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Which Record Cleaning Machine?

I have a discussion forum buddy in Belgium who runs a video rental store. He's a big jazz-on-vinyl enthusiast, and vinyl playback in Europe is pretty popular--popular enough that he has trouble finding any used jazz LPs on vinyl for sale over there.

Anyway, he was thinking of installing a record cleaning machine in his shop to attract more customers and to provide a service to fellow vinylphiles.

His question to me is which RCM would be the better choice within his budget--the $1295 VPI HW-17F or something from Loricraft?

Thanks in advance.
johnnyb53
dan_ed
2,451 posts
 
If he will be using this in his store then he may be cleaning quite a few LPs at any one time. He will need to address the issue of potential cross-contamination. He will also want to avoid chasing out any customers due to the noise of a vacuum system. With these concerns in mind and the fact that he can get a much better price than what we can here in the US, I'd advise him to get a Loricraft, and get the model with the better vacuum pump, the PRC-4.

He may also want to consider finding a steamer to use as part of the cleaning process. Steaming and cleaning with a Loricraft, I doubt anything would get the records cleaner.
detlof
1,899 posts
 
Dan-ed,
you took the thoughts right out of ye olde brain! I was going to post exactly as you did: Loricraft PRC-4 plus steamer!!
dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
The string based machines (Loricraft, used Keith Monks or Odyssey) are superior in both build quality and cleaning functionality to any VPI. I've cleaned 35 LP's non-stop in a single session on my Loricraft. I was worn out but it would have kept right on going with no deterioration in peformance from gummed up vacuum felts or overheating.

If your friend anticipates enough business and wants really satisfied customers, he needs a serious professional machine.
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