Whats your take on Record Cleaning Machines (RCM)?

gfong

Lots of records that have been washed with dawn and tap water and a paint brush! Not the best method but it does work for me so far...

Next on my list of internet searches were RCM's. Did not know there were that many out there and the swing in cost from $100.00 to $4000.00.

Anyone on here using a dedicated RCM? Thoughts and advice appreciated.

agfrost

Those who have them really seem to love them--It is a significant outlay of $$ at the start, but the improvements available in further removal of pops, tics, surface noise are significant. Additionally, having each record its cleanest will help keep your stylus cleaner and perhaps add to its lifespan.

Rich (SCompRacer) passed along a Nitty Gritty to me after he moved up the chain a bit, and it's great to have! I don't think it's crucial for every vinyl listener to have a dedicated RCM, but if you use your TT enough, and have some sensitivity to surface noise and clicks, it might be a good investment for you. Having that vacuum-drying ability does take a RCM a notch or more beyond.

Good luck with your decision making! I'm sure others will put in their $0.02

[Deleted User]

Well, if you are handy you could make one.
http://www.grantfidelity.com/site/Opera_Consonance_vinyl_cleaner_cleaning_machine
I like this one here. If you have 650 LPs...
OTOH, there I think there is a great TT for sale here that is much less.

MrBuhl

I run a MiniPro1 from Nitty Gritty. The vacuum RCM's are a quantum leap over non-vacuum, there is no doubt in my mind/experience. It has made a huge difference in my enjoyment of vinyl playback honestly. I like this particular one because it cleans both sides at the same time, but it's a bit more spendy than most at retail. Nitty Gritty service is great (I got mine used for a great price, and sprung for a full factory refurb - very reasonable).

Another factor is drying time, as stated above, the fast drying from vacuum makes me much more likely to just pop a record on the RCM prior to playback - there is almost no delay vs. drip drying in a rack from hand washing to be finished with microfiber.

Formerly I used a SpinClean and it works, though not as thoroughly or as neatly, and most especially not as quickly.

[Deleted User]

then there is cleaning solutions...

hochpt21

A vacuum RCM is the most important piece of my analog enjoyment. It's unbelievable how much of a difference it makes.

I have a Nitty Gritty 1.0, the cheapest NG and it was under $500. It's manual, though, so you have to apply the solution, do the scrub and turn the record yourself. Some of the more expensive machines do it for you.

I have around 500 records cleaned so if I look at it like I paid an extra buck to have every lp I pulled out of a dusty stack perfectly clean....then it is well worth it.

gfong

Thanks for the comments gents, awesome stuff. I would be looking into the vacuum type. I'm currently sitting at about 1500 records and I'm not planning on giving up the hunt for nice LP's anytime soon so I think I may be in for one of those RCM's. I also seem to be buying up lots of new reissued LP's and some look awful and some have noise and pops so I am sure I would try and clean those as well.

hochpt21's sentence, "I have around 500 records cleaned so if I look at it like I paid an extra buck to have every lp I pulled out of a dusty stack perfectly clean....then it is well worth it." really hit home for me and I never thought of it that way... thanks.

Now the search continues...

BlueMDPicker

I've had the VPI HW 16.5 for several years (courtesy of Mark's--Doro's-- foray into vinyl) and highly recommend it. I have slightly over 1,000 LPs. Had a Nitty Gritty before that and passed it along to another forum member.

Good luck in your research.

heiney9

I don't own vinyl but my brother and friends (like Rich SCompracer) all do and I would definitely have a vacuum type cleaner. Actually one of the barriers to me owning a TT would be the extra expense and time involved with buying a suitable cleaning machine. Adds another $1K or so to the total tab.

H9

SCompRacer

gfong wrote: »

Lots of records that have been washed with dawn and tap water and a paint brush! Not the best method but it does work for me so far...

Back in the day and even now, there is the Discwasher...but you just move dirt around mostly. Vacuum is the best. Then dry brush before play. Don't use paper sleeves. Love the mofi record sleeves.

Only draw back of a nitty gritty (and I owned a couple) is you can't scrub on it. So I used an old turntable to scrub and the nitty to vacuum. Now I have a VPI 16.5. I have ~ 1300 LP's and I don't wash them every time I play them. I strive to keep fingers off the surface of the record, especially when eating cheetos...

You don't have to buy expensive record wash solvent either. I use Tergitol which is a concentrate you mix with distilled water followed by a distilled water rinse. Do some web searches but be careful of concoctions that may damage a record.

MrBuhl

SCompRacer wrote: »

gfong wrote: »

Lots of records that have been washed with dawn and tap water and a paint brush! Not the best method but it does work for me so far...

I strive to keep fingers off the surface of the record, especially when eating cheetos...

LOL - that there is sage advice, and funny to boot!

BlueMDPicker

MrBuhl wrote: »

SCompRacer wrote: »

gfong wrote: »

Lots of records that have been washed with dawn and tap water and a paint brush! Not the best method but it does work for me so far...

I strive to keep fingers off the surface of the record, especially when eating cheetos...

LOL - that there is sage advice, and funny to boot!

I seldom have to worry about Cheetos spooge, but Krispy Kremes can become very problematic.

SCompRacer

Pizza roll's are worse. Sauce dries hard enough to rip a stylus off.

heiney9

Rich, the next time I visit I'll remind you not you use your vinyl as a tray to pass around those pizza roll appetizers like you did last time. Sounds like it has a negative effect on playback.

SCompRacer

P-p-p-p-pass around pizza rolls on a record!

vcwatkins

I started with the Spin Clean which served pretty well but was slooooow. And it was a bit of a pain to maintain enough clean dry rags. I quickly decided I needed a used RCM 16.5. Think I paid $400 on Audiogon. Money well spent in my case. I'm still lusting for the Cyclone (think that's right?). Spins both directions and provides higher torque for scrubbing.

The RCM is a pleasure to use! Do it.

pongshi

If you can afford a nice record cleaning machine, get one. I have a very large vinyl collection and I am always on the hunt for used records. My Okki Nokki record cleaning machine has been a godsend.

I use a cleaning solution of 4 parts distilled water, 1 part 90% or purer Isopropyl alcohol and a drop of dawn dishwashing liquid. I mix it up in a large spray bottle. I stole this cleaning concoction from another forum and it works great.

Spray the record as the record rotates, run your brush on the wet record twice clockwise and counter clockwise. Then run the vacuum twice around and use a micro fiber cloth to take care of any excess after vacuuming. This cleaning concoction is much cheaper than some of the gimicky cleaners that are really expensive. In just a couple of minutes, you have nice clean record.

pumpkinman

Here's a manual RCM I made for someone getting to vinyl. He got out as fast as he got in LOL. With somewhere between 6,000 and 7,000 LP's I wouldn't be with out one
I use a VPI 16.5 and I wish I could afford one of the nifty ultrasonic machines.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvF4aBLAn2Q

Mike Reeter

I also have a VPI 16.5 that I picked up used for less than 400. If your going to take Vinyl seriously, in my eyes, you MUST have a good way to clean and maintain it. The vacuum type machines are well worth the price of admission.

[Deleted User]

I resisted, but the shear weight of 1000 dollar vinyls one the day.
Actually, I gave someone who had a modded RCM 10 of my fav but
sorry shape vinyls. More everything when I got them back (except noise).
So, Mike has it absolutely correct.

aprazer402

My take: I need one, I want one, I'm undecided on whether to try DIY or buy new or used. I have several vintage working TT's. I acquired an old one that is heavier than heck, a direct drive Sansui FR-5080 free, no dust cover, arm has a lot of play in bearings, no cartridge, but rotates under power fine. This I believe would make a great base for a RCM. So I just need to buy couple of good brushes, mix a good potion and configure a velvet covered wand to wet vacuum? Anything else I'm missing (careful)? Thanks.

voltz

I bought the VPI 16.5 and it cost more then my TT and as much as my preamp at the time, it was the hardest $$ I over forked over for something I knew i needed but didn't like the cost

But it was worth every penny and I am glad I did it. I love this record cleaner.

SCompRacer

I love diy, but some factors to consider. Does the motor turn slow enough and have enough torque that would allow good scrubbing action with a brush and slow enough suction is thourough? If you have to buy things, figure cost versus what you can buy new or used.

However, used RCM's usually disappear quickly provided the price isn't unreasonable.

aprazer402

The old Sansui has a pitch control to slow 33.33 rpm down some. What rpm do rcm's operate at?

hochpt21

voltz wrote: »

I bought the VPI 16.5 and it cost more then my TT and as much as my preamp at the time, it was the hardest $$ I over forked over for something I knew i needed but didn't like the cost

But it was worth every penny and I am glad I did it. I love this record cleaner.

I agree...it's hard money to spend, but well worth it once you have it.

My wife got me mine for my birthday a few years back. That was the easiest way

vcwatkins

I would think torque will be a much tougher challenge than speed control. Not sure what speed it moves, pretty slow. 15-20rpm maybe.

vmaxer

18 rpm high torque:



http://www.soundstagedirect.com/vpi-16.5-record-cleaning-machine.shtml

aprazer402

I figured it was much slower than 33 rpm. I wasn't concerned so much about torque as I could spin tt platter manually to clean, but as SComp mentioned rotation speed could be too fast to vacuum properly. I appreciate your comments. I didn't mean to derail gfong's thread here.

ken brydson

How do I clean my ipod?

I keed, I keed....

gfong

ken brydson wrote: »

How do I clean my ipod?

I keed, I keed....

I would just not use as much Dawn and maybe a smaller paint brush! Hope that helps!

strider

I wish I'd never sold my RCM. Had a KAB EV-1, which is completely manual, but it is so much better to listen to a cleaned/vacummed record then one wiped with a brush. Scrubbed on a towel, then vacuumed with the RCM.

Here's a link to the KAB:
https://www.kabusa.com/frameset.htm?/m1200.htm