Nitty Gritty I Don't Know How To Use Itty

Why don't you just call Nitty Gritty and ask them to send you a manual for your machine and any supplies you might need? Their phone number in Montclair, CA is:

(909) 621-9666

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I used to "scrub" mine on an old SoundGaurd record mat that I have had for years. Then place the record upside down on the NG machine and vacuum it off. Only after about 3 months of that I sold it and bought a VPI 16.5. And now my life is less complicated and I look forward to each and everyday!

Sputniks, I've beeen using the N.G.1 for sseveral months and find it's quite simple to use. I'm sure others might have more anal retentive cleaning procedures, but this works for me. If the record is covered in fuzz, hair, or dust when it comes from the used record store, I clean it first with a carbon fiber record brush. I don't buy records so dirty they need the preclean some people give their vinyl. It helps to dispense the cleaning fluid on the velvet "lips" of the machine if you can get a little lab type dispenser bottle that has a long snout. You wet each side of the velvet suction pads on the machine, put the record down, then plop the record clamp/puck on top. Turn the record relatively slowly for 15-60 seconds, then turn on the vacuum and continue turning slowly for 3-5 revolutions. Don't run the vacuum unless a record is on the machine, you can damage it otherwise. Repeat on the other side. Only rarely have I had to use a stonger cleaner than the Nitty Gritty. You might have to do a record more than once if it's really dirty. Don't clean too many records in a row (more than 8-10,) it can overheat the motor. Every once in while I clean the velvet lips with a little dishwasher detergent in water on a toothbrush & rinse. A search of the archives here with no doubt reveal endless debate on various minutae each of obsess over to different degrees when cleaning.

Photon46 is right on the mark. I've been using this same machine since the early 80s (picked up a second one 2 years ago when I figured it was past time for the first one to die). Simple, effective, reliable -- I never felt the urge for a "better" record cleaner. Have fun with yours.

My only suggestion would be to order some AIVS (Audio Intelligent Vinyl Solution - do a search here on Audiogon) products. Best cleaners I've ever used.