2. analog
  3. 126670-635

Rushton's DIY approach to ultrasonic record cleaning published by Positive Feedback

Over the past several months I’ve invested a fair amount of time exploring ultrasonic cleaning because I’ve fallen way too far behind in my record cleaning. With over 6000 LPs, I needed a faster way to clean than my trusted multi-step manual wet/vac cleaning process. That manual process got the best results I’ve ever found, but I was not keeping up with my collection and it is just painful to me to play a record that I’ve not cleaned.

In exploring ultrasonic cleaning, my hope was to find that I could complete multiple LPs in a single US cleaning cycle and greatly speed up my rate of cleaning records. My goals were to FIRST do no harm and then SECOND see how close I could get to the results of my manual cleaning regimen.

My past experiences with ultrasonic cleaning demonstrations were completely underwhelming. What I heard did not approach the excellence I was achieving with my multi-step wet/vac cleaning regimen.

What I’ve learned, and now apply in my new ultrasonic cleaning regimen, are multiple elements to the cleaning process that must be used in combination to achieve the best possible results. And these results have far exceeded my expectations.

I’d thought of posting here on Audiogon the summary of what I’ve learned and am now applying as my new record cleaning regimen, but the inability to post images and to apply formatting here caused me to send my summary to David Robinson at Positive Feedback who has graciously published my comments as a guest essay. Please read that essay, and then come back here to Audiogon with comments and to share your experiences:

http://positive-feedback.com/audio-discourse/rushton-paul-diy-approach-ultrasonic-cleaning-lps/


I look forward to some further discussion and sharing of experiences.

.


128x128rushton
bcowen
68 posts
 
@ochremoon

I'm using a 40kHz machine and getting very good results.  But in line with Terry's comments, I'm doing 2 records at a time at most, and more often just 1 even though the Vinyl Stack will hold 3 and there's room in the tank for 3.  As well, I'm doing a 15 minute cycle instead of the more commonly noted 10 minutes, as I feel I get better results that way....with my tank. 

However, if I had to do it all over again, I would probably buy a better tank at the outset.  Being cheap gets you, well, cheap.  :)  The $120, 6 liter tank I have now is working and providing good results, but I don't think it will last long due to the cheap construction, and it takes forever to heat up from room temperature into the mid-30C range (like 30 minutes).  That in itself is pretty aggravating, and as has been mentioned many times here, the warmer temperature is a critical element of the process.
terry9
2,354 posts
 
@bcowen 

Longevity is a very good point, bc. I have about 500 hours of US on my Elma, and it still looks near new - but then it's made for continuous use, 8 hours a day 5 days a week.
ochremoon
48 posts
 
@terry9 
@bcowen 

Thanks for the advice. I may test the waters with a 40KHz machine, doing one record at a time and see how it compares with the vacuum machine I currently use.

bcowen
68 posts
 
@ochremoon

Let us know how it goes if you decide to jump into it.  I think you'll be quite pleased with the results if you do.  And since you already have a vacuum machine, I highly recommend you use it to do a couple rinse/vacuum steps after the US cycle.  If the LP is just allowed to air dry, there will be residue of the cleaning solution left on the record. The rinse/vacuum helps remove that and get the LP in as pristine a condition as possible.
rushton's avatar
rushton OP
2,445 posts
 
ochremoon : ...I may test the waters with a 40KHz machine, doing one record at a time and see how it compares with the vacuum machine I currently use.
@ochremoon - I believe you will find the experience rewarding and I hope you will come back and share what you discover. My 40Khz tank has about 100 hours on it and is performing well. It may not have the longevity of a U.S. or German built unit, but it is giving me excellent results. And, importantly, it is not doing any harm to the vinyl - it simply cleans.

As you move ahead, I highly encourage you to use a detergent formulation in your tank such as the formula I’ve shared. My earlier exposure to ultrasonic cleaning demonstrations using just water and alcohol with air drying were not at all compelling compared to my wet/vac manual cleaning process. With heat, a Tergitol/Triton solution in the tank, double rinsing and vacuum dry, my results with this current USC cleaning regimen are outstanding. I won’t be going back. (And, for the record, I’m using 1" spacing with 4 records at a time in this 9.5" wide 10L 40Khz tank. I’d have no hesitation doing 3 records at a time in a 6L tank with adequate width. As Terry says, it all depends on the energy distribution in the tank you're using. Do a foil test to check it out, then do follow-up tests from time to time to confirm it's still performing in the same way over time.) 

More to discover