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Spin Clean your way to Audio Nirvana.

piece-it pete

piece-it pete

What, me worry?
Thanks to all who rec'd this product.

I finally bit the bullet and bought one new (arggh!), I received it yesterday. $59.00 + $4.00 frt, shipped in 2 days from Garage-a-Records.

Spent the evening cleaning records. 1st my current favorite album, Ricci playing Paganinis' Caprices on London.

I have cleaned this album gently by hand before, so did not expect much of a difference. And boy, was I wrong. It practically became alive!

Ditto for most of the better recordings. Now I'll have to clean all my xxx number of lps, I'll be cleaning for the next year, I think.

Keep in mind that a) I'm totally fired up with this, and b) I've never had a chance to try the vaccuum cleaners that many here use, so maybe it gets even better!

For some reason when I consider the appearance and name, I picture a '50s ad with a lady showing how incredibly easy it works - "Just insert the record and spin" lalala - "Look Johnny, see how clean it is now" :) . But it is a little - but not much - work, the record of course has to have firm contact with the brushes and the wheels the lp rolls on aren't close tolerance ball bearing types.

That said, this does a far better job than my most careful hand cleaning, quickly IMO, and for the modest price I would recommend it 100% to anyone who loves their lps. Proof? I can't wait for the weekend - to clean albums :rolleyes: !

Thanks again guys! :thmbsp:

Pete
 
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Clean vinyl makes for great listening and from what I've read the Spin Clean is a nice inexpensive way to get there.

Proof? I can't wait for the weekend - to clean albums !
Click to expand...

When I bought my vacuum machine I started that process and soon decided to clean as I go. So, over time my old vinyl ends up clean and put in good sleeves while I can do a reality check on what I REALLY listen to.
 
Originally posted by DingusBoy
.....while I can do a reality check on what I REALLY listen to.
Click to expand...

No kidding! After starting in this weekend, cleaning in order, more or less, I started getting pickier and pickier. I'M not cleaning an album I never listen to!

Anyway, after spending the whole weekend cleaning albums, a LOT of them, I'm about 1/3-1/2 through and all my "best" are done.

Now that the newness has worn off (literally been "spun" outta me) I'll add:

I want to say it's a bit pricey for what it is, but I'm sure it's a low volume product, and as a salesman at a distributor I don't begrudge anyone a fair profit. That said, three throwaway drying cloths IS a little on the cheap side.

I use two cloths, the 1st swipe is a generic swifter replacement I picked up at the local dollar store, very soft and flannel-like but no lint. It doesn't absorb very well but does take the majority of water off.

Then I use the supplied cloth. Even once I find the right cloths I will still probably do this, as it cuts down wringing time. I think I'm going to try an "absorber", a chammy-like product sold to dry cars. I've used mine on cars for years and think it'll fit the bill. I'm NOT rec'ing it, but think it will work. Anyone try it?

Also, they say each fill is good for about 50 lps, but like anything the end product will only be as clean as the water. Keep an eye on it, when it looks dirty change it!

Ahhh, almost time to listen to more albums!!

Pete
 
I spread a lint free towel on my table top and after all the space is occupied I put another on top of the disks. I then run my hand over the upper towel. After removing the upper towel I wipe the exposed surface dry with a clean frequently washed flannellette cloth. This is followed by a second wiping in the direction of the groove with a second (drier) cloth.

When flipped over the second side of the disks is very nearly completely dry and requires only a wiping with a soft dry cloth.
 
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You might consider MicroFiber. It's about the best thing I've ever tried for cleaning and drying. Walmart has 5 for about 5 bucks. They aren't bad for cheapies but one of the best MF's (Towels that is) can be had at pakshak.com. Whatever you decide, try the scratch test on one of those free AOL CD's. Rub your cloth of choice on it and see if you're scratching.
 
The Spin Clean concentrate contains a flocculant which causes the dirt and debris cleaned from the disk to sink to the bottom of the tank. I have cleaned about 500 LPs using the supplied 4 oz. bottle and can state that all things being equal the 50th disk cleaned during a session will as clean as the 1st.

It is suprising how much dirt and debris winds up in the bottom of that tank though.

:jawdrop:
 
Wow, thanks for all the advice!

lynnm, I noticed that the dirt settles on the very bottom, like it barely mixes with the water. So that's by design? Hey, they've got it all figured out!

I'm thinking my drying cloth might have been getting dirty then.

rek, I'm going to try the MicroFiber from Walmart. Thanks for the scratch test, too!

Pete
 
"I'm thinking my drying cloth might have been getting dirty then."

I've also noticed that some LPs don't look especially shiny after cleaning but that they often appear almost new when I later remove them from their sleeves.

Why..........UH! Dunno!
 
My 2 cents worth on this subject...
I purchased 2 rolls of lint free wiper towels at the auto parts store. I run the LP's 3 each way each side, then remove and place the first one on a clean soft bath bath towel, then I place a lint free paper towel on top. I run the rest of the LP's and stack 'em with the lint free auto store towels between 'em. When I have cleaned a pile of 'em I take 'em off of the pile one at a time and do my final drying and place in a new sleeve...

Seems to work for me:)
 
Hey OMI

I tried your suggestion and while the process wasn't any faster it was easier. Thanks for the tip!
 
You know, I could have sworn I replied to this thread after the move, yet my post is gone...oh well.

I said that I swore by the Spin Clean, and while at 50 bucks it's a little expensive, I think it is the best solution for bringing back those garage/thrift finds that sometimes are grungy or moldy or, in the case of a buch that used to reside in a bar, coated with tar and nicotine.

The "cloth" is nothing more exotic than an old-style diaper and the fluid can be replaced by upmteen DIY recipes out there (AA is a great source for concoctions).

Considering what the fancy VPI machines cost, this is a geat value!
 
I bought mine about 4 years ago, I think, for $39.95 from Garage-A-Records... Mine is brown not that custom bright yellow.. They are the only ones that carry the Spin Clean I believe..

AudioKarma members have bragged this product up so much, at least in the last 6 months, we should get a discount... Ha...

They also have the best price on Carbon Fiber Record Brushes.. $10.95 shipped... I over looked the $1.00 shipping for up to 13 ounces.. So Sunday I ordered 2... One for ol' cousin Kev... Ha...

I've kind of gotten away from my albums lately but I'm going to do some transferring to CD for friends.. So that will get me back in the groove... Hahaha..


Later, Brent
 
Well I've used it on quite a few hundred lps now so I thought I'd post my thoughts.

1st, I wanted to mention that I contacted garage-a-records about the AK fest and they did not return my call. Oh well, but bad form.

I finally picked up the 3M Microfiber cloths at Walmarts' hardware area, I'm not sure if they're the right ones ($3.49/ea) but they rock - waayyy better than the included ones, thanks Rek!!

I need new brushes. I know I smushed them down a little when I cleaned a couple of 78s (33s' didn't fit as tightly after that, live and learn), but the killer is I think smushing them together under the tap to clean them. Anyway, the felt did not wear out, they collapsed from the inside. I'll save these in case I have to clean more 78s'.

Anyone else have this happen? And has anyone had to replace the rollers yet?

Pete
 
When I ordered my "spin clean" I also ordered a replacement set of pads. I just changed 'em out. The sponge seemed to collapse. The velvet is still in good shape, but they lost their "Bite"...
 
spin clean

I would like to read the exact directions under the cover of the Spin Clean. Can someone post that here? Are there parts that wear out with the Spin Clean?
 
need to change out the pads. That be the only part that needs changing. Not much on instructions... Put the LP in between the pads and rotate it around a few times in each direction, and then remove and dry..... Thats it...
 
Hello gd!

Welcome to AK.

OMI's right, it's a simple if somewhat time-consuming operation.

Now that I've become a spin-master I'll add some more comments:

Yep brushes. And the last pair I got wore out *very* fast, I'm going to email garage-a-records and ask them about it. I'll post their response.

I've learned that for my very best reference lps, and ones that I just plain like a lot, more than one cleaning is neccessary, sometimes as many as three, depending on the dirt level beforehand. One usually leaves pops.

After the 3rd cleaning you know if it was dirty or just a bad lp.

So what I do now is, when I change the water (I still believe it's best to do it often), I grab the lps that need a 2nd or 3rd cleaning and do them first, then move on to my "new" finds. You can tell when to change the water - it doesn't run off the lps as nicely.

I change "rags" (the 3m tackcloths) often as well. As soon as the 1st wiper starts leaving the cleaning solution behind I toss it in the hamper, move the "finish" wiper into the 1st wiper position, and grap a clean one for the finish wipe.

I also now spin them more than I did at first. I don't know how many revolutions, but as I watch tv or play lps I just spin, spin, spin. I wish there was a way I could motorize the spin, a rubber idler wheel/motor setup, with spring tension perhaps?

System: Grab a lp off the dirty pile. Place the cover/sleeve in a dedicated spot. Clean lp (stick it in the device, rotate x many times each way, remove, wipe w/rag one, wipe again w/rag two). Then place it in one of three spots for "drying". After the three spots are full I take the oldest and put it in the clean pile. Put one away, clean another, giving each one some time (the time it takes to clean two lps) to dry completely.

I don't mean to discourage anyone, not at all. The sound quality improvement is often DRASTIC, well worth the effort. I'd still like to try a vac cleaner sometime, though.

Pete
 
I also "tweak" the cleaning solution a bit... I use the Spin Clean stuff and then I add 1 pint 92% alcohol and a few drops of PhotoFlow to my cleaning water (Gallon jug). I also ONLY use distilled water... That solution seems to work well for me...
 
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