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Ultrasonic record cleaners

I have a modest lp collection, mixed bag of original college age purchases, used records before the current renewed interest, and some newer albums to replace some older issues from the p mount needle days.  Have a vpi 16 machine and audio intelligent form 6 fluid. I’m not finding a significant improvement on my noisier issues.  The price of ultrasonic cleaners have come down to a price I would consider.  Appreciate the experiences of those who have purchased the ultrasonic machines, are they superior to my vpi and are the less expensive models effective?

TIA

tennisdoc56
lewm
13,254 posts
 

Drbond, my only comments on your latest routine are (1) I would replace Photoflo with Triton X100 or Tween20, because Photoflo has some additives you don’t want, and (2) one ounce of isopropanol in 6L is not going to do anything, especially at 35 degrees which will hasten its evaporation. I use a standard mix that includes 25% isopropanol/water, for one example.

dogberry
693 posts
 

Fer Gawd's sake, don't tell Fremer about jeweller's putty!

lewm
13,254 posts
 

Can it be cheaper than Magi Eraser?

drbond
425 posts
 

@lewm 

What is that much alcohol (25%) supposed to do in the ultrasonic bath? 

antinn
408 posts
 

@drbond & @lewm,

Please be careful with high concentrations of IPA in water and use with a heated ultrasonic tank.

25% IPA/water has a flashpoint of about 80F; and no ultrasonic tank you can afford is explosion-proof. With an ultrasonic unit three mechanisms are now in play - the heat that speeds up evaporation; the record turning is drawing fluid out that is evaporating, and the ultrasonics are agitating the fluid surface and a mist/vapor is often produced. All of this has the potential to setup the necessary conditions to develop flammable AND explosive vapors. At 100% IPA, the lower and upper explosive limits are 2.3 to 13.2%. But, even diluted with water, at 25% water-IPA, the lower and upper explosive limits are 2.3 to 7.1%. In a common domestic setting, it is very unlikely that the high ventilation turn-over rates that are required in medical and industrial settings that prevent the accumulation of flammable/explosive vapors will be used. So, the risk in a domestic setting is higher.

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