simple and cheap record cleaners

leftwinger57

I know this has been covered before but there really wasn't a concensous of what should I get if one has a minimal budget. Right now through the good graces of George Grand and my GoodWill pick ups I have over 30 albums and I think it's time to consider a cleaning ssytem .For the short term I just ordered the brush ans fluid type from Amazon
for $15 and as usual buget is an issue w/ me. I think this will work for the short haul and I do not think I will ever begin to gigantize my vinyl collection.For me when also money permits will be changing out the cart since they do not make a stylus for the Grado GF-3 any more and either the Grado Black @$60 0r a Shure # M97xE high performance @$75.What do you think of these choices.

http://www.amazon.com/RCA-RD-1006-Discwasher-Record-System/dp/B000KMZKTO/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1370599841&sr=1-2&keywords=record+cleaning+kits

http://www.amazon.com/Shure-M97xE-High-Performance-Magnetic-Cartridge/dp/B00006I5SB/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1370599932&sr=1-1&keywords=shure+cartridges

mhardy6647

The Disk Doctor brushes and fluids are good.
Otherwise, you're looking at Nitty Gritty or VPI cleaning machines; good but not "cheap". Used is a cost-effective option.
Another option is DIY; use a junk/surplus tt to donate its platter and bearing; you can buy the vacuum/brush and other parts from one of the "big names" (although I cannot remember which) and assemble your own without too much effort. I donated a dump-find Pioneer PL-512xd to serve as the platform for just such a project a few years ago.

Are you sure current Grado styli won't fit the old Grado body?

nspindel

The thing is, until you've used a machine like the VPI, you can't really understand why using a turntable to build a machine is not a good solution. The cleaning machines spin slower, but with much higher torque. So you can apply a good amount of pressure with the brush while wet-cleaning and the platter still spins. As soon as you apply any pressure with a normal turntable, the platter stops spinning. Save your money and get a real machine, that's my advice.....

mhardy6647

The DIY approach I mentioned uses only the bearing and platter - not the motor; we're talking manual application of angular momentum (just to be clear about that).

I don't disagree; the good RCMs are great tools; but the OP did ask for "cheap". :-)

decal

The Spinclean system works great and is very affordable.

Jhayman

Yes the spin clean is about the cheapest option under $100
It's manual labour intense if your doing multiple records in one sitting..
Make sure to order extra cleaning cloths and fluid, I am actually going out today to pick up more..
I just play a few LP's while cleaning.

Obsession18

I've been using the following in the sink method for quite a while:

http://www.gallagher.com/clean_records.htm

I use two "dent pullers" instead of the fancy label protector shown in the video, this method results in nearly dead quite records - provided they are scratch free and haven't been played to death and have groove damage.

I recently tried the DIY approach using an old turntable and vacuum (crevice tool covered with velvet) and I noticed no improvement. I'm rather aggressive with the soft paintbrush I use in my sink method and haven't scratched a record yet.

thsmith

Broke TT - Free
Gallon Distilled water -$1
Lab grade alcohol - Free if you PM me
Triton Surfactant - Free if you PM me
Record cleaning brush $29 Needle doctor
Small shop Vac Target (modify crevasse tool) -$29
Dish drain - 25 cents yard sale

EndersShadow

thsmith wrote: »

Lab grade alcohol - Free if you PM me
Triton Surfactant - Free if you PM me

Whats the Surfactant used for? I am LP cleaning dumb :redface:

leftwinger57

mhhardy,
I called Grado 1st and they said the GF-3 was way out of production they definately didn't have a stylus or that cartridge for that matter. I have no idea how old this thing is so for $60 a new Grado should be a step up or as you probably saw I looked at a Shure for $75 w/ delivery from Amazon. First I can usually get 1 or 2 things a month and this month are albums from George and GW and now the cleaning brush. If and when I'm ready for the cartridge I'll let you guys know what you think of the choices and what else is out there for the nut type mount4pin deal.

thsmith

EndersShadow wrote: »

Whats the Surfactant used for? I am LP cleaning dumb :redface:

surfactant, or wetting agent, to reduce the surface tension of the water so the formula can penetrate down into the grooves.

leftwinger57

Sorry it took this long to repsond. I was stupified at this method.I would think that you would do some damage by just handling the things that many more times. I get using the platter and handspinning but that would take up more space having another tt and adead one at that.Spin clean looks ok but even at $100 I have to wait to see how involved w/ this I get .In the mean time the brush and solvent method are on the way for $15....

scottyboy76

For what its worth, I tried something yesterday on a pretty nasty copy of the Doors L.A Woman.

In the shape it was in, i had nothing to lose, and i had thought about this before, just never tried it.

As anyone with a flat screen tv, i own screen cleaner spray and microfiber cloths, one of which is basically a foam pad covered with microfiber cloth,shaped just like the ones you used to get with a can of turtle wax.

I figured if these cleaning solutions and cloths can be trusted to clean and not damage a tv screen, how much damage could it be for an lp, and how much residue could it leave?

The G.E cleaner foams when sprayed, so after laying lp flat on kitchen counter on microfiber cloth, the foam stayed where it was applied, none getting on label.

Afew spraying foam on lp, i used my audioquest cleaning brush thats meant to be used like a discwasher brush, but has bristles instead of a pad, a few wipes with foam pad, then drying with cloth, and we were listening to the album.

Was it as clean as a 150 dollar spinclean, seriously doubt it, but it was very listenable, something i did not expect when i started cleaning.