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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
rushton's avatar
rushton OP
2,445 posts
 
@sbank , congratulations on diving into the pool (er, tank). For something to spin your records while using that vacuum wand, I like your idea of using a vintage turntable with 16rpm speed. But you can probably  change the ratios of any belt drive or puck drive junker turntable you find at Goodwill with a bit of ingenuity since you don't have to worry about rumble or speed accuracy. The trick is to find one with a spindle that can accommodate a friction fit or screw on clamp. Then place a 1 1/2"-3" diameter o-ring around the spindle so you're floating the record above the surface of the platter and you're good to go. 

I'm hesitant about the full surface cushion because you're transferring wetness from one side to the other of your just cleaned/dried vinyl. On my VPI RCM, I'm floating my LPs on o-rings so they don't rest on the mat and have been doing this for 10 years.
dgarretson
2,599 posts
 

Spencer, I think you'll find that once you arrive at the correct chemistry, the LP comes out of the bath dry except for the immersed portion.  A quick swipe with the Vinyl stack microfiber cloth clears 95% of moisture from that section, after which the record will air dry in a few minutes.

I still have my VPI 16.5 and have experimented with it to vacuum off ultrasonically cleaned LPs.  The problem is that since the record has two wet sides, the foam mat on the 16.5 will pick up moisture that transfers to the dry side when the LP is flipped.  For awhile I used an old Ringmat II with thin cork strips on top of the 16.5 platter to minimize the re-wetting of the LP, but the microfiber cloth is simpler and works just as well.      

bcowen
68 posts
 
I'm using the elegant and highly engineered dustcover from my Nottingham 'table, which consists of a grooveless LP with a Nott' logo on it  :)  Place that on the VPI platter with the wet side of the just cleaned record on it, and remove it when I flip the LP over.  One swipe with a cloth dries it off and it's ready for the next one.  And when I'm done cleaning, it goes back on the Nottingham. The extra thickness doesn't seem to hinder the vacuum action on the VPI.
sbank's avatar
sbank
3,379 posts
 
@rushton Rush, funny, I had been floating my LPs on O-rings with the VPI for years too, the O-rings came with the Walker Prelude kit, and I got so used to the LPs not touching the cork mat, that it completely slipped my mind. Obviously, the O-rings are a good idea here too and I agree that any cushion is not helpful.

Any suggestions are to any particular brand or models of cheap/popular old tables that would fit the need, especially with a long enough spindle to fit the O-ring and the clamp? Is stretching a belt the easiest way to get to 16-20 rpm? 

@Dgarretson Dave, thanks, I see your point about drying, but have you tried an O-ring under the LP on the 16.5 and are you doing a rinse or two and then vacuuming the rinses off? I am planning to do so, hence my purchase of the wand attachment for my Shopvac and tonight's buy of 5gallon of Whole Foods DI water @ $0.39/gal. I'm sure I win Whole Foods' lowest sale of the day award! Cheers,
Spencer
sbank's avatar
sbank
3,379 posts
 
The pump & filter part of this whole equation is that something I am working thru right now. I just ordered a 1micron filter and housing from allfilters.com and am close to pulling the trigger on a "PonicsPump PP40006: 400 GPH Submersible Pump with 6' Cord - 25W… for Hydroponics, Aquaponics, Fountains, Ponds, Statuary, Aquariums & more." The idea of building a pump housing didn't appeal to me and the the suggested pump is no longer available at surpluscenter.com. I am trying to get a good answer regarding pumping power to get thru the 1micron filter and the allfilters lady thought I picked a winner with the one. If I order the pump, it will be via amazon so I can easily exchange for a more powerful one if need be. It should be easy to run the submersed pump in the tank between cleaning sessions with the filter/housing the only component that would need to be outside the tank.
Thoughts on this approach? Cheers,
Spencer  
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