Can I clean my records manually?

...you sure gotta go far to do it, doncha?

Sad, but true.

I totally agree that a well operated DIY setup should substantially equal the effectiveness of a $500-$1500 VPI. After all, they both rely on the same technology: a felt-covered vacuum slot and a honking big motor (I used a 1HP Shop Vac). It's hard to argue convincingly that either would be more effective than the other.

FWIW, there's a guy on VA who keeps talking about DIY'ing a Loricraft clone. He hasn't actually built it yet but most of it should be easy:

- any old TT with a 78 rpm speed would work.

- any tonearm with tubes added to feed and recover the thread would work.

- the only hard part is driving the tonearm across the record. That requires a motor with a slip-clutch, well beyond my (very rudimentary) mechanical skills.

Contrary to belief in some parts, the thread does not ride "in" the groove and it takes no part in the actual cleaning. Thread is far too thick to fit inside an LP groove. Its only function is to act as a constantly replenishible spacer between vacuum nozzle and record surface. After every pass, a quick twist of the spool supplies a clean few mm of thread for the next pass. Nothing dirty ever touches the record.

I agree with Cjssmithmd BTW. The Loricraft is slower per pass than wand-based machines. But it's much quieter and does a better job so I happily live with that. After all, I can play (some) music and clean records at the same time. Don't try that with my Shop Vac!

I suppose you could use a broom to sweep your carpet. In the END you'll just be pushing the dirt around. Even if you shampoo you dislodge the dirt only to have a large portion of it seep back down on it.
Let's supose your take home pay is 15.00/hour. Let's suppose you purchase the VPI 16.5 Deluxe package from music direct complete with zerostat, record research fluid, audioquest carbon fiber brush,etc. $700.00/15=40 hours. That would be a weeks pay.

For one weeks pay you have a clean record both sides in about five minutes. Beleive me you have not heard vinyl until you have heard a properly cleaned record.

I admire do it your selfers. If you enjoy tinkering more than listening to music by all means build your own.

ONE MORE THING THERE IS A NEW VPI TYPHOON FOR THOSE WHO GOT OUT OF ENRON ON TIME. $1995. " DOUBLE THE SUCTION HALF THE NOISE"

tbg,

Interesting: I'll try your method with LDS and no rinse. However I am using an ELP (laser) so any grunge I leave in the grooves I will hear. My current methodology (worked out with the VPI) uses a dry clean with an antistatic brush, followed by an initial cleaning with RRL, an enzyme cleaning, H20 rinse, LSD cleaning, and a final H20 rinse. Laborious but effective in producing quiet vinyl for the laser. Of course this only has to be done once, and then a dry clean followed by a water rinse generally suffices (assuming the record is carefully handled and stored}.

I don't know the AudioTop product but I would agree with you that evaporation is not desirable. I have had good results with RRL but on the Loricraft it tends to bead up and fly off the spinning record if I am not careful. I'm thinking about giving the Disc Doctor products a try as I have heard good reports about them. I also use the Premier product on new vinyl and Klymas on very badly damaged records - seems to work in reducing noise due to overt physical damage.

On the water question I agree that a 5-6 stage reverse osmosis system produces high quality water. It's just harder to set up. You also have to be careful about filter degradation over time. Cost is relatively high with instillation necessary in most cases (for 5-6 stage system). I do think I will eventually put in a RO system, especially since I have discovered the wonders of cooking (another hobby) with pure water.

Distilled water also gives good results but has problem of aromatic gasses needing venting, and the system has to be maintained clean. 99 bucks puts a system on your counter top that will work right away. No installation needed.

I did some testing with a Hanna TDS 1 (tests for total dissolved solids - 20$) and found the following:

My (upstate NY) well water........... 340ppm
My well water post carbon filtration: 300pmm
Single Distilled H20:................ 20ppm
Triple Distilled H20:................ 0-1ppm
RRL Rinse ............................ 4ppm

I estimate the cost of producing high quality triple distilled H20 at about 50 cents a gallon (based on the cost of electricity to run the machine 3x per gallon; machine generates a lot of heat!)

This is a nice part of our hobby: I get to learn and use some chemistry, some physics, some engineering, some biology and some psychology. And I can work with my hands on DIY projects.

Or I can just relax and listen to music!!

Gregadd,

my DIY method uses a vacuum so there sotesibly no dirt left on the record. I think a Loricraft would be more elgant less arduous way to go.

You funny: "If you enjoy tinkering more than listening to music by all means build your own."

Yeah, I absolutely love sitting there cleaning records. ha. I do it to get clean records. Having a family and kids precludes me from sacrificing a weeks pay for a cleaning machine.

It's nice to live in your own little world isn't it?

Gadfly it's nice for you to see things on the inside of your eyelids. It saves money on cable and plasma tv. Then you will have money for your vpi.

I don't know how much money you can commit to record cleaning but if you can't committ to vpi 16.5 it's doubtful that you can enjoy the rarified air of a Loricraft.

It is the beauty of the vpi 16.5 that the microfiber pad pad on the tube allows it to get a vaccum seal without damaging the record. Not impossible but a daunting task for a DIY.

By tinkering I did not mean record cleaning,I meant building the machine and mixing the fluids. I actually enjoy the purication ritual.

I thought that by pointing out that a vpi 16.5 package could cost a weeks salary was an expression of symapthy for those who were unable or not inclined to pay it. Given my limited mechanical skills I would prefer to work overtime and save the money rather than try to make it myself. It certainly would take me over forty hours to make such a machine.

I assure you you would not want to live in my world. Personally I have been trying to get into Carmen Electra's world. (I regard the restraining order as only a temporary setback.) (smile)

Finally, as the late Nina Simone sang, Oh God, Please don't let me be misunderstood"