Audible Nectar Posted March 30, 2019 Share Posted March 30, 2019 OK, so now that I’m about to go vinyl crazy (even my wife has the bug), just what should my cleaning setup be? Looking for suggestions on what to purchase - somewhat familiar with Nitty Gritty - and looking for suggestions on what I should be using to clean and prepare my vinyl for play. I need an education here..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fattner Posted March 30, 2019 Share Posted March 30, 2019 Project vacum record cleaning unit , I love mine works great and price is right !! Try music direct they carry it, Enjoy the music my friend ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schu Posted March 30, 2019 Share Posted March 30, 2019 Keeping your records clean in the first place and you won't need to clean them... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimjimbo Posted March 30, 2019 Share Posted March 30, 2019 That’s helpful Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
No.4 Posted March 30, 2019 Share Posted March 30, 2019 I have been using a spin clean and have had good results. I also use the project carbon fiber brush for a few revolutions before the stylus drops. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wstrickland1 Posted March 30, 2019 Share Posted March 30, 2019 I went with the Okki Nokki and like what it does. Considered similar machines by VPI and Project. Okki's will spin in both directions, I think that might have been my reason for choosing but honestly I'm not sure that it matters much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimjimbo Posted March 30, 2019 Share Posted March 30, 2019 I have a Project machine and it works very well. I use a fine mist spray bottle to apply washer fluid to the vinyl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Audible Nectar Posted March 31, 2019 Author Share Posted March 31, 2019 The Project as well as the Okki Nokki looks like a good value relative to others. Definitely seem worth considering. The one thing I like about Nitty Gritty is that they've been around so long, I'm certainly mindful of who's been at it or who would be more viable as a company if they ever needed service (Project should also be good here, correct)? Both of these mentioned seem to lower the cost floor for some reasonably automated equipment, seemed that anything with this level of machinery was a grand or more in past years. So these do look attractive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevinmi Posted March 31, 2019 Share Posted March 31, 2019 nothing will beat an ultrasonic cleaner. You can go the DIY route and be in for the price of a regular record cleaner that does an inferior job. And yes, brand new records need to be cleaned before played.I can clean 4 lp's at a time with my ultrasonic cleaner. There are some that will clean 8 at a time. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshnich Posted March 31, 2019 Share Posted March 31, 2019 I also endorse the ultrasonic approach. I put together a DIY ultrasonic set up and it works awesome. I bought the ultrasonic cleaner on ebay and used the motor unit from here https://thevinylstack.com/ultrasonic-cleaning/ultra-sonic-spin-record-cleaning-kit/ And the filtration set up from here https://www.cleanervinyl.com/micron-fluid-filtration.html This DIY set up does virtually everything the more expensive ultrasonic cleaners do. It does however take up a lot of space. The unit does take up a fair bit of room however which is why I have stepped up to a stand alone unit from Kirmuss Audio. I was going to put the DIY unit in the garage sale section. If you interested let me know. I will sell all of the above for a very fair price. If you have a place to put it it is an excellent option. Josh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesD1957 Posted March 31, 2019 Share Posted March 31, 2019 I tend to be frugal (cheap), but I do want great sound from my records. I use the Spin Clean and have gotten great results with it. One thing I do different from the instructions is allow my records to air dry instead of drying with the provided towels. I just put them in a rack designed to hold document files and find that it works well for holding records while they dry. Drying usually takes about an hour, but I tend to let them go two or three. Before I play, I'll use an anti static brush lightly. Sometimes after cleaning, the first play might have a small amount of static. It disappears by the second play. If it's a new record, and the static continues, it's bad vinyl. It happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glens Posted March 31, 2019 Share Posted March 31, 2019 If the solution is water-based and you're air-drying, just be sure to use distilled water in any makeup you perform, or you'll be leaving deposits. Distilled (or reverse osmosis filtered) water would be recommended in any case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Audible Nectar Posted March 31, 2019 Author Share Posted March 31, 2019 2 hours ago, joshnich said: I also endorse the ultrasonic approach. I put together a DIY ultrasonic set up and it works awesome. I bought the ultrasonic cleaner on ebay and used the motor unit from here https://thevinylstack.com/ultrasonic-cleaning/ultra-sonic-spin-record-cleaning-kit/ And the filtration set up from here https://www.cleanervinyl.com/micron-fluid-filtration.html This DIY set up does virtually everything the more expensive ultrasonic cleaners do. It does however take up a lot of space. The unit does take up a fair bit of room however which is why I have stepped up to a stand alone unit from Kirmuss Audio. I was going to put the DIY unit in the garage sale section. If you interested let me know. I will sell all of the above for a very fair price. If you have a place to put it it is an excellent option. Josh Space is definitely a consideration. These ultrasonic approaches certainly appear to have merit, but I'll end up with half a room occupied. My wife has ultrasonic cleaning setups for gemstones and the jewelry that comes out looks like a jeweler did it. So it definitely is a method I could agree with. But I gotta shrink the size, for sure - and I want it in proximity to the system. Definitely food for thought, though, which is why I posted to begin with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DizRotus Posted March 31, 2019 Share Posted March 31, 2019 7 hours ago, kevinmi said: nothing will beat an ultrasonic cleaner. I disagree. If you don’t eliminate static, the dirt is locked to the vinyl, which continues to attract contaminants. Reg Williamson figured it out. TAA_articles.pdf 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L.A.kevin Posted April 1, 2019 Share Posted April 1, 2019 Another vote here for the spin clean. I don't like the included cloths. Instead, I use amazon's microfiber cloths. I also let air dry after using a plastic dish drying rack and then they go straight into anti stat inner sleeves. Mobile Fidelity or Invest in Vinyl brand are good. Just make sure you get the paper backed with plastic lining. The spin clean does take a while for each record, but the results are way better than the pad and spray types. I can't comment on the vpi type or ultrasonic, but I think my choice is working fine for me and the capital outlay is comparatively low. Oh, and even new records can up with a lot of stuff in the distilled water/cleaning fluid mix. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
parlophone1 Posted April 1, 2019 Share Posted April 1, 2019 Machine that has vacuum cleaning, like Okki Noki and the rest. You want to suck up all dirt that has been dissolved in the grooves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Audible Nectar Posted April 1, 2019 Author Share Posted April 1, 2019 I've seen this around for a number of years re: static, would this be an anti-static solution? https://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=ZESTAT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DizRotus Posted April 1, 2019 Share Posted April 1, 2019 IME, NO. I used to own one years ago. I no longer spend time figuring out what might work. After reading about Reg Williamson’s system in The Audio Amateur, I stick with what does work. Ask Dave @Mallette Send me a PM if you want to discuss this in greater detail. I’ve no interest in talking people out of using their vacuums, washers, etc. YMMV Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave1290 Posted April 1, 2019 Share Posted April 1, 2019 Holy guacamole! Zerostat's are $100 now? hahaha... Cmere I wanna show you something. Hold out your hand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebes Posted April 1, 2019 Share Posted April 1, 2019 Cleaning aside, and all good suggestions here, you also need to think of when you drop the record. For that I recommend get yourself some Last Stylus Cleaner. It's about $20 and does last just about forever. I've looked at needles under a microscope before and after using it and it really does clean up the needle. A cheaper, but IMO more dangerous, alternative if one of those magic eraser/sponges.One of those microfiber brushes on the record just before play is also a must. Now some say that using a liquid like Last on a needle will somehow (insert technical osmosis type jargon here) get sucked up into the body of the cart and rot out the innards of said cart. Alas, tain't true and some of my local buds (aka GaryMD, Mike Lindsey et all) have been using it on carts must more expensive than mine will no ill effect and great results. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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