Anybody try this RCM out?

msg

Finally got around to testing out the RCM. I picked up a little 1.5gal 2HP Shopvac from Walmart this morning (hate going there) since I had to grab some Polyfill. This little Shopvac is just the right size for ease of setup and use. I think it has plenty of suction, as it will lift the record if you try to withdraw the vacuum head before turning off the vacuum.

My results were not as quite as great as soundfreak's, though I can't be sure of the off-press quality of some of these albums I tested with.

Could also be my cleaning solution. I used the VPI concentrate in a 1gal bottle of distilled water, and then I filled my 16oz squeezy bottle with about 3oz of 99% alcohol and then topped off with the cleaning solution. Mine were not dead quiet after, though it did seem to reduce clicks and pops by at least a third to half or so. I'm just loosely guesstimating at this point. Better on some albums than others. I've only cleaned about 6 so far. Could also be due to other blemishes. Three come to mind - a newer used 180g with physical scuffs, one import album of questionable origin, and another older album from the 90s with physical scuffs/marks. I will probably try to clean the worst ones again. With my cleaning solution, I can only leave it on for about 30 seconds before it starts to dry.

My process is generally as follows:

1. Apply the wash and brush lightly to spread cleaning solution for several rotations.
2. Let stand for 30 seconds.
3. Vacuum for several rotations
4. Apply rinse and brush lightly to spread the water
5. Vacuum for several rotations
6. Microfiber to dry any remaining, paying close attention to the label

I'll periodically squeegee or blot the brush (which is felt, I think?) and vac head (loopy side of Velcro) with some blue shop towels to dry them. Could probably do better to reduce the alcohol in my solution, and possibly also to get some real cleaning brushes? I am wondering more whether the cleaning solution needs more time to stand on the record, or perhaps I need to warm it. I also notice that this method does not leave the record absolutely or completely dry, so I give it a light wipe with a microfiber cloth that Nick includes with the kit while still on the cleaning platter.

I still think it's a worthwhile investment to affordably get into a vacuum RCM, though have nothing to compare it against to say how well it works in comparison to other methods and the more expensive RCMs. I'd love to see if Brian's Ultrasonic can do any better to clean these records up.

For now I have to say relatively satisfied with the simplicity and performance. I may send a couple of albums off to another member to see if he can do any better with his VPI. I'll probably develop my process a bit, as well, and maybe read up on the forum post that Steve shares in his opening post above.

gudnoyez

Glad you guys are enjoying your new RCM's, I will be ordering one soon just got my Twister clamp the other day my Ginko cover is in route then the next step will be this RCM, if your not going to buy a full blown RCM, then this is the logical way to go, as I'm sure it does just as good as all the others.

msg

I was just coming back to note, because I didn't state in my mini-review, that the areas I'm still noticing noise are the quiet spots. lead-ins, in between tracks, low volume passages, and the lead-out. Also noticing a rubby sound? Cartridge alignment?

Also would like to say that washing vinyl - another nice bit of "the ritual". The albums look almost polished when you're done, a nice dark, shiny black. There is a sense of fulfillment in it.

One of those clamps is on my list next. Considering the Vinyl Flat, but not sure yet due to the mixed reviews I've been seeing.

I'm also thinking that I might not be buying too much new vinyl anymore. I'm finding that the older skinny stuff seems to be in better shape overall than is much of the newer 180g I've been getting. Plus, I don't really like this double album business. Too many changes. And that's the last of my unsolicited editorial for now.

soundfreak1

Ok I've cleaned about 20 albums so far. In listening to them the background noise and pops, clicks are completely gone just dead silence between instruments and even between songs! This change is quite noticeable and imediate no straining to notice the change but just nothing but the music!!! Going to do the rest over the next week or two. This is a great addition to my system and I can recommend this unit whole heartedly.

msg

Excellent. What cleaning solution recipe are you using and could you detail your process a bit? Are these new records or old ones?

soundfreak1

MSG the formula I'm using is simular except I'm using the Triton X100 2 drops per gal and 25% 99.9 Isopropal and 75% RO water. So far it is fantastic. I am starting off with good vinyl though. Will try some of my ooooold original 70's vintage LP'S From my collection I stashed back in the 70's and see the diff. I will report back on these.

soundfreak1

Old records but all mint condition. The "ooooold" ones are just records that were not cared for and are in rough condition (very noisy) not worth playing due to condition two separate collections, one (ooold) i packed away in about 1976 and the other is a collection of vintage (mint and 1/2 speed LP'S) ive collected in the last few years . I will see what the cleaning will do with the "ooold" ones.

soundfreak1

As far as the actual cleaning it is straight foward: wet LP liberally (I do let it have about 10 seconds or so of contact time before i scrub) and scrub the LP in both directions and vac up two rotations in each direction than do the same with a rinse of RO water, flip and repete. After each vac the LP is virtually bone dry so no cloth needed.

tonyb

Wardsweb wrote: »

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.

Don't make me hurt ya bro. What a waste of an ice cream maker....priorities man...priorities.

msg

soundfreak1 wrote: »

MSG the formula I'm using is simular except I'm using the Triton X100 2 drops per gal and 25% 99.9 Isopropal and 75% RO water. So far it is fantastic. I am starting off with good vinyl though. Will try some of my ooooold original 70's vintage LP'S From my collection I stashed back in the 70's and see the diff. I will report back on these.

Old records but all mint condition. The "ooooold" ones are just records that were not cared for and are in rough condition (very noisy) not worth playing due to condition two separate collections, one (ooold) i packed away in about 1976 and the other is a collection of vintage (mint and 1/2 speed LP'S) ive collected in the last few years . I will see what the cleaning will do with the "ooold" ones.

As far as the actual cleaning it is straight forward: wet LP liberally (I do let it have about 10 seconds or so of contact time before i scrub) and scrub the LP in both directions and vac up two rotations in each direction than do the same with a rinse of RO water, flip and repeat. After each vac the LP is virtually bone dry so no cloth needed.

Is RO = Reverse Osmosis?

Okay, good info here, SF, thanks for sharing.

I think most of the records I've messed with so far (and had only mediocre results with) have been newer ones, and I've been reading off and on the past few months about the poor state in general of contemporary vinyl record manufacture. Can't be sure how much of what I read is true, but it's said to be along the lines of some combination of the modern facilities not taking their time, lifting records too soon (warps), too much heat during shrink wrapping (more warps), and poor pressing procedures, dirty equipment, and recycled vinyl, all leading to permanent noise.

Re: the recycled vinyl, statements (of conjecture?) of how it's recycled, with labels and all?!? other impurities, and something like using upwards of 25% recycled in new pressings? If any of this is true, it would help to explain why so much new vinyl is garbage, without even getting to the source recording type - whether original tapes or digital. I relate it to Converse All-Stars: anyone who's never worn the originals doesn't know what they're missing, and thinks the discomfort is some quaint part of the experience to be celebrated as some beautiful quirk. Some noise or blem, sure, it's to be expected with the medium, and it does add some measure of life to the experience, but come on, not to the extent that it exists in new pressings.

There's another thing I've noticed as well, and couldn't really describe it before until I read someone else talking about it - it was just explained simply as groove wall noise. To me, it sounds like a rubbing, grindy sort of thing in quiet passages, or in between tracks. Not on all records, and again, mostly on new ones, but at first I though, man, is my cart just out of alignment?!? Could be, as well.

I also notice something that I think Rich mentioned to me months ago about IGD - inner groove distortion. I had no idea what it meant at the time, but I think I've experienced it on at least two albums so far. Tracks closer to the center of the records exhibiting a bit of noticeable distortion, mostly on the higher frequencies?

Some new stuff, though - pristine. [shrug]

Thanks for sharing your process. I wonder if cleaning them too long could be hindering a proper cleanup. Mine also are not completely dry after vacuuming. Mostly, but not completely. Could be your alcohol content speeding the drying, I imagine.

gudnoyez

Most of my vinyl is NM so I'm expecting good results plus a lot of it has been done with the spin clean so this RCM will make it easier to do a lot of Vinyl in larger runs. I agree with some of the new pressings, as I have had a few that I wasn't that impressed with.

soundfreak1

MSG I might recommend after spreading solution on record you do a good "scrub" in both directions. This can dislodge stubborn dirt you may not be getting loose. And check the flow control valve.

msg

I was just thinking about this yesterday after reading more on your process. I only go in one direction, thinking I'd be pushing dirt back in if I went backward too. However, I probably go 5+ rotations on the wash and rinse, and about the same for vac. I could be reintroducing the contaminants, maybe, by staying too long on a dry-ish surface? I try to use only light pressure with the brush and vacuum.

I'm also using only one brush - same one for wash and rinse. I know a couple of the guys use at least two for cleaning. I sometimes blot the felt brush on blue shop towels, and rinse it by hand with the distilled after a few records.

With the little 1gal/2hp vac, I go full closed on the flow control valve. I've tried opening it a touch, too. Results are about the same. I'll give it a shot with my larger Shop-vac at some point.

This is good knowledge share. I imagine there's probably some other usage tips over on the Steve Hoffman forum that Steve linked to in his original post. I'm going to give that a read, too.

soundfreak1

Get a second brush and don't be concerned about a little "scrubbing" on the record within reason.

msg

Are you using two of Nick's brushes, or something else? I'm sure there can be a whole thread on brush types

soundfreak1

Nick's for cleaning and a "diskwasher" for rinsing.

msg

I thought about building out the whole kit that Nick details and that SF details on his informative RCM Kit post, but haven't yet for a couple of reasons - 1. haven't had the time, and 2. I'm still kicking around the idea of not having it set up permanently, and more just pull the gear out whenever I need it, do my business and then store it again.

I still wanted a neat way to store it, though, so I hopped on The Container Store's site to see what kind of stuff they have that might work, and it looks like one of their Stor-n-Slide underbed boxes would make a good container for the kit.

The original shipping box is around 14-1/2" x 13" x 4". TCS has a box that's 18" x 18-3/4" x 6-1/4". I'm giving this a shot. They also have a sweater box that might work, but it may end up being a little small. I figure going bigger would leave room for any other accessories, clothes etc.

I'm going to try the smaller one shown here on top of the larger Stor-n-Slide box

gudnoyez

Just sent Nick and email I'm ready for cleaning some Vinyl, and I got plenty to clean I will probably suffer from Carpel tunnel syndrome from the repetitive motion but so be it. Glad you guys are enjoying your squeaky cleans.

msg

It can get a tad tiresome after a few hours, but it's fun.
Bet you end up feeling somewhat addicted by the end of session 2 or 3. Last Sunday, I kept telling myself, "Okay, just one more and then I'm done for the day..."

soundfreak1

I've been doing about 20 at a sitting and have been able to keep motivated this way. Have gotten down to about 50 more and I will have gone thru my collection. The value of the vinyl I have "saved" and rejuvenated has paid for the kit.