Record Cleaning Machines

Neil, thought you might find this interesting.  I certainly did!

According to a representative of MoFi, Super Record Wash is, indeed, a "high-surface-tension water composition". The response I got to my question about this was that "the high surface tension allows it to be more easily removed from the grooves along with the gunk you are trying to remove, as it wants to bead up after being spread into the grooves by the brush." The "brush"? Apparently, it seems this solution was or is intended for use with vacuum RCM's and manual cleaning. Despite the good results I've been getting with it, I guess I will now be doing some research on a more appropriate solution.

@mijostyn,

FYI - Here is a cheap source of Tergitol 15-S-9: Tergitol 15-S-3 and 15-S-9 Surfactant | TALAS (talasonline.com) $21.75/pint.

Edit - In my PM, I meant to say Table I not Table II.  

@oldaudiophile,

The popularity of Tergitol 15-S-9 is that its a superior nonionic surfactant to Triton X100 (which I discuss Chapter XI) or Kodak Photoflo (which I discuss Chapter VIII). 

If you read the first part of Chapter X, there is no real mold release compound. "X.1.5 Lubricant: 0.4% of an esterified montan wax. The wax also acts as a mold release. When the record is removed from the press without the lubricating effect of the montan wax ester in the compound, the grooves of the record are sometimes fractured, torn, and deformed by the removal. These faults in the groove produce noise on playback. Montan wax ester at the stated percentage is compatible with the resins and is homogenized into the surface of the record at the normal pressing temperature. If more than the stated amount of the montan wax ester is used, the excess amount is not absorbed into the surface of the record. Its presence results in non-uniformity in the surface of the record, particularly as related to the friction between the stylus and the groove. This non-uniformity produces noise when the record is played. Some of the many forum discussions on removing mold release may actually be associated with excess lubricant."

"An approach I'm contemplating is using LAST POWER CLEANER as a pre-cleaner, prior to the 40 kHz UCM."  LAST POWER CLEANER is $280/4-oz Last - Power Cleaner | Shop Music Direct.  I pre-clean (as specified in the book) with Alconox Liquinox ($21.99/Qt) Amazon.com: Alconox - 1232-1 1232 Liquinox Anionic Critical Cleaning Liquid Detergent, 1 quart Bottle : Health & Household; tech sheet here Liquinox_tech_bull.pdf (alconox.com) which is then diluted 100:1 for 1%.  So, 1-qt will make 100-qts of cleaner.".

Mobile Fidelity did not do well on their answer; its not their swim-lane.  

Take care,
Neil

Tried the Kirmuss machine. Would NOT recommend it to anyone. Its an amateur and poorly designed component which sits in a generic ultrasonic machine. What I found was that it was easy for a record to slip out of the guide wheels while cleaning, but it will keep turning and pushes the record against the plastic slot it sits in, scratching and damaging a couple of records I tried. Also even if you set the temperature to minimum, the water heats up to a point that records warp... when the record cooled it seemed to return to mostly flat, but I was horrified. Picked it up in the afternoon, tried it on several records in the evening and followed all of the directions, returned the machine the next day.

I went from a VPI 16.5 (still have) only to a Vinyl Stack/Generic 40 khz Ultrasonic set-up to the Degritter (have had it now for a few weeks).  IMO, each change was an improvement.  I've done over 400 lp's on the Degritter in that time (heavy cycle) and have played several.  Very impressed on how quiet the albums are and can hear more detail and better bass.  That said, some of the albums I've listened to aren't completely noise free -- I've not recleaned yet to see if there is an improvement or if it's just now in the vinyl due to age or other factor.
The Degritter is so easy to use and a time saver.  Drop the record in, start, and come back in about 10 minutes (on Heavy) to a clean/dry record.  That said, using heavy cycle, I find the machine's cooling cycle does kick in after the 2nd record or so when I am doing a batch at a time (sometimes 20-30 per day as I'm recleaning my entire collection).  It just adds a bit of time.  No user interaction required.
Overall, I recommend the Degritter.