were running old, dirty tape. And today, with the up surge in archival work; the thousands upon thousands of miles of gummy old tape, more than ever, there's a need to bring back "the Right Stuff".

Flash forward:  We went back to work. It sure wasn't easy finding the right replacement. Much of what we tested would've "killed a horse" or was so expensive as to make the cost of a bottle laughable. It wasn't pretty, damned discouraging and so again, we dropped the ball. But still, you persisted - we were getting calls, "When are you guys gonna bring back HR&R?" Our determination stiffened, and finally, in 2009, after several months of testing and back & forth with a major chemical company, IT'S BACK.  Yep, it cleans like crazy, it's non-flammable, is non-toxic, and evaporates before you can say, "WOW". Through the miracle of chemistry "the Right Stuff" is once again available and is now shipping.

Here's the new 411:  What price safety? This "new" chemistry which safely and effectively replaces "CFC's" is expensive and there's just no way to avoid the cost increase.  Whether or not you buy into the global warming theories and the ozone hole is of no concern to the EPA.  The point is that as of now, in the solvent world there are few options by law. On one hand you've got cheap, toxic & flammable (aka. dry cleaning fluid, paint removers, organic solvents) and on the other, you've got non-toxic, non-flammable and costly (azeotropic hydrofluorocarbon blend aka. HFC's). We chose the latter alternative. To provide you with an effective, non-toxic, non-flammable cleaner, our bulk cost is now about 250% greater than before. And yes, you too will be paying more to keep your tape path clean, rust free and be safe doing it... did I mention that you techs can also deflux your soldering work with the new HR&R? Truly amazing stuff!

The bottom line: HR&R is reformulated and it's back. As before, a little goes a long way, it works incredibly well and it's safe for everything in your tape path.  If you've never used it, you must give it a try. If you're an HR&R fan from the before, please come on back. Either way, you won't be disappointed - No question it will blow you and your dirt ridden tape path away!