Cleaning Vinyl

I started out with a Spin clean, and it did a decent job. After scouring the net for other alternatives, a DIY Ultrasonic vinyl cleaner sounded like a good idea. For not a lot more than the Spin Clean ($80 vs $120 shipped), a low end 6 liter model fit the bill, and some ghetto fabulous engineering, I've now started testing.

Eventually I'll make a bracket for a BBQ rotisserie motor (2-3 rpm) to keep the records constantly spinning. I have 4" cork coasters for spacers, so I can do 4-5 records at a time. Distilled water and a few drops of dish washer anti-spot are the only ingredients in the cleaning solution so far.

All the ideas have been plucked from other folks out there, except maybe the binder clips...lol

UPDATE: Just finished the first record, did it in quarters at 10 minutes per. I had originally used the Spin Clean on this grubby old recording. the ultasonic cleaner did make a difference for the better, further reducing the snap, crackles, and pops.

 

Awesome safety razor collection! I have just one that I use...a Merkur Futur Wanted to get into a straight edge razor with a strop...but too chicken.

 

Oooohhh, I got way more safety razors than that...lol

I used a much smaller Ultrasonic cleaner way back in 2007 when I first got into the whole safety razor obsession. It was awesome for cleaning them up.

I tried the straight razor and strop too, but it required more time and commitment than I felt like dedicating. I still have a few including a Teak Feather Artist Club. For the most part I now use various Schick Injector models to mow my melon, and the new Mongoose razor for my mug (like a super injector that takes the Feather Artist Club blades).

Anyways, back on topic... I think I used too much anti-spot, or it was the dirty water from cleaning my razors first, but there were water mark's where the water line was (actually higher than the water line, the water actually climbed up the grooves). I'll try a batch later, I'm going out to to the garage to drill the cork coasters (spacers)...lol

 

hello,

i use one of these and it is awesome!

http://www.headblade.com/product/533001.html

 

Tried one of their other models years ago, and used it for a few weeks. Ended up going back to the regular cartridge razors, then not long after that I discovered "wet shaving" and safety razors. Haven't looked back since... tried Mach 5 and Schick Hydro as travel razor when I only go with a carry on (i started carrying my injector with a blade loaded and no replacements. Doesn't seem to bother the powers that be). For me, cartridges still can't compete with the closeness I get from a safety razor, whether it be DE or Injector. Injector is more speed/user friendly and is pretty much the perfect comprise between cartridge and safety razor. My stubble comes back quicker with cartridges, even if I go over the same amount of times. I better stop, I can go on and on with shaving techniques and philosophies...


Going to have to look for replacement spacers eventually, little bits of cork keep breaking off and getting on the records. I think I could squeeze 2 more LP's in without too much trouble. Read somewhere that the spacing needed to be an inch between each other, and I'm sitting at 5/8"... I'll see what happens tomorrow. I have 30 LP's on the way from Discogs, so that will be the true test in the near future.

 

Damn, 10 min. per quarter? 40 min for 4 -5 records on the spit, ok... Are you air drying, or vacuum?

 

Just trying things out, and drying with a lint free microfiber cloth. How long do you think I should try cleaning until I get the rotisserie motor rigged in? I'm open to suggestions, with explanations behind them. Common sense, measurements, and value for $$$ spent are why I like CS and SBAF over the other site.

In the last few months, I've read so many threads on vinyl cleaning, I'm almost sick, and almost every post recommends doing something different from the previous. Using distilled water is one of the only consistent recommendations...

 

I use this one. So easy...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ultrasonic-...id=100005&rk=5&rkt=6&mehot=ag&sd=160673353773

 

I know, me too! At this point I'm just using a Nitty Gritty, a small plastic squeeze bottle with 3/4 distilled water, 1/4 91% alcohol and a couple drops of a wetting agent (can't remember, it was a generic something to soften hard water for dishwashing). Does a decent job, but thinking about your approach.

 

That one looks decent, but $290...

Here's another competitor http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ultrasonic-Record-Cleaner-Groove-Clean-/121760762854?hash=item1c5981cbe6

and his whole kit http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ultrasonic-Record-Cleaner-Vinyl-Clean-/121574299552?hash=item1c4e6497a0

He even uses the exact same Ultrasonic cleaner as I bought. No way am I paying $720 for that set up. The one Larry posted above is way more worth it, but I still don't know if I want to drop $290 on it ... I'm sure I can get a decet rotating setup for less than $100. The 2.5rpm BBQ rotisserie motor only cost $25, and work cordess off d-cells or it can be plugged into the wall.

 

Just finished cleaning a 4-pack, and they are definitely cleaner than using the Spin Clean alone. All 4 were Spin Cleaned last month and played before I put them into the Ultrasonic bath this evening for reference. All of them have fewer/quieter crackles and pops after the Ultrasonic bath, if any.

I used a cap of dishwasher anti-spot in a gallon and a half of distilled water. Faint water stains were visible on 3 of the 4 records, constant rotation would most likely eliminate this.

I'm off to the RMAF Friday, then to work for 3 weeks. The BBQ motor will have to wait until next month.

 

What Khz is your ultrasonic transducer JK47? I know KL and Audiodesk use 40Khz however 60Khz or 80Khz seem to be preferred by the DIY crowd since they create better cavitation in theory?

 

It's a 40Khz model. I didn't look into higher frequency models due to cost. My goal was to stay under $200 total. Already it's doing a better job than my Spin Clean.

 

Awesome thanks

I'm thinking of ordering one of these and sticking the rotisserie thing from eBay on top.
http://vibratollc.com/

The shipping to Canada is a bit over the top though.

 

Is that the same guy that had the cleaner in a plastic rubbermaid conatainer? Found it, yes it is, oh boy...

The price is still too much for me.

 

Yeah he's moved up to metal lol
The controller is the innovative part, definitely not the casing.

It's either that go all out for an Elma P60H. Still got more research and understanding to do.

 

OK I read the majority of the diyAudio thread as well as Harry Weisfeld's experience trying to develop his own Ultrasonic product on the VPI board and various other discussion around the net.

Quick summary of what I learned:

• The KLAudio/Audiodesk commercial models use 40Khz transducers
• Of the two the KLAudio is the hands down winner. The Audiodesk has many reported reliability issues and allegedly the customer service sucks too. Lots of big red flags.
• 60 or 80Khz transducers are preferred by the DIY crowd though there is no concrete evidence/test results showing they produce better results with records. In theory they are better due to better cavitation/ability to get into smaller area. If you are cleaning multiple records at once the 60/80Khz standing waves are shorter which allows less space between records for optimal cleaning. They are also quieter and 60/80 is more gentler on the record though there is no evidence of 40Khz machines doing any damage to records.
• Consider using an in tank filter to extend the life of the fluid (need to find exact instructions, they are in the DIYAudio thread somewhere)
• The vinyl stack rotisserie thing works well. Only negative comments are that some feel it spins a bit too fast (5min/rotation) and that the motor design has a possibility of wearing out early due to the way the load is distributed.
• Best choices for a top quality DIY unit seem to be the Sonix IV ST136 60Khz ($700) or Elma P60H 37/80Khz ($1400) and maybe the Vibrato 60 or 80Khz ($650). Many people also use the cheap Chinese units with great success.

 

thanks Chris!