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Drying time after a VPI record cleaner?

Hello everyone, I am curious what you all are doing in terms of drying time for your records after you clean them on a VPI vacuum record cleaning machine.  

I am using the VPI model 16.5.  My routine lately is to put the record on the cleaning plater, blast with an air compressor to remove the easy dust, apply 1 step cleaning formula with brush for 1 minute, vacuum for 3 revolutions, flip repeat.  After that, I set the record vertically in a small kitchen dish drying rack made of plastic coated metal.  I can fit 13 records in the rack, all vertical, none touching, and only coming in contact with the rack on the extreme edge of the vinyl, so no contact to the actual grooves.  I then leave them to fully dry out for several hours or overnight.  The thought is, I do not want any liquid that didn't get vacuumed up to remain. (though they look more or less dry to me, I figure it is possible to have some moisture still in there somewhere)

My question is, is this last step necessary?  Do you just put the record back into the sleeve after vacuuming?  Or, if you do use a dish rack like I do, how long to you let them dry?
marktomaras
pryso
1,943 posts
 
Mark, I suspect your vacuum tube is not set at the proper angle. I’ve had a 16.5 for several years and the only drying issue is when any cleaning fluid or rinse is splashed onto the label area beyond the end of the vacuum tube. When that happens I use a dry dish towel to blot the label area after I remove the record.

For the drying cycle I note the position of the record relative to a place on the label and flip on the vacuum for two revolutions. After I shut it off there is sufficient vacuum to hold the tube in place for nearly another revolution before it lifts up.

Per VPI the slot in the vacuum tube should be set at about 185 degrees when viewed from the end. If it points straight down (180 degrees) it will not function properly.
marktomaras OP
544 posts
 
Thanks everyone.  To clarify, it doesn't appear that the records are wet after 2 or 3 revolutions of the vacuum cycle.  I was just obsessing about the idea that there may be moisture in the grooves that I cannot necessarily see.  So, for those of you who don't see an issue here, are you replacing the vinyl in the sleeve immediately after vacuuming? 
miner42
709 posts
 
I replace vinyl in sleeve directly after vacuuming with NG MiniPro2
miner42
709 posts
 
place, not replace.  Sorry
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,893 posts
 

I’m just pleased to see so many responses to a question about source material, an indicator that it is the music we care most about!

I got my VPI HW-17F precisely because I was not satisfied with the drying abilities of the Nitty Gritty I had previously. It sucked---or rather didn’t, at least, not to my satisfaction. Two revolutions of drying on a VPI is all it takes. I appreciate your concern about any possible remaining humidity on your LP’s, but that should evaporate in the time it takes to remove the LP from the VPI and slide it into it’s sleeve. I’d be more concerned about the amount of dust that may fall onto the LP while in the dish rack!

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