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Thumbs up for ultrasonic record cleaning

My Cleaner Vinyl ultrasonic record cleaner arrived today and it’s impressive.

Everything I’d read indicated that ultrasonic was the way to go, and now I count myself among the believers. Everything is better - records are quieter, less ticks and pops, more detail etc.

All my records had been previously cleaned with a vacuum record cleaner and were well cared for. Nonetheless, the difference is obvious and overwhelmingly positive.

Phil
phil0618
slaw's avatar
slaw
21,021 posts
 
@dgarretson ,

Let us know how the tergiclean vs. Versa-Clean works? Please?
fleschler
1,993 posts
 
I like the Kirmuss Audio cleaner because it uses a lower frequency (35Khz), lower temperature (95 degrees), common fluid (distilled water and a touch of alcohol), proper spacing for cleaning (Cleaner Vinyl Pro stack doesn’t permit cavitation bubbles to enter deep between records), does shellac 78s and 45s as well as 2 LPs at a time and cavitation to occur beneath and away from the records (not blasted at the surface like one $4500 machine). It doesn’t have scrubbing felt/brushes or other surfaces rather just a slight grip from lips to hold the record in place while it spins. It’s $800 for a fully finished machine. It does not dry but also doesn’t add static or dry dirt back to the surfaces.  Plus, the low cost of water/surfactant allows for no filtration and just refilling after a dozen washes.

Terry9-I think your method of US is using 10 C degree too hot water and 100% too high a cavitation frequency. Maybe that’s why you can’t hear the difference on 3-6 posting; however you state you did see and hear the difference using this method on 2-6 post.
fleschler
1,993 posts
 
I noticed that the Rushton cleaning method also limits the water temperature and the cavitation frequency.   It could be that his solution is important for better results.  This is an experiment I'm willing to try.  He also uses a VPI 16.5 to dry as I would.
fleschler
1,993 posts
 
I have about 25,000 LPs.  I've noticed that the LPs I cleaned 20 to 30 years ago using a stiff brush and Torumat fluid on a VPI 16.5 sound as good and clean as when I first cleaned them.  I'm playing them on a VPI VI/SME IV (mod)/Benz Ruby 3.  No increase in surface noise even after 100 playings of several of them.  Clean stylus and clean records make both last a long time.
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amg56
887 posts
 

I built my own cleaner on the design of a drive thro car wash system. I am a aero modeller/flier so have lots of servos/materials and tools.

Its basically a rectangular tub with a horizontal spindle and lock for the record disk. I have two (one for each side of the record) high pressure jets (tubes of aluminium drilled with tiny holes) to blast the surface of the disk. The lid of the unit covers the disk to the lower part of the label so it doesn't get saturated (after bit of experimenting and lost labels later). I pump distilled water under high pressure to blast the grit and muck from the record for 2 minutes and then the timer servo switches off the water and then blasts filtered air for one minute the dry the disk surface.

A second timer signals the procedure is finished. No chemicals, no mess other than to empty the drain tank underneath when a float contact says its full. The whole cleaning blast area is 1/4 the record area. They come out nice, clean and dry. Amazing what a bit of tinkering will do and watching drive through car washers.

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