best value - record cleaning machine

I'm happy with my KAB EV-1 manual cleaner (manual application and rotation). Needs to be connected to a regular home vacuum. I use MoFi cleaners currently.

$160 @ KABUSA.com

If you have the motivation to do so, I'd recommend building yourself one out of a ShopVac and an old turntable. Get yourself some Disk Doctor pads and brushes, and a quart of the MFSL Plus cleaning fluid.

I can honestly say this project provided the biggest "upgrade" to my system to date. I'll try to post a picture of my DIY Record Cleaner and process this weekend.

I like compact manual machines, like the cheapest Nitty Gritty (is this similar to the KAB). I actually prefer manual operation to automatic --I can scrub the records back and forth and control the speed of rotation better by hand. I also like the Nitty Gritty because it is really compact in size compared to the VPI. I also prefer not having the clean record in contact with a full sized platter that may be contaminated.

I've owned my Nitty Gritty machine (automatic unit) for more than 20 years. The only maintenance required is changing the felt pads that scrube the record and hold the record away from direct contact with the vacuum slot (easy to do the replacement). The major downside is that the machine, like the VPI, is quite noisy in operation.

I agree with LarryI. Bought my first Nitty Gritty in 1982 (they were all manual then) and a NG clone (Audio Advisor) about 4 years ago. I too much prefer the manual operation.

I too like the basic Nitty Gritty machine. It is cheap (I spent $100 on mine used), reliable (I have had it for about 5 years now and it is still working fine, and I am at least the second owner), and it does a good job at what it does, (which is to vacuum dry the records). If you use the NG as strictly a vacuum, and do all the scrubbing yourself, you many never need to upgrade. (Unless you require a motor to spin the platter for you while it drys the record, in which case get the VPI 12.6, you lazy bum!:-)

The only cavaet about the NG is that it tends to get hot when you do a big batch of records. (I believe that the VPI 16.5 does too, btw). If you don't mind doing a few at a time, (say less than half a dozen), and giving the machine time to cool down before doing another batch, it will work just fine for you. If you need to do dozens of records at a time, I recommend that you get a machine with a fan to cool the vacuum, like the VPI 17F, (which costs about $1,200!).

My two cents worth.

PS It is also nice that it is so small, that you can easily lift it to put it away under an end table, or in a cabinet. Unlike the Keith Monks which I am restoring, which is big and very heavy. (I need to find a small table with wheels so I can move it from its storage closet, to my living room. I might actualy sell the KM, as I am not thrilled with the size and weight of it!