Budget ultrasonic vinyl cleaning

Upstatemax
Upstatemax Posts: 2,728
edited December 3 in 2 Channel Audio
I needed an ultrasonic cleaner for cleaning brass casings, for reloading. I decided to keep it reasonable and while kicking around the Vevor website, I came across this:

https://www.vevor.com/ultrasonic-cleaner-c_11064/6l-ultrasonic-vinyl-record-cleaner-cleaning-machine-complete-w-drying-rack-p_010265133877?adp=gmc&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_id=23093382192&ad_group=189722589027&ad_id=778133999269&utm_term=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23093382192&gbraid=0AAAAACq8bLVhdLwZFk1VsOJGBev78HBsr&gclid=CjwKCAiA3L_JBhAlEiwAlcWO54l7DwsrEJn27vCAyRE6xyp1-eEvXrLeyQCwxBAKItezcJcEIbBzFRoCkR4QAvD_BwE

I figured for the $15'ish it added to the "standard" version, why the heck not try it.

For it's base purpose, it's fantastic at cleaning up brass!

After a good clean out, I set up the vinyl cleaning setup.

I need to research some better solutions for the ultrasonic, but I have a good bit of the "Spin Clean" solution kicking around, and a quick search claims it works alright.

So, I dropped in 4 caps of the solution and started a cleaning cycle.

I set the water temp to 39*c (about 102*f) and ran 6 albums for 15 minutes.

I picked a few albums that I've retired for being too noisy, such as ZZ Top "First Album" and Ray Charles " Ray's Moods".

The cleaner didn't perform any miracles, it's not going to repair surface damage, but it did clean up the sound of these 2 by a really good margin. Way less hiss, crackles and pops. To the point that I'll happily put them back into rotation.

I also put my MoFi copy of "Brothers and Sisters" in. This album has always had a frustrating amount of noise to it, especially for what MoFi albums cost.

All I can say at this point, the noise is GONE.

So, it seems I'll be cleaning my entire collection of vinyl on this machine!

Thankfully it's a relatively small collection.

Comments

  • SIHAB
    SIHAB Posts: 5,390
    That is awesome.

    If the record is already clean, I just use a surfactant.
    Triton X-100 (10 drops per run) and distilled water.
    Speakers: Polk Lsim, ATC SCM19 v2, NHT SuperzeroSpeaker Cables: DH Labs, Transparent, Wireworld, Canare, Monster: Beer budget, Bose ears
  • Upstatemax
    Upstatemax Posts: 2,728
    SIHAB wrote: »
    That is awesome.

    If the record is already clean, I just use a surfactant.
    Triton X-100 (10 drops per run) and distilled water.

    Awesome.

    Thanks for the suggestion!

    I'll pick some X-100 up and get to some more cleaning!