kvetcha
Chet Hanks' Filmography Buff
No, the vacuum nozzle is just on the same side as the one you're washing. You rotate it out of the way.
Record cleaning - what's your method?
- Thread starter lazylistener
- Start date
dansomeone
Well-Known Member
So the SqClean requires one flip: apply fluid to side A, brush, vacuum, then flip and repeat for side B?
The RDV requires two flips: apply fluid to side A, brush, flip (#1), vacuum side A, apply fluid to side B (no need to flip here), brush, flip (#2), vacuum side B.
I'm sure the SqClean is an excellent record cleaner, but I have to defend the comparably priced RDV. Yes, it requires one extra flip which takes about one second, but it does the job well and it's self-contained in a small box, which has advantages over a shop vac/hose/cleaning mat set up for storage and convenience.
Russ I
Well-Known Member
Absolutely. I can understand and support your defense of the one-second extra flip. I'm just saying that for me, having done it both ways, not having to flip the wet record is a definite advantage, especially if I want to wash, vacuum, then rinse and vacuum (which I actually don't because I just add a rinse to my wash and then vacuum once).
dansomeone
Well-Known Member
Ah, that makes more sense if you're doing two steps per record side, a cleaning step and a rinsing step. That much flipping could get confusing. Sometimes I get in a rhythm but then forget whether I have cleaned one side or both sides of a record, and that's with without an extra rinsing step.
The Denmarkian Wonder
Well-Known Member
Anyone looking for a VPI 16.5 Record Cleaning machine? A friend of mine is looking to sell his. Bought in 2016, only cleaned 40-50 records and has original packaging. Lives in OK (Bartlesville).
duke86fan
Well-Known Member
i just have a few frustrations with the spin clean..
1. i dunno when to wash the clothes because they sometimes get wet super easily and it leads to issues.. and when i use them i feel like I'm making it worse by scratching them
2. if your record is slightly warped it WILL have issues and not fit in the rollers
1. i dunno when to wash the clothes because they sometimes get wet super easily and it leads to issues.. and when i use them i feel like I'm making it worse by scratching them
2. if your record is slightly warped it WILL have issues and not fit in the rollers
LiamGallaghersBucketHat
Go on, geezer.
To address #1, you’d probably be safe in buying additional microfiber cloths so you’re not just relying on the spin clean cloths. Neither one should scratch your records.
ByersVinyl
Well-Known Member
Just thought id discuss my cleaning method using Project VCS.
Some may wince....
I use the analogy of washing a dirty plate with dried on food. A soft brush with cold soapy water will do next to nothing. ok we cant use hot water but we can take a little longer with the process.
So firstly i rotate and spread the solution liberally around record, (wince part) Now and ive done this many many times. I vigorously brush that record with the supplied brush - Im not gentle in any way.
Then i leave solution for a good few minutes because i think this soaking is gonna loosen anything stuck in the grooves.
Then i hoover, the final part is a rinse with just distilled water - this doesn't take long.
The record looks spotless when done and ive certainly not seen any visible issues due to vigorous brushing. If its a new record most of the time even the deadwax is silent,
Anyhow just wanted to share - wondered if anyone else is happy just to str8 brush forwards and reverse then hoover off.
I think it need a little more effort and defo a rinse - i always have a lot of residue on needle after first spin if not rinsed.
Some may wince....
I use the analogy of washing a dirty plate with dried on food. A soft brush with cold soapy water will do next to nothing. ok we cant use hot water but we can take a little longer with the process.
So firstly i rotate and spread the solution liberally around record, (wince part) Now and ive done this many many times. I vigorously brush that record with the supplied brush - Im not gentle in any way.
Then i leave solution for a good few minutes because i think this soaking is gonna loosen anything stuck in the grooves.
Then i hoover, the final part is a rinse with just distilled water - this doesn't take long.
The record looks spotless when done and ive certainly not seen any visible issues due to vigorous brushing. If its a new record most of the time even the deadwax is silent,
Anyhow just wanted to share - wondered if anyone else is happy just to str8 brush forwards and reverse then hoover off.
I think it need a little more effort and defo a rinse - i always have a lot of residue on needle after first spin if not rinsed.
91X
Member
I use an ultrasonic cleaner with distilled water and Tergitol 15-S-7 (2ml /gal), rinse with distilled water in a Spin Clean, then air dry in a rack. After that records I have cared for have no surface noise, and used records I have purchased have little to no surface noise.
BTW... I was able to obtain the LoC recommended Tergitol 15-S-7 through my work, but had to get in larger quantity than I will need for the foreseeable future. If anyone is interested I can offer 100ml for $25.
BTW... I was able to obtain the LoC recommended Tergitol 15-S-7 through my work, but had to get in larger quantity than I will need for the foreseeable future. If anyone is interested I can offer 100ml for $25.
kvetcha
Chet Hanks' Filmography Buff
New records I usually brush on TTVJ fluid, let sit 30 seconds, and vacuum off. No rinse step.
For dirtier records I’ll let it sit 3-5 minutes per side. The soak does help loosen things.
mrjoshuamccormack
Active Member
I finally bought the basic spin-clean type cleaner, have cleaned about 80 records now. I swear, the first record I played after cleaning (angel olsen - all mirrors) was louder than it was before. Could be a placebo effect.
Melt Face Molly Drop
Well-Known Member
Had the same issue with the spin clean. Wasn’t a fan. My process kept introducing more noise and it caused more stress trying to figure out why than I desired.
Scrapped it and went for a Squeaky Clean and have seen much better results: Squeaky Clean Vinyl MK-III RCM 3D Printed Record Cleaner (Classic Black)
mrjoshuamccormack
Active Member
For that one, it sounded cleaner (no static) just I don't remember the record being so loud. I'll probably eventually get a squeaky clean or something similar; I just had no proper cleaning method at all before this. I mean, I'm still on a 90 dollar turntable!
Melt Face Molly Drop
Well-Known Member
Oh yeah, the spin clean will get you to a better place for sure, especially on those noisy noisy ones. But those with the faintest of crackle, it may not scrub them entirely clean. And as someone with OCD, it drove me crazy. I'm also realizing that I got into the worst OCD hobby of all time. But I guess every hobby has their perfectionist qualities.
mrjoshuamccormack
Active Member
Oh yeah, my view of this hobby is slightly different: as I was cleaning the 70th record out of 80 I've clean so far, I thought "yep, I have a middle-aged hobby now..."
So from reading quite a few pages, it looks like Record Dr vs. Squeaky Clean comes down to personal preference?
Has anyone used one of these?:
Amazon product ASIN B07L3G9TBS
Does this add anything to the mix? or stick to one of the others.
Has anyone used one of these?:
Amazon product ASIN B07L3G9TBS
Does this add anything to the mix? or stick to one of the others.
Russ I
Well-Known Member
Looks like the record dr has the vacuum built in and you have to flip the wet record to vacuum it. Squeaky clean is less expensive, you supply your own shop-vac, and you don’t have to flip the wet record. Not sure I’d trust that ultrasonic diy unit
AnthonyI
Well-Known Member
Hmmm, for $250 and being able to clean 6 albums at a time it's intriguing to say the least. Taking a chance on things like this from Amazon is a little less stressful due simple Amazon returns. Of course it ain't the prettiest thing in the world
