Author Topic: Vinyl Cleaning (Read 9477 times)

nickgregory · « **on:** April 08, 2007, 08:56:45 PM »

I am curiuos what people use for vinyl cleaning...I am not in the market for one of the cleaning machines, or homebrewed versions, but looking into other options...there appears to be a few options on needle doc, and currently I am considering the Gruv Glide kit

http://www.needledoctor.com/Gruv-Glide?sc=2&category=108

the stanton kit

http://www.needledoctor.com/Stanton-VC-1-Vinyl-Cleaner?sc=2&category=108

the d4 kit...

http://www.needledoctor.com/Discwasher-D4-Kit?sc=2&category=108

I also saw this posted on this board...and may consider this ..

http://recordrama.com/shop/nfoscomm/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=23&products_id=35

all that said, curious to hear suggestions and input...thanks in advance!

Nick

scervin · « **Reply #1 on:** April 08, 2007, 09:26:36 PM »

Was using http://discdoc.com/ cleaning solutions, but will be ordering this in the near future:

http://www.audiointelligent.com/

capnhook · « **Reply #2 on:** April 08, 2007, 10:37:28 PM »

I was moving some stuff last week out of my buddy's mom's house they were selling.........and snagged an old D-4 kit he used to use a long time ago. Seems to work great....and reduces static, too. Now, if I could locate my old Zerostat ion gun........................

jeromejello · « **Reply #3 on:** April 09, 2007, 12:21:04 AM »

i had been looking for a while for something easy and cheap... my local record shop had something very similar to the d4 (if not the same damn thing). I am happy with the purchase. it seems to work really well even dry for cleaning some of the more smudged areas.

Kyle · « **Reply #4 on:** April 09, 2007, 05:31:24 AM »

I use the Record-Rama spin cleaner (they are right down the street

) and it really does a nice job. For day to day playback, I usually give the vinyl a once-over with an anti-static cloth (for cleaning negatives) - pulls the dust right off and def reduces static pops during playback. +T for vinyl upkeep!

Nick's Picks · « **Reply #5 on:** April 09, 2007, 07:59:28 AM »

the one that carl built is pretty sweet.
Just a platter, a vacuum and some felt I believe.

Sloan Simpson · « **Reply #6 on:** May 04, 2007, 10:25:51 PM »

Quote from: Nick's Picks on April 09, 2007, 07:59:28 AM

the one that carl built is pretty sweet.
Just a platter, a vacuum and some felt I believe.

Mine looks way ghetto compared to what Carl did, but the DIY vacuum solution is INDISPENSIBLE IMO. I actually ordered the lucite/felt wand that VPI uses in their actual machines for $25, spent another $25 on the smallest Shop-Vac available. Night and day difference on used records.

junonato · « **Reply #7 on:** May 05, 2007, 10:05:22 AM »

gruv glide

nickgregory · « **Reply #8 on:** May 06, 2007, 06:54:11 PM »

I ended up finding a guy on craiglist who had a nitty gritty record doctor, new in the box, that he was given but got out of vinyl soon after and never used it. Sold it to me for $150. Seemed like a good price given it would have cost me in the ~$100 range to build one...

bgalizio · « **Reply #9 on:** May 07, 2007, 07:54:01 AM »

I like the nitty gritty machine. Works great! Poke around and you can probably find one locally.

janka · « **Reply #10 on:** May 14, 2007, 04:23:46 PM »

I put together a good record cleaning system for cheap. I'm just using an old turntable platter, mobile fidelity brush, a shop-vac and record doctor cleaning fluid. I modified the long narrow attachment that came with the shop-vac. Basically just cut a long slit on the bottom of the attachment and plugged the original opening with gaffers tape. I then cut a replacement pad from the MF brush and stuck it on both sides of the slit in the attachment.

My cleaning regement is as follows.
Place record on old platter, apply fluid to Mobile Fidelity brush, scrub record, spray record with distilled water, then vacuum. I then rinse the MF brush with water and vacuum that with the modified attachment. That keeps both the brush and vacuum pads nice and clean without excess wear.

Works like a champ. I then have another brush I use for quick dusting of the record before each play.

Shop-vac - $25
Mobile Fidelity Brush - $20 (replacement pads 2 for $5) http://www.elusivedisc.com/products.asp?dept=509
Old Platter Free
Cleaning fluid $35 http://www.elusivedisc.com/prodinfo.asp?number=DDMRC32
dry cleaning brush - $25 http://www.elusivedisc.com/prodinfo.asp?number=MHHEBRUSH

In hindsight I'd skip the dry cleaning brush and just get 2 Mobile Fidelity brushes for $30. Order several replacement pad sets too. They last awhile but at $5 for 2 you might as well get several at once to avoid extra shipping cost down the road.

boojum · « **Reply #11 on:** May 14, 2007, 05:30:22 PM »

This is how the Library of Congress does it: http://www.loc.gov/preserv/care/record.html

carlbeck · « **Reply #12 on:** May 14, 2007, 05:51:51 PM »

Janka's is the same exact thing as mine just not in a cabinet, for the money it is more then enough. I can't say it enough but you have to vacuum your records.

mmadd29 · « **Reply #13 on:** May 14, 2007, 06:37:34 PM »

Quote from: bgalizio on May 07, 2007, 07:54:01 AM

I like the nitty gritty machine. Works great! Poke around and you can probably find one locally.

http://www.tracertek.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=52

Holy Shit...look at the price.....that $150 was a great buy...

janka · « **Reply #14 on:** May 14, 2007, 07:45:31 PM »

Quote from: mmadd29 on May 14, 2007, 06:37:34 PM

Quote from: bgalizio on May 07, 2007, 07:54:01 AM
I like the nitty gritty machine. Works great! Poke around and you can probably find one locally.

http://www.tracertek.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=52

Holy Shit...look at the price.....that $150 was a great buy...

They must like you, it's telling me $315.

nickgregory · « **Reply #15 on:** May 14, 2007, 07:50:41 PM »

Quote from: mmadd29 on May 14, 2007, 06:37:34 PM

Quote from: bgalizio on May 07, 2007, 07:54:01 AM
I like the nitty gritty machine. Works great! Poke around and you can probably find one locally.

http://www.tracertek.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=52

Holy Shit...look at the price.....that $150 was a great buy...

this is the version I got. Manual turning and putting cleaning fluid on the record

http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=NGRD3

macdaddy · « **Reply #16 on:** May 15, 2007, 12:37:31 AM »

Quote from: carlbeck on May 14, 2007, 05:51:51 PM

I can't say it enough but you have to vacuum your records.

Amen!

carl - do you have any pics on your diy solution..?

carlbeck · « **Reply #17 on:** May 15, 2007, 07:10:39 AM »

I do have some pics, they were posted in another post but here they are again.

macdaddy · « **Reply #18 on:** May 15, 2007, 09:41:16 AM »

that looks great, carl. thanks for reposting the pics...

+t

scervin · « **Reply #19 on:** May 27, 2007, 10:27:23 AM »

I think I'll be trying a vacum cleaning solution. Tried the Disc Doctor cleaner and it isn't any better than the stuff I had been using. $65 and getting more pops!

macdaddy · « **Reply #20 on:** May 27, 2007, 10:39:01 AM »

in my experience, there is vacuum cleaning, and then there is everything else...

nickgregory · « **Reply #21 on:** May 27, 2007, 11:01:58 AM »

Quote from: scervin on May 27, 2007, 10:27:23 AM

I think I'll be trying a vacum cleaning solution. Tried the Disc Doctor cleaner and it isn't any better than the stuff I had been using. $65 and getting more pops!

I got the record doctor (the audio advisor branded nitty gritty) and am using it with phoenix cleaning solution and it has made a world of difference...makes good quality vinyl sound fantastic, and really poor quality vinyl listenable...worth every dime

scervin · « **Reply #22 on:** May 28, 2007, 08:46:43 PM »

Record cleaning woes revisited...

So I decided to try cleaning again today and rinsed 2-3 times instead of just the one. I noticed after the first rinse there is still a ton of cleaner on the record. Works much better and the '69-'72 original Santana pressings I got from the father-in-law sound fantastic (need to get new sleeves since the originals are brittle and yellow). Much less static and almost no pops.

SC

bgalizio · « **Reply #23 on:** May 28, 2007, 09:29:19 PM »

I ordered some of the Dow surfactant used by the LOC to make the cleaning solution. Once my Dad gives it a whirl, I'll let you know how he likes it (and what solution he previously was using). FWIW, I'm not sure where to order the surfactant if you don't work in the chemical industry.

joekar · « **Reply #24 on:** May 29, 2007, 12:07:17 PM »

I found this link while cruising around......Carl's solution is wonderful but I just don't have the room for it...this is very similar but does not (really) require the cabinet....I may just mod a crevice tool to try it out..
http://www.teresaudio.com/haven/cleaner/cleaner.html

Peace,
jk

carlbeck · « **Reply #25 on:** May 29, 2007, 07:43:47 PM »

Quote from: joekar on May 29, 2007, 12:07:17 PM

I found this link while cruising around......Carl's solution is wonderful but I just don't have the room for it...this is very similar but does not (really) require the cabinet....I may just mod a crevice tool to try it out..
http://www.teresaudio.com/haven/cleaner/cleaner.html

Peace,
jk

Yep, I used some of his ideas to build mine, there are a few different ways to get to the same results. Just vacuum & you will be fine.

joekar · « **Reply #26 on:** May 29, 2007, 09:31:57 PM »

Cool, thanks

I really dig your cabinet...very nice work...when I have the space I hope to build one..

Peace,
jk

nickgregory · « **Reply #27 on:** May 29, 2007, 10:15:38 PM »

for those looking...dont know the seller...machine sells for $250 retail

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?anlgtabl&1185664875

zowie · « **Reply #28 on:** May 30, 2007, 11:16:28 PM »

I use VPI 17.
IMO vacuum cleaning is overrated in the audio press. A good thing, yes, but overrated.

scervin · « **Reply #29 on:** June 01, 2007, 06:37:22 PM »

I like now that I've realized you need to rinse 2 or 3 times. Stuff isn't cheap, but seeing that it is a pint of concentrate I should be able to use it for a long time.

SC

macdaddy · « **Reply #30 on:** June 02, 2007, 10:18:36 AM »

Quote from: zowie on May 30, 2007, 11:16:28 PM

I use VPI 17.
IMO vacuum cleaning is overrated in the audio press. A good thing, yes, but overrated.

that is a mighty expensive machine for someone who isnt sold on the process...

if you want to get rid of it for cheap, lmk

zowie · « **Reply #31 on:** June 04, 2007, 08:02:57 AM »

I got a great deal on it from an audiophile's widow. It's not that I think it's useless. It's good for cleaning dirty records, surely better than a $20 Discwasher. But one can read how it "lifts veils" from new lps, is like a major upgrade to your whole system, and it's absolutely essential that you drop significant dollars on one, and I think most of that is crock.

Author Topic: Vinyl Cleaning (Read 9477 times)

janka

janka

zowie

zowie