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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
antinn
395 posts
 
@sammmmmmmy,

Both Tergitol and Triton X-100 non-ionic detergent (which has been used for cleaning vinyl records for decades) material safety data sheets list Poly (ethylene oxide), as a small impurity as part of the surfactants at <3%.  However, the CAS number listed is 25322-68-3 which actual traces to poly (ethylene glycol).  Tergitol 15-S-7 is what the Library of Congress uses to clean delicate lacquer records.  Ethylene oxide gas is considered incompatible with PVC, but that is not what we have here.  The record cleaning reps are wrong.  

sammmmmmy
89 posts
 
Either way,with ANY cleaner on the market, your actual vinyl-contact time is so miniscule compared to, say, a once-a-year record cleaning; as to make this discussion moot. 

Personally I use Kodak Photoflow and don't give a toss - althought most retentives rate it chemically worse than Tergitol/Triton.


antinn
395 posts
 
sammmmmmy, 

If you are curious, Kodak Photoflow  is a concentrated wetting agent that is water mixed with a combination of 25-30% propylene glycol (i.e. anti-freeze) that can act as an antibacterial and antifungal agent and 5-10% non-ionic surfactant. The non-ionic surfactant by the chemical abstract system (CAS) number is most likely Triton X-100 or from the Triton X family.  There is no surface tension data for this product, however, the propylene glycol component makes for a very stable shelf-life, and the chemical is very safe. Kodak recommends use at 1-part cleaner to 200 parts water, but this is for handwipe.
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz
13,381 posts
 
Been using Photoflow in my tank since I got it set up at Christmas.
No records were harmed in the making of this mix.......
gilles130
128 posts
 
I make a try with photoflo on my us machine but I found the treble hard . I have to clean it twice on my regular moth machine to get again natural treble so I have ordered iltofol and am going to try in the next days.
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