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I'm happy with my cleaning method of LP's but am I missing anything?

I've been following all of the discussions here since the fist of the year, learned so much. After 20 years I got back into vinyl. My fist step was a $400.00 tune-up to my Thorens TD 160 that I bought new back in 1976. New wires, belt, lube job, and new Grado Red. Out of my 300 albums I was able to pick out about 75 of them that looked good. They were all stored upright in an air conditioned basement. The 70's took a toll on many of them, but I was surprised that they all had been returned to their sleeves.
     Before I played any I researched cleaning methods, spent hours trying to find the best way. Ultrasonic seemed to be the way to go but beyond my budget. Finally. came up with my own method.
     For under $200.00 I went with 2 - Spin Cleans, (one for using their solution, and the other for rinsing). Using distilled water. Bought a Lazy Susan turning platter, mounted a 11" piece of 3/4" plywood to it, and epoxied a 1/4" bolt dead center. Then bought a Vinyl Vac to suck the water and debris out after cleaning. I lay down that rubber type shelf lining to put between the plywood and album. Then before playing I hit the album with one of my two old Discwashers that I bought back in the 70's. I did have to buy some new D4 solution.
    I'm sure I will get some, "if you like it why ask" comments but I thought I would ask you guys, or perhaps help someone else. 
     I'm extremely happy, I hear things that I don't on my CD's. (Around 3000 of them)
     It was an expensive journey for me. My Adcom pre amp started having balance problems so I bought a new NAD C165BEE, then upgraded the wire to my Infinity Kappa 8's. Then bought all new $100.00 cables. Next was a pair of Bryston A2 speakers. Each step gave me a better sound. So let's replace my 20 year old Technics CD player with a NAD C 546BEE player. Then I read on this site about the possible damage I could do using my 15 year old Adcom GFA 555II which I had to buy to run the Kappa 8's. With the new amp I bought a Isotek Polaris with the $80.00 power cords.
      All this put a hit on my financial status, but to me music is number one to these 63 year old ears and mental well being.
     I welcome any positive replies. 


golden210
sbank's avatar
sbank
3,394 posts
 
Since you already have everything you need for doing a post-ultrasonic rinse & vacuum, you won't have to spend more than about $150 to get a good U.S. tank, $300 for a vinyl stack to spin the records in the tank and a few bucks on chemicals that will last years.
Read the Rush Paul articles here or on Positive Feedback about his U.S. method adapt to use your Spin clean, etc. for the rinsing/vacuuming. It works far better than most everything else except the more convenient U.S. machines that cost >$3k. Cheers,
Spencer 
alpha_gt
155 posts
 
I have the Pro-Ject machine, $500, I had a VPI before but it developed a leak in the motor. It’s all very nice and does a great job, it really takes playing Records to the next level! But, it’s not doing anything you’re not already doing. I’ve read several recipes for cleaning solutions, with and without alcohol, but I prefer to take the easy route and buy the MoFi brand fluids, Super Clean for most Records, and Enzyme clean for the really dirty ones. 

I also put them in vinyl sleeves after cleaning, which keeps them clean. I use a Zerostat pistol too, just for good measure, a lot of pops are just static, nothing actually on the record. Vacuuming Records creates static. Once they are clean, I rarely do anything to them before playing. Unless I see dust on it, I won’t even run a brush on it, but when I do, I use an inexpensive carbon fiber brush. I fear that using a dishwasher brush with D4 before playing is only pushing dust down into the grooves? Or creating static again.  
sleepwalker65's avatar
sleepwalker65
832 posts
 
I like the idea of two SpinClean units followed by vacuum removal of remaining fluids and contaminants. I just bought my first SpinClean and have purchased most of the parts to make my record vacuum which will simultaneously clean both sides. Now I’m thinking I should buy a second SpinClean like the original poster for the rinse cycle so I can set up a production line to clean several records in a sequence. 

Like the original poster, I’ve been using the Discwasher D4 system since the early 80’s and I really believe in it. The Zerostat is also great as the final step after the Discwasher D4 before playing. 
mahler123
3,651 posts
 
OP: “I’m extremely happy.  I hear things that I don’t hear on my CDs.”

Before I sold off my vinyl rig I used to hear things on lps that I don’t get from silver discs as well.  The sound of bacon frying, loud pops and clicks, hums, sustained Piano notes being warbled at the end of the side, the euphonious sound of the stylus playing the label, grooves being crunched by the stylus....Man, those were the days!
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