Anybody try this RCM out?

gudnoyez

http://m.ebay.com/itm/3D-Printed-Record-Cleaning-Machine-Bring-your-old-vinyl-back-to-life-/151903631006?nav=SEARCH

Seems legit and is half the price of the inexpensive Record Doctor sold at Audio Advisor, I've seen the video and it appears to work pretty good. If you already have a smaller shop vac you are set. I am considering this as a replacement for my spin clean without having to spend the dollars the VPI's and Okki Nokki's cost

Dennis Gardner

Lots of love for it over on AK. The turntable is stout, if you don't require a cabinet and don't mind supplying a vac unit, it might be for you.

gudnoyez

http://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/100-rcm-record-cleaning-machine.457854/

Here is the thread I found out about it on one of the posts has the you tube footage you can watch, looks like it would do the job and very well.

gudnoyez

Dennis Gardner wrote: »

Lots of love for it over on AK. The turntable is stout, if you don't require a cabinet and don't mind supplying a vac unit, it might be for you.

Thats the best thing, I own a few shop vacs so I would be set, and until arthritis sits in the motor will always work

msg

Man, nice share on this. I'm curious now, as well. Would love to see what a vacuum RCM can do for listening quality, but can't quite get myself onboard with one of higher end recommendations yet. Everyone I've spoken with who owns a vacuum RCM swears by it; essential gear.

Nightfall

$100 plus a shop vac? Almost seems too good to be true. Either that or what the brand name RCM's cost are extraordinarily priced. Shop vacs are really loud, that's my only thought on a downfall. At least the Stanley one I have is really loud, are there quiet(er) shop vacs out there?

Thanks for sharing, I'll do some reading. If you get one please share your thoughts.

gudnoyez

I checked out a VPI and honestly it was pretty loud, the best thing about this one if the vacuum wears out you just replace it, a $20 cost and the only part of your cleaning rig ya gotta plug in and turn on and off.

Dennis Gardner

I think that one of these mounted onto a hush box (heavily foamed, plywood) that had a remote switch would be ideal for $150 investment.

madmax

msg wrote: »

Everyone I've spoken with who owns a vacuum RCM swears by it; essential gear.

Yep.

voltz

I have the VPI 16.5 and its really loud!!! but I can not see being without it, the other cheaper alternatives should work fine as they basically work the same way, but the VPI spins it for you freeing up your hands for applying the cleaner and holding the cleaning brushes...

lightman1

What about the lick and wipe on my pants method I use on my CDs?

Dennis Gardner

lightman1 wrote: »

What about the lick and wipe on my pants method I use on my CDs?

I use the "Hot Breath, Pant Leg Spin" myself.....

ken brydson

lightman1 wrote: »

What about the lick and wipe on my pants method I use on my CDs?

Don't they dissolve?

soundfreak1

Too weird I was literally just looking at this unit less than 5 min ago and considering ordering.LOL. any down side I can't see?

msg

I just finished watching the video - I think I'm going to give this thing a shot.
I'm going to order direct from Nik at http://www.squeakycleanvinyl.com/
I'll let you guys know if it does anything to remove jerk record shop owner juju, too.

gudnoyez wrote: »

http://m.ebay.com/itm/3D-Printed-Record-Cleaning-Machine-Bring-your-old-vinyl-back-to-life-/151903631006?nav=SEARCH
Seems legit and is half the price of the inexpensive Record Doctor sold at Audio Advisor, I've seen the video and it appears to work pretty good. If you already have a smaller shop vac you are set. I am considering this as a replacement for my spin clean without having to spend the dollars the VPI's and Okki Nokki's cost

msg

I ordered this unit from Nick the Canadian last week. Very polite, eh?


I need to find a place to find some cleaning brushes like the ones he has in this video below (any ideas where to source?) And some squeezy bottles for the cleaning fluid and rinse. I'll probably go with one of the cleaning fluid ree-sipes I've seen in some of the other posts I've seen discussion about here:

• Record Cleaning Fluid Recipe - http://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/171212/record-cleaning-fluid-recipe-rcm
• Record Cleaning Fluid - http://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/comment/2222549

Website - http://www.squeakycleanvinyl.com/
Ebay Listing - http://www.ebay.com/itm/151903631006
Demo video. Looks like pretty decent build quality.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbphnT1d-ys

gudnoyez

I will be getting this one also, but have to hold off a bit need to order a dust cover for a turntable that's in route. I believe I'm going to get the goat hair brush from Okki Nokki to go along with the canfab and order the record doctor concentrate cleaner which mixes with a gallon of distilled water. I plan on using the spin clean in conjunction with this for a distilled water only rinse after cleaning. Looking forward to your review on yours.

msg

The Spin Clean rinse sounds like a good idea.
Just checked out that brush. Interesting.
http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=OKGHRCB

Nightfall

I was thinking the same. Using it in conjunction with the Spinclean would be a good idea. I'd probably do the Spinclean first and then the vacuum. The Spinclean actually brushes the LP with some force, I'd imagine that would dislodge anything better than just wetting with a very soft brush and then vacuuming?

voltz

The only brushes I have used are the VPI ones you get with their RCM's, I have 3 I use one for each cleaner and 1 for the rinse.
http://www.musicdirect.com/p-7660-vpi-replacement-brush-for-16-series.aspx

MrBuhl

Nightfall wrote: »

I was thinking the same. Using it in conjunction with the Spinclean would be a good idea. I'd probably do the Spinclean first and then the vacuum. The Spinclean actually brushes the LP with some force, I'd imagine that would dislodge anything better than just wetting with a very soft brush and then vacuuming?

I don't think the Spinclean applies any more force than the brushes on my MiniPro truthfully, its the vacuum that makes the difference IMO. I will say I like my Spinclean for the really grungy stuff as a prewash (then I vac on the Minipro)

That said - I applaud the DIY in this thread for a vacuum machine, if I was handier I would have done it myself as well. You're going to get the same results at a much lower price, with maybe a little less inconvenience. (For instance the minipro brushes and vacuums both sides at the same time, or Darryl's note that automatic rotation allows free hands for brushing - both conveniences not to be underestimated!)

On a side note - Darryl, you make me feel like a slacker - three brushes for cleaners and rinse! I am SO lazy LOL!!

voltz

but the 2 extra brushes set me back another $100

Yes the VPI turnes the LP for you but...

If you have never use the VPI then you don't know what your missing, if you don't know what your missing then you won't miss it!

scottyboy76

recently got a KAB, its a model ev1.

I use a hand steamer, then a spin doctor, then the kab with the vacuum cleaner to take it all off, so far so great, will report back.

msg

Hey guys, got all my stuff together for the SqueakyCleanVinyl 3D Printed RCM from CanFab3D.

CURRENT KIT IS AS FOLLOWS

• 1 - 3D Printed RCM Kit from CanFab 3D
• 1 - Cleaning brush (included with kit)
• 1 - Shop-vac
• 2 - Squeezy Bottle (500ml/~16oz); one for cleaning solution, one rinse | http://amzn.to/1Q1LAph
• 2 - Gallon Distilled Water
• 1 - VPI Record Cleaning Fluid Concentrate | http://amzn.to/1Q1LrlH
• 1 - 2 pack 99% Isopropyl Alcohol | http://amzn.to/1Q1LG05

For the cleaning solution, I used VPI's pour-in concentrate (thanks @voltz), which you mix with 1gal distilled water to make approx 1gal of cleaning solution. I marked one jug W for wash, the other R for rinse. Probably going to draw a skull and crossbones on them, too, so the W won't be mistaken for... Water.


FUTURE CONSIDERATIONS

• I am thinking about removing from the 500ml/16oz squeezy bottle approximately 50-100ml (~1.5oz to 3oz) of the VPI mixed cleaning solution, and replacing with same amount of 99% Isopropyl alcohol (I will probably do this now, in fact, the more I think about it)
• I will probably add at least one additional brush to this kit/method, and possibly play around with a steamer.
• I will probably also experiment with a DIY cleaning solution recipe instead of the VPI concentrate, given its cost.

I'm not really sure what the alcohol will do at this point, and need to read up more for specifics. I would imagine it helps release oily deposits and may help optimize the moisture evacuation/drying process.


I also wanted to post up this link to Nick's site - he offers his plans for a full on stand-alone RCM Station for a more finished approach. You can purchase a more elementary kit from him, and source the other parts yourself for an even cheaper approach if you prefer a bit of DIY. Looks pretty easy, so this could be another option for any DIY'ers interested in building a full on station. If you don't need/want all that, then the turnkey tabletop kit (subject of this thread) seems to be a good option. I like this idea best at this point because it was the easiest way for me to get up and running, and you can set it up and take it down when you're done, and store it away in a tub or something.

http://www.squeakycleanvinyl.com/diy-rcm-instructions.html



I'll post up with my impressions of the 3D printed RCM after I get a chance to use it. Not sure that'll be today since I have some grown-up responsibilities to see to, but I do have a couple of dirty records that need some attention.

gudnoyez

Can't wait to hear your impressions, glad I started this thread. I have ordered my ginko cover it will ship soon, then record store day next Saturday, then ordering one of these from Nik. I would go with the VPI or other Concentrates to start out with and gather information on your on home mixture, but I assume SCompRacer has a well tested concoction of his own he could recommend. Get your adult responsibilities done and report back

Wardsweb

When you get tired of turning the record, you could always add the motor from an old ice cream maker. They have high torque and turn slow.

msg

ah, interesting idea!

soundfreak1

Just finished building this one using Nick's (3d from canada) used 3/4" cherry hardwood veneer. Stained with traditional cherry stain and 3 coats of Simi gloss poly

msg

nice! where'd you get your squeezy bottles? I went with the ones I linked above and they leak.

have you tried it out yet? I haven't gotten around to washing any yet, but just got a new album this morning from Discogs, and it needs a little attention.

soundfreak1

Got the bottles at "Micheals" craft store. Will start using today and tomorrow.

soundfreak1

Just cleaned my first album (ARS ) with the RCM. Results were stellar as the album was unlistenable (if that's a word) before ,now like brand new album. Dead quiet. I'm sold!