Cost of record cleaning - per disc

[62vauxhall]

Totally pedestrian but excluding cost of the device itself, has anyone determined what their cost per record is to clean them?

Just the "consumables" and time spent.

I use a Spin Clean and would say each record was 2 cents (probably less) for fluid and takes 1 minute.

I am curious about the "overhead" of those with RCM's.

There is a point actually.

If the opportunity presents itself to buy an RCM cheaply enough, I might go for it. I am quite happy with the results of Spin Cleaning but I wait until I have 50 or so new acquisitions to justify mixing a tank of fluid. I have become, by necessity, thrifty.

Cleaning a single LP, if that's what I brought home that day, kind of appeals to me. Or at least it would if cost of cleaning was halfway reasonable.

 

[markshan]

I use Tergikleen concentrate. One $25 bottle (IIRC) makes 30 gallons. My cost per record is quite negligible.

If you want a cost effective RCM check this out. In my review I talk about how it compares to the Spin Clean.

Read the whole thread. Lots of info from satisfied users, lots of speculation from onlookers.

 

[62vauxhall]

Thanks for that, it was a good reminder.

Sometime not that long ago, I may have come upon that very thread. Certainly one concerning the same item. I somewhat dismissed it at the time solely on the fact it required a shopvac. My concern is noise although the more accepted RCM's I've encountered were not exactly quiet.

The idea I've been entertaining is perhaps doing some bartering with a turntable restoration/repair/sales shop. I've already engaged in a five for one turntable deal with them to pare down those I had. There is still one or two more I can't see myself having need of plus some other gear which may or nay not be of interest to them. In any case, I've seen at least one RCM machine there presumably for sale. Plus they have one they themselves use as they also sell used records. I shall be visiting there on another matter tomorrow but will broach the subject and request being able to observe them use their own machine just to see what the process entails and see for myself before and after conditions.

If that doesn't pan out, your suggestion might become interesting. Like another contributor to that thread, I too live in a condo so have limited space. A separate vacuum source (small portable shopvac) might actually work in my favor.

 

[jcamero]

I built my own RCM. I only use Intelligent Audio 3 step cleaning products. I practiced with distilled water and a small measuring cup, (40ml max.), and 5ml of solution for all three steps works fine for each side of an LP. Doing the math, (roughly), it comes out to about $1.00 per album to clean using IA's products. Then, you need brushes to clean them LP's. I have 3 brushes, (one independent for each step), I am currently using those paint pads, ($5.00 each). It defeats cleaning albums if you are going to stuff them back into those crappy paper sleeves, so add $20.00 for 50 good inner sleeves. Add $20.00 for a small shop vac. Wet cleaning albums is the way to go. I think it's a good investment.

 

[JoeESP9]

Get both of these. Use them with that old TT you have sitting in a closet. For ~$80 you have a vacuum RCM. With my collection the cost would come to .0228 cents per LP. Consumables not included. I replace all paper sleeves with anti static sleeves from Sleeve City ($15 for 50).

Mixing ones cleaning fluid is very inexpensive. All the ingredients are widely available. there are numerous formulas out there. That gives you some room for experimentation.

 

[Old Guy8]

I use the Spinclean. Then rinse and small shop vac, similar to above, dry on an old, safely grounded, turntable with nozzle bought online.
Have seen on AK, vacs housed in sound insulated boxes. I have not yet none this, but is good idea instead of useing .earmuffs

 

[Erik Tracy]

The cost per record becomes cheaper the more records you have (and clean them) - the cost for a RCM and all the 'accouterments' becomes quite reasonable over time.

The payoff is better listening enjoyment and ensuring your collection lasts over time.

I say go for the RCM!

 

[4-2-7]

The cost per record becomes cheaper the more records you have (and clean them) - the cost for a RCM and all the 'accouterments' becomes quite reasonable over time.

I have to agree with this and add to the OPs question.

Just the "consumables" and time spent.

This varies and dependent on what fluids your using to clean with.
Time is also a variable, what's your time worth?

I have a Vac RCM and might have cleaned 20 records in a year with it, I didn't like the effort it took to clean the volume of records I buy. It's all hands on and sitting there listening to the niose while doing it.

However when I got a Ultrasonic RCM and it does 8 records at once, put them in the tank and walk away for 10 minutes doing other things like listening to music. It's a dream come true and easy like a dishwasher, when I first got it I did 1600 records in less than a month. In an hour after work I can run 30+ records though, while they air dry, I clean covers up in that time and get them all resleeved as they are dry enough.

Now I don't use it for one record at a time, that I'll use my vac RCM for.

As far as fluids for cleaning goes you can just use distilled water if you want and maybe a drop or two of photo-flow, and dish soap. The main cleaning is the Ultrasonics and heat anyway but you can add other things to it as well if you wish.

 

[jcamero]

Like 4-2-7 mentioned, an RCM does take time, especially if you have a marathon cleaning session. I cleaned 18 Albums one day, I think it took about 4 hrs. The noise from the vacuum is bothersome, I need to look into an enclosure to quiet it.

 

[Erik Tracy]

Like 4-2-7 mentioned, an RCM does take time, especially if you have a marathon cleaning session. I cleaned 18 Albums one day, I think it took about 4 hrs. The noise from the vacuum is bothersome, I need to look into an enclosure to quiet it.

I lock myself in the laundry room and use the countertop space for my RCM sessions.

Mine is an older manual Record Doctor III - so yeah, I don't have the energy for big batch sessions. It's more of when I do a deep archive dive for a listening session, I just pick about 4 albums at a time to clean. Slow and steady.