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A Worthwhile Untrasonic Cleaner

I just purchased these two items from Amazon (PRIME)...

An Album Rotation device - holds 5 albums...
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07PNCVMZ3/ref=pe_3034960_236394800_TE_dp_1

An Utransonic Cleaning Tub
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07HNQ26WT/ref=pe_3034960_236394800_TE_dp_f1

The rotation device is extremely well built and fits the tub perfectly. The tub also looks well made, but is a bit noisy, but that is normal from what I have read..

I have just finished cleaning some 30+ albums and found the complete unit is extremely good at getting rid of those crackles and pops - even finger prints and other grunge - with minimal effort

The tub defaults to a wash time of 5 minute (I used 10 minutes) and I reduced default temperature to 20 Celsius, but the ultrasonic process warms the water up, so by the time I had finished some 35+ albums it was 30 Celsius.

Even had a friend come over with 3 of his dirtiest albums - grunge + finger prints - just plain grubby. Ten minutes of cleaning and voila - shiney like new (apart from the scratches) playing the album was almost noise free - probably needed a second wash.

So the total cost for both units was around $450 from Amazon.ca ($370 from Amazon.com)) for the two pieces - which from what I have been seeing is perhaps the lowest price for an Ultrasonic cleaner out there.

Eager to try the unit that arrived yesterday, I only used distilled water - without any additive

What additive does the absolute best job ?
What difference does it make?
Or should I just stick with distilled water?

Thanks for any feedback.

One of the best analogue related value for money products I have ever purchased

At this rate I’ll clean my entire vinyl library pretty quickly AND do some of the wife’s jewellery :-)

If you are looking for something that actually cleans you vinyl well - consider these products.

Regards - Steve



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williewonka
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz
13,381 posts
 
Spirit.
There are many threads about US cleaning and Slaw is a huge believer with a great diy set up.
I have been trying to get a set up going for a while.
First tank I bought was defective and I sort of let it slide for a while.
But reading this thread I decided to follow exactly what the OP had done and very glad I have.

Just need experiment with temperature and time a bit.
Probably less temperature and more time.
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz
13,381 posts
 
Quick update for any who maybe interested in going this route.

I think the rotisserie is very well made, the plastic label covers/ spacers seal very well with the silicone ring seals.
It’s a perfect fit on the lip of the US tank and slides up and down easily to dip the records in the tank.
Only wish would be for the motor to do both directions rather than the present anti clockwise only.

Tank works well enough IMHO, heats up quickly and drains very easily.
I heard a lot of complaints about excessive noise but obviously nobody works in my business... Lol.
I think is is very acceptable noise levels but I do have it set up out in the workshop due to the potential mess more than anything.
And I have a huge workbench I can spread everything out on with towels underneath all to protect.

Will it make as good a job as a $4k machine? I would say not but so it shouldn’t at over ten times cheaper!
I am all in at $360 USD.

Good time’s!
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz
13,381 posts
 
Thought I would update with some mods I made to cleaning regime with this system.

Increase temperature to 40 C.
Increase US cycle to 22 minutes.
Clean just 3 albums at a time, not 5. This gives an appropriate 1" gap between albums.

Noticeable reduction in background noise of the vinyl.

Takes longer but if a job is worth doing its worth doing right.

Enjoy!
jtimothya
612 posts
 
https://thevinylpress.com/timas-diy-rcm/
benjie
329 posts
 
@uberwaltz


I could not agree with you more on the importance of heating the water during the ultrasonic cleaning process. It just offers so much more of a cleaning advantage over cold water. It enhances the process especially on older used records. Now you are able to soften and loosen that gunk at the bottom of the record groove and remove it. The result is quieter more dynamic sounding records.


The other thing I agree with is the space between the records when in the tank. As I stated above in a previous post, you have to have at least an inch between the records for the ultrasonic process to work correctly. I see so many videos on Youtube where people have 10 or 12 records crammed into the tank at the same time thinking " wow look at all the time I am saving cleaning my records". In reality they are just wasting their time because the records are not getting cleaned properly.


To quote you "takes longer but if a job is worth doing its worth doing right"
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