New Hobby Ultrasonic Record Cleaning

Thanks for all the informative posts in this thread. Unfortunately, I'm a little late to the party and the Happybuy cleaner is out of stock at Amazon. I see that there is a separate record spinning attachment available but it appears to be out of stock too. The record spinner on the Happybuy looks better built than the separate one.

I'll keep checking Amazon for new stock. I'm guessing that whoever is making these things will do quite well and I'll be surprised if they don't raise the price but this is a great idea. If anyone locates a supply of this cleaner or the a good spinner attachment please let us know.

In 2017 I purchased a 6L Chinese-made ultrasonic cleaner w/timer & heater for $100. on Amazon. Made my own rotating set up with a 2rpm 12VDC motor (Amazon $20.), some 1/4-20 threaded rod, rubber grommets and large plastic nuts as spacers (Lowes) and to secure the records to the rod. I cleaned 2 LPs (or 45s) at a time, spaced evenly in the tank. The entire thing cost me about $160. and took an hour to build the frame from scrap wood, mount the motor to it and configure to the tank. Was it pretty-no, but it sure did the trick! TergiKleen is best ($28. Amazon), but Triton X-100 works great as well. I used NO alcohol. Distilled water in all the processes. Run the tank empty 15 mins. to de-gass before each new tank. I got about 22-25 LPs before needing to change. Heat settings at 32-35 C are fine. Cleaned most LP’s about 8-10 mins. After cleaning, I took the rotating spindle out and slid it into my cordless drill. I took a 1-gal pump sprayer w/distilled water in it, sprayed off the records while rotating them at slowest speed in the drill. After that, I used an ionized hair dryer ($13./Wal-Mart) and dried them with that while spinning them on the drill at fast speed. Took a bit of practice, but kept the entire process hands free as to the record surfaces, and was much faster & preferred over rack drying. Slid into new inners and done. Yes-it’s a bit time consuming, but I cleaned well over 800 albums that way. I saved my pennies and recently bought a Degritter- and I am loving the hands free "drop it in and let it go" start to finish. Before I bought the Tergikleen I made my own cleaning solution-4-6 drops of dawn dishwasing fluid, and about 10 drops of Jet-Dri to each 6L tank of water, mixed slowly with a large plastic spoon and it worked beautifully. I got 3 yrs. use from this, and everything still works- so in the end the cost was pennies per clean. I just got the Degritter now. If I had to say the difference in using Tergikleen VS Triton, I would say the Triton seems to reveal a bit more "bottom end" to the records, and Tergikleen is a bit more neutral. You’ll need to experiment yourself, but either one is fantastic. Tergikleen has a 2 yr. shelf life, Triton has none that I know of.

@ jehowlind,

There is an on-going thread here  Degritter Users | Steve Hoffman Music Forums that you may find of interest.  When reading be aware that those in UK cannot buy Triton X100; it is an environmental hazard (kills fish) and eventually will stop all worldwide manufacture sometime in the future.  And, as I said above - non-ionic surfactant Triton X100 is very different from Tergikleen that has a non-soluble ingredient and appears by the thread (very recent entries) above to leave a residue.

@antinn,
Thanks for the thread, I will certainly check this out.
I also have a thread to post, this is from the Audiophile Man, who is based in the UK. He has a fantastic site with lots of information, reviews, etc- many based on his own experience.
In addition to ultrasonic cleaners and methods, he goes into quite a bit of detail as to surfactants for cleaning.
I highly recommend checking this out.
https://theaudiophileman.com/surfactant-clean-vinyl-buyers-guide/?unapproved=29127&moderation-ha...

I have cleaned nearly 1,000 discs using the V-8 ultrasonic cleaner.  Heat is not an issue if it is less than 45 degrees centigrade.  I have never had a record warp with this ceiling.  Heat is beneficial for cleaning and improves the activity of the surfactant and in my opinion, should be used.  I currently use Rushton Paul's formula for the ultrasonic bath with excellent results (0.13% Triton X100 and 5 % isopropyl alcohol in distilled water).  Prior to this I used Dave Radcliffe's recommendation of distilled water with several drops of photo-flo.  Paul's formula is far better.  So much so, I am recleaning my previously cleaned lps with audible improvement on lps that I thought were as clean as possible.  Pops and ticks aren't changed, but the imaging is sharper and more lifelike.   I initially used a 15 minute bath, but after reviewing the Kirmuss technique, I now do 3 5 minute applications, with a distilled water rinse with an osage brush and vacuum on vpi after each bath cycle.  If you use a surfactant in the ultrasonic bath, you should do a final fresh water rinse. Paul recommends 3% ethanol in distilled water to further reduce the surface tension of the rinse. I was skeptical that this would make a difference, but it did. I put the disc on my vpi and use a different osage brush for four revolutions and vacuum dry. I have been using the 3 cycle Kirmuss modification with interval washes for about 3 months on my favorite previously "clean" lps.  Unfortunately, the sound difference is significant.  I initially wondered if I was imagining the sonic difference, until my wife commented that after recleaning a UK first press Quadrophenia, that for the first time ever, she could clearly make out all the lyrics clearly in Love reign o'er me.