DIY RCM need quick help from VPI owners

ckphoto

I will be building a record cleaning machine next weekend and have one question. Does the vacuum wand touch the record or is it floating above. I was going to buy the VPI 16.6 suction tube and mount but I am cheap so I think I came up with a good pvc alternative.

dkg999

Before getting a VPI 16.5 RCM I used a modified shop vac wand. The flat, rectangular, long wand that you can buy for a small shop vac, plug the end, cut a slot down the center, put two strips of stick-on velvet strips from the craft store, then use a small file to keep filing out the end of the slot until you get the suction just right, and it works pretty good. Getting the suction right is the trick, otherwise the wand will stick to the LP with so much suction you can't move it and will scuff the LP.

ckphoto

Thanks for the help dkg999 I will post some photos in the DIY section when finished.

thsmith

dkg999 wrote: »

Before getting a VPI 16.5 RCM I used a modified shop vac wand. The flat, rectangular, long wand that you can buy for a small shop vac, plug the end, cut a slot down the center, put two strips of stick-on velvet strips from the craft store, then use a small file to keep filing out the end of the slot until you get the suction just right, and it works pretty good. Getting the suction right is the trick, otherwise the wand will stick to the LP with so much suction you can't move it and will scuff the LP.

I stated my DIY project this weekend and I used the same approach. I first was trying to hold the creavass tool on the album and it about wore me out. Now I let the vac do the job and it is much easier.

BTW, I have a pint of Triton X-114 if anyone needs some. I use 8 drops per gallon. Most of the 37 albums I cleaned this weekend are almost as quiet as a CD.