what to do before you get the vpi record cleaner?

I echo everything Dekay just wrote, which nearly mirrors my process.

I don't have a W-P but the spray hose on the kitchen sink works okay. I'm sure the higher pressure from a W-P would be better.

I wipe the LP and blot up the ring left by the GroovMaster before stacking in the drying rack. WalMart sells 100% lint free microfiber cloths in the paint dept.

Note, BentAudio is about to introduce an ULTRASONIC RCM. He showed a prototype at VSAC. Unless I hear something bad about it, that's the machine I'm going to buy. Cleans 7 LP's at a time with virtually no chemicals. Only downside is no vacuum but, as Jyprez points out, you can make your own attachment for next to nothing.

I have long trumpeted the use of the Groovmaster and am pleased to see that is being more widely used. One point regarding use of the Groovmaster, in extension to my remarks concerning its usage in the "Record-Playing Rituals" thread. If find it helpful to use a slightly moistened hand towel to CAREFULLY clean and dust the label and run-out groove area before using the Groovmaster. That way, you don't have dust migrating from there to the grooves after you've washed. Whatever method used, I wholeheartedly agree with and strongly recommend "irrigating" the grooves before using a brush. As an aside, I find the soft synthetic painter's pads work extremely well, are nearly the exact size of a record side and have a handle for extremely easy use as compared to a brush.

Second, before letting LP's dry in a rack, I like to spread a very slightly moistened bath towel across a table, lay the just cleaned LP on one end, fold up the other end on top, and gently blot the LP dry.

The "in-the-sink" Groovemaster method is a decent way to clean LP's and a MUST, IMHO, as a first-step for grungy garage sale-type LP's. However, nothing removes residue and the attending pops and clicks like a good vacuum cleaning with quality fluids (Record Research Lab products are vastly superior to others in my experience).

I have the 17f and it is a great luxury. I must ditto all the Disc Doctor stuff. I now use the VPI to rinse 'vac before and after a rubba dub dub with the doctor's velvet pad. I do use purified water because my water is really hard. Even though VPI takes it off immediately, I don't want that in the brushes or inside the tubing. I am now intreagued by Groovmaster. I want to add that after th final rinse and vac, I use last preservative. It cuts friction and noise. You can also use Last after the manual blot and air dry. Noise is also exaggerated by inexact cartridge orientation.

thanks for all the responses

I was away this week

I'll order the disc doctor and look out for a groove master

most of my stuff is not the grungy variety, I look them over pretty good and I have lots of very nice lps that I just don't want to hear pops on

JYPREZ, I recall seeing your homemade cleaner thread,
do you make these for a fee?

thanks

Tom