Record cleaner

ben62670

http://www.needledoctor.com/Spin-Clean-Record-Washer is going to be the cleaner. You submerge the record in the cleaning solution and it cleans both sides at once. I still will need to make a vacuum setup to remove the solution. I really like the idea of the solution immersion.
Ben

shack

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84913

ben62670

I can't see spending $500 on a vacuum cleaner for records.

Toolfan66

I like the idea of immersion as well, and Ben if you lived closer.. Well you know. :cool: I was in the same boat on spending $500 for a RCM that's why I went the route I did I had to give it a try.

you know if you need anything from this end just call.

thsmith

I like the concept and price.

I make my own cleaning solution but this may be an alternative to the old TT I using to clean one side at a time and remembering to switch out TT mats.

Ben, if you need some surfactant, I have a lot of Triton X114.

FTGV

ben62670 wrote: »

http://www.needledoctor.com/Spin-Clean-Record-Washer is going to be the cleaner. You submerge the record in the cleaning solution and it cleans both sides at once. I still will need to make a vacuum setup to remove the solution. I really like the idea of the solution immersion.
Ben

Very nice but I think I'll stick with this one for now.http://www.needledoctor.com/Allsop-CD-Microfibre-Cleaning-Cloth;jsessionid=0a010c551f4307e077cb1c1146999cdb80625eac3acf.e3eSc38RbhuLe34Pa38Ta38Nc350?sc=2&category=1094

Face

LOL Fred!

schwarcw

I have heard some good things about this cleaner. I like the immersion bath to "soak" an area where there may be some grime build up. Use distilled water to "soak", no cleaner.

If your on a tight budget, I would use a set of MOFI brushes to clean and rinse brush. I like Tergitol as a cleaner. But there are a lot of good home brew cleaners. I wouldn't use any alcohol, but a lot of people do. Gently wipe dry with the fine microfiber brush. Use a carbon fiber brush to brush off the record while it's on the table prior to each use.

hearingimpared

Keiko wrote: »

Rich, (ScompRacer) turned me onto the link I posted above. I've dorked around with all kinds of other things prior to the VPI and for me it was the most effective, until I invested in the RCM. Submerging the record in a cleaning solution is a good idea, I think, but the problem I have with it is cross contamination. After a few records, that liquid is going to get pretty grungey, I'd imagine.

That's what I was thinking Mike. I'm fine with the cleaning method I use as labor intensive as it can be.

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1337621&postcount=27

No cross contamination there!;)

TECHNOKID

ben62670 wrote: »

http://www.needledoctor.com/Spin-Clean-Record-Washer is going to be the cleaner. You submerge the record in the cleaning solution and it cleans both sides at once. I still will need to make a vacuum setup to remove the solution. I really like the idea of the solution immersion.
Ben

I like it, very low cost but here's another option: http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/gem/dandy.html Is there anyone familiar with this one? I think it could easily be done as a DIY project too. What do you think??? Didn't someone post something on that DIY in the past (http://www.teresaudio.com/haven/cleaner/cleaner.html)?

NOTE: By the way, there are decent reviews on the Spin-Clean Record Washer System: http://store.acousticsounds.com/d/58982/Spin-Clean-Record_Washer_System-Record_Cleaning_Machine?store=acousticsounds&keywords=NL012010

Cheers!
TK

hearingimpared

FTGV wrote: »

Very nice but I think I'll stick with this one for now.http://www.needledoctor.com/Allsop-CD-Microfibre-Cleaning-Cloth;jsessionid=0a010c551f4307e077cb1c1146999cdb80625eac3acf.e3eSc38RbhuLe34Pa38Ta38Nc350?sc=2&category=1094

Hahaha, you kook!:D

hearingimpared

Ben, you are a handy guy. I'm sure you could make an RCM with a vacuum using an old cheapie direct drive TT and a vacuum cleaner using the crevice cleaner accessory. I believe bikerboy uses one that he made. Making it yourself would probably be cheaper than the spin dry machine. There are many who have made their own here and all you have to do is search. . . unless you've got the buying bug and that is what is driving you to want to buy the spin cleaner!:D

I don't like the immersion method for reasons stated above i.e. cross contamination and no vacuuming system in place thus the danger of leaving residue on the records. So the $60 you would be paying for the spin dry, you would have to add the cost of making a vacuum system.

bikerboy

Hi Ben,
I made mine using a $6 value village vacuum, a throwaway tt, a hockey pluck, an old sub cabinet and a $30 shark steam cleaner. It works pretty well. Many of the used lps I buy are so quiet its hard to believe you are listening to vinyl. I use the tergitol I bought here and rinse with the steam. You're going to need to get the steamer so just do it. You like to build stuff so it will be easy. I'll see if I can find photos.
Edit: Hey in looking for my previous post I found this. What happened to the low speed ect ect?
http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=93242

hearingimpared

This is the one I was talking about.

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1276346&postcount=9

Thanks Jeff. I thought you had a thread started on it but after searching for a while realized you posted in and existing thread.

hearingimpared

That's is beautiful but you have rub salt in wounds don't ya!:eek::D:p

davide256

Gents, i spent 5 years working for a business that sold only styli, cartridges and phono accessories in turntable heyday

1) you want a cleaning solution that removes record release compound , mild surfactant (soap) to loosen particales and which doesn't chemically assault the vinyl in the record.

2) the brush that you use to scrub the record with is critical, needs to be fine enough to get down in the groove, stiff enough that it actually applys force to loosen particles but a hardness less than vinyl so it wont damage the groove wall

3) once you have applied solution, and scrubbed, that solution is dirty and needs to be suctioned off or the particles are left in the groove...vacuum is a must

4) the vacuum slot contact surface is critical, it needs to seal against the flat surface of the album but should not enter into the groove... its dirty and could scratch the groove wall if it does.The contact area needs to end before
the outer edge of the record because that expands. Ideally a better machine would have curvature there because the leading tracks of the record are hardest to clean due to edge curvature

5) during vacuum operation many records are not completely flat; Ive never found a good solution for these other than manually adjusting pressure to keep the uneven lp in contact with the vacuum slot

Nitty Gritty fluid solution bought in quantity does fine and lasts quite a while. I haven't used the Mobile Fidelity solution sold with VPI but they have always made good products. Be wary of snake oil with the rest.

Throw away any hand held cleaners othan than carbon fiber brush... they are like trying to sweep your floor with a rake. Carbon fibers only advantage is that it sweeps the big dust well and doesn't leave moisture that could actually bond dirt to the groove under the heat and pressure of a passing stylus.

The cleaner at the beginning of this thread is pretty ineffective since you essentially mop dirty cleaning fluid out.. leaving fluid and dirt to dry. They were selling those to the masses 25 years ago also.