Humminguru - The budget ultrasonic with the funny name

I don't really buy or play any really dirty records. I mostly buy new reissues, and near-mint used albums. I currently use Audio Intelligent One Step Cleaning Fluid with the Pro-ject Vacuum Cleaning Machine. I clean all albums, even new, when I get them and put them in Mofi sleeves. Is it worth switching to the Humminguru? Will it be easier to use and give better results? Should I reclean the ones I did by the previous method? For effectiveness and efficiency, what liquids and method would you recommend for this type of use? Should I consider the humminguru stylus cleaner too? Thanks for the advice.

 

Thanks a bunch for this post. I snagged one of these during the holiday sale. I've been using 15 drops per gallon of Tergikleen for my cleaning cycle and ordered a 2nd water tank for my rinse cycle to remove the paranoia of residual Tergikleen in the filter. I use a 5 min wash for 5 records then drain, and was initially doing a 2 minute auto cycle for the rinse. I switched to a 5 min auto cycle for the rinse recently and found a significant reduction in record noise. Some records I had thought to be irredeemable sound great now.

 

I switched to a similar regimen. I'm mostly cleaning new records singly now that I've cleaned most of my regularly played records. I too found switching to a separate rinse cycle was a noticeable improvement.

 

@shotgunshane
Humminguru should be giving you a kickback. Yes, I ordered one too.

Reading through your recommendations. I'm not sure I understand your coffee filter thing. Of course, I don't really understand how you put the water in, etc., because I don't have hardware in my hands. It looks like you pour the water from the gallon jug into the hole where the record goes. Really? If that's the case, essentially any funnel would work.??

Thanks again for putting all of this down. It is a great resource.

 

That's pretty much it! Dump down the record basin, spin/clean, then the machine evacuates the solution/water back into the tank. Then the drying cycle starts.

 

Perfect! Thank you.

 

Quick update: I've now had my HumminGuru RCM for about a year now and it's been 100% trouble free. I've cleaned about half of my collection, approximately 300 records, and every new LP gets a trip through the RCM before first play. HumminGuru just came out with sleeves (inner and outer) that seem to be competitively priced compared to my go-to Invest in Vinyl sleeves. This link to the sleeves on Amazon includes a 10% discount code. I've just ordered up some of the inners, so I'll update this thread with a comparison once they show up.

 

I've been meaning to update. I have some grungy 70's pressings that I can't afford/refuse to pay for NM copies of from Discogs and Tergikleen made an improvement but there was still noticeable grunge in the grooves when playing. I got some Audio Intelligent enzymatic concentrate and mixed up a liter based on their specifications, then added 6 drops of Tergikleen in the hopes it would help the enzymatic cleaner to get deeper into the grooves. I run a 5 minute cleaning cycle, let the record soak for a few additional minutes and then run another 5 minute cleaning cycle, followed by a rinse cycle. It hasn't eliminated noise from small scratches obviously, but it has made some improvement in playback quality. I don't know if everyone will find it worthwhile, but my UK Harvest 1st pressing of Animals is at least an enjoyable, if somewhat noisy, listen now instead of a distorted mess.
Edit:
I've also been running my rinse cycles with 4 drops of Tergikleen per gallon of distilled water, after watching the plain distilled water sit on the flat surfaces of the record and never seem to enter the grooves, I don't really know if it's made a difference, but the whole record looks wet while rinsing and I don't notice an audible film/residue in playback.

 

First, this was a VERY helpful post! Thanks to shotgunshane for putting it out there. Second, to the guy who said that the Talas shipping for Tergitol 15-S-9 was really high (and anyone else who wants to order), yes it was, BUT... Their website kinda sucks too so I finally just called to put in the order for Tergitol 15-S-9 and when they put in tax and shipping, the tax was half what the website wanted to charge and the shipping was $12 rather than almost $17. Not a huge savings but worth the five minutes for the call Cheers all.

 

FWIW, Tergikleen is 15-S-3 + 15-S-9. S9 is water soluble, but S9 is not. So all you guys in this thread saying Tergikleen needs a rinse is correct.

I also came here to say the Hummin Guru NOVA came out recently and is on pre-order



Differences from the original:

• 40 kHz sweep
• Can accept 12", 10", and 7" without the need for an adapter
• Extra modes, (Quick Washing, Deep Washing, Heavy Washing, Quick Auto, Deep Auto, Heavy Auto)
• Better drying efficiency
• Quieter
• Visual timer indicator
• Lid also doubles as a drying/holding rack
• Comes with a dust cover

It is also much higher price at $699. However the price of the original has gone down to $379 + shipping (about $37 to the US). I just ordered the original and looking forward to trying it out. I purchased a manual DIY style ultrasonic cleaner from Amazon a week ago and this weekend cleaned some records with it and, no - not dealing with that again. Back to Amazon it goes.

 

Does anyone with the humminguru feel that the new features on the Nova seem worth the higher cost? My father and I are considering splitting the cost in one.

 

@shotgunshane , do you ever use the adapters? I have a bunch of 45"s and 10". Are they annoying to use? Going to have to understand the surfactant in one machine not the other! And thanks, that was a good reply!! I always have to worry about over stretching myself!

 

Now that you have had these units for close to three years any problems with them or repairs needed? How many cleaning cycles would you estimate you have run? Are all the parts user serviceable when things break?

I'm thinking about buying two of them as you have. HG is having a Christmas flash sale of 10% off for a few days so now is the time for me to buy. I'm contemplating two of the HG1 vs Novas but I lean towards the HG1 because it seems they get the records just as clean as the Novas. I just wonder if the Novas might end up be more reliable being a second version.

 

I had one break, I emailed support, they told me it needed a $30-ish dollar part. I paid, replaced it following their instructions, and my cleaner worked again. I’ve been using two of them as well with Tegriclean + rinse and have been happy with the results.

I was impressed that I could fix it myself for a small fee (the part), so many things are manufactured to break and they expect you to buy a whole new replacement (which I find very slimy). These people are not slimy.

 

I'd expect as much seeing how well their products do at cleaning my records! Good to hear their CS is commensurate.