Conventional Vacuum Record Cleaning Machines

[MylesBAstor]

VPI Typhoon

http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue34/vpi_hw27.htm

[1morerecord2clean]

Is this a current review Myles or did you just decide to repost here? Either way a good topic. I'm a good friend of the V8 maker and I like what his unit does. OTOH Peter Lederman prefers to clean records the old fashioned way. What do you think?

[MylesBAstor]

Is this a current review Myles or did you just decide to repost here? Either way a good topic. I'm a good friend of the V8 maker and I like what his unit does. OTOH Peter Lederman prefers to clean records the old fashioned way. What do you think?

Wrote it a while back but thought might generate some posts about record cleaning!

I prefer the ultrasonic machine. No conventional machine I've used gets the same result. However, some prefer to first clean with a vacuum machine and then finish off the cleaning process with a trip through the ultrasonic factory. For me, I love the ultrasonic machine for its simplicity: just turn it on, set the cleaning and drying times (usually just need to that one time), plop the record in and come back when the machine beeps (a little harder when using the KLaudio silencer). No scrubbing, worrying about if using the right fluid, etc. Only thing that could be better is loading up 7 LPs and coming back when the machine beeps.

I know Harry Weisfeld hears the ultrasonic machines killing the top end but I hear just the opposite. And I'm not sure if Harry is using a KLaudio or something he put together. I'll also have to ask him the next time I see him if he's using pure water or adding something to the water (surfactants kill the sound and in particular the top end and transparency for most of them are very difficult to completely remove except with several water rinses). Bottom line, ultrasonic or vacuum, the choice of fluid is probably 50 pct of the equation, the vacuum pressure 40% and bidirectional cleaning 10%. (maybe exaggerated a little). But you get the point.

[Rob]

Wrote it a while back but thought might generate some posts about record cleaning!

I prefer the ultrasonic machine. No conventional machine I've used gets the same result. However, some prefer to first clean with a vacuum machine and then finish off the cleaning process with a trip through the ultrasonic factory. For me, I love the ultrasonic machine for its simplicity: just turn it on, set the cleaning and drying times (usually just need to that one time), plop the record in and come back when the machine beeps (a little harder when using the KLaudio silencer). No scrubbing, worrying about if using the right fluid, etc. Only thing that could be better is loading up 7 LPs and coming back when the machine beeps.

I know Harry Weisfeld hears the ultrasonic machines killing the top end but I hear just the opposite. And I'm not sure if Harry is using a KLaudio or something he put together. I'll also have to ask him the next time I see him if he's using pure water or adding something to the water (surfactants kill the sound and in particular the top end and transparency for most of them are very difficult to completely remove except with several water rinses). Bottom line, ultrasonic or vacuum, the choice of fluid is probably 50 pct of the equation, the vacuum pressure 40% and bidirectional cleaning 10%. (maybe exaggerated a little). But you get the point.

Blasphemy! the term "simplicity" its not synonymous with cleaning records, its an arduous task requiring all manner of cleaning fluids and a complex methodology/process vetted by scholars and decades of experimentation.

If you want a really clean record, IMO it cant be done with an ultrasonic machine alone but with a combination wet-vac or better yet, point nozzle (Monks/Loricraft). Bill Hart and I have discussed this at length and its alluded to on his blog The Vinyl Press. Bill will add his thoughts I'm sure, when I clear my plate I'll write up something about my set up with pics.

[MylesBAstor]

Blasphemy! the term "simplicity" its not synonymous with cleaning records, its an arduous task requiring all manner of cleaning fluids and a complex methodology/process vetted by scholars and decades of experimentation.

If you want a really clean record, IMO it cant be done with an ultrasonic machine alone but with a combination wet-vac or better yet, point nozzle (Monks/Loricraft). Bill Hart and I have discussed this at length and its alluded to on his blog The Vinyl Press. Bill will add his thoughts I'm sure, when I clear my plate I'll write up something about my set up with pics.

I think a great deal depends on the quality of the records you are buying and then cleaning. If you buy garage store albums, do dumpster diving, all bets are off about their shape and they might have anything from peanut butter to God knows stuck to their their surface. Me, I only buy records in good shape and ergo a vacuum cleaning machine may not be needed.

The KLaudio did what vacuum machines only hinted at: quieter records, more information, better extremes and an amazing abiltiy to make the instruments pop out of the backgrond. And I believe in having a high vacuum pump on your RCM since as the amount of fluid goes down, the hydrostatic tension goes up, and ergo it gets harder and harder to remove the last vestiges of the RCF.

[mep]

Love my VPI 16.5 with MoFi Super Wash cleaning fluid. I dumped the VPI record brush you use for applying the cleaning fluid to the LP because it would knock the slag off of a weld. I bought a toothbrush to use to clean the brush on the VPI that cleans the LP as well as the brush you apply the fluid with before I clean every LP.

Like Myles, I don't buy trashed LPs that become a restoration project so I have no need to go through heroic efforts to clean my LPs before I play them. No 10 stage cleaning process plus an exorcism goes on at my house. I clean each side of an LP before I play it which takes all of a minute. My LPs look like new and sound great if they ever sounded great.

[1morerecord2clean]

I believe Harry bought my friends V8 last year at Newport. As far as I know that's what he's using. I don't know if he gives the record a rinse on a 16.5 or not. Most people I know using the AD or the V8 do a rinse on a conventional RCM.

[MylesBAstor]

Does this count as conventional?Does this count as conventional?

[ATTACH=CONFIG]temp_396_1455145669147_836[/ATTACH]

[david k]

Does this count as conventional?

[MylesBAstor]

Does this count as conventional?

[ATTACH=CONFIG]n2210[/ATTACH]

No but I'll take it!

[allenh]

Ha, another timely topic again! I just traded in my KL to a fellow Agoner for his ClearAudio Double Matrix RCM. I wanted to try a solutions based RCM with vacuum. I found I had to wash some LPs a number of times with the KL before the majority of clicks and pops went away. I am hoping an enzyme/vacuum based solution would work out better. I have a feeling I will need a combination of both though.

Maybe Bill will post his article about his recording cleaning workflow. It was his article that got me thinking about the right solution...

[MylesBAstor]

That machine has interested me since Robert Suchy showed it to me at CES. I'd be interested in hearing more about the Clearaudio.

What fluids are you using to clean? I did find the enzyme based cleaners did a better job at cleaning and removing pops and ticks than the earlier generation of RCFs did. But in my experience the US machine removed more pops and clicks. I guess again it comes down the starting point and chain of custody of the record.

[allenh]

I'm using L'Art du Son right now, but I'm open to trying others. I also like the fact that fingerprints are cleaned up with the enzyme based cleaners. I hate fingerprint smudges on my records!

[Johnny Vinyl]

I use a Nitty Gritty 2.5Fi and Mofi Super Wash, but I first give it an initial manual clean ( 3-4 rotations) on a Spin Clean.

[Steve Lefkowicz]

I really miss my 2.5FI. It did a great job cleaning.

[Johnny Vinyl]

My cleaning station:

[Bill Hart]

Johnny- you baking them too?

[Johnny Vinyl]

LOL! Not quite, but maybe I should slip in a warped one. Haha! I chose the space as it's the most comfortable and efficient, especially given my back issues.