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DIY Merrill record cleaner

88gibson

88gibson

Active Member
Here is a pic of a GEM Dandy style record cleaner I made. I've been using my own record cleaning solution and just an ordinary sink sprayer. The results have been fantastic! This particular cleaner is taller than the original GEM, for I have a very deep sink. The materials were just under $20.00 with enough 1 inch pvc pipe to make another one. I'm going to make Birddog one tommorow! I would like to make some improvements on the design further down the road. For those of you not familiar with Mr. Merill's cleaner check out this thread: http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=159770&highlight=gem+record+cleaner

Derek
:thmbsp:
 

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Hi Derek - I'm sure I'm not the only one who would like to learn what materials you used and how you built this. If you get really ambitious, maybe you could photograph the steps involved.

thanks!
 
I'll post some instructional pics when I put John's together. I'm feeling much better thank you! Monday I'm going back to work three days a week. Hopefully I'll be in full swing in the not so distant future!
 
DIY Record Cleaner

Yep I'd be interested in the construction details myself - thx again for your efforts ! :music:
 
count me in for wanting to know the exact steps and materials (pipe sizes and dimensions etc) involved.

that looks very nice.

good job
 
I've been buying pieces to build one to fit in my basement utility sink. Looks like you added something to help tighten the seal around the label. I was looking for some rubber washers to fit the hubs. What did you come up with?
 
photos would be great - with a new cart on my table i'm hearing a lot more detail (and thus, imperfections/dirt) and want to get cleaning.

thanks!
 
88gibson said:
I've been using my own record cleaning solution and just an ordinary sink sprayer. The results have been fantastic!

Derek
:thmbsp:
Click to expand...

Boy you must have a lot of pressure on that sprayer-seems that one of the selling points of the Merrill is the high-pressure nozzle.
I've looked and can't seem to source this locally anywhere(lowes\HD\HF)

Anyone run across the tip, locally or know where to get one?
 
My post from the thread Derek mentions, regarding cleaning/rinsing methods...

"How about using a small capacity garden sprayer, filled with distilled water, for the rinsing process, or a regular spray bottle?

Do the higher pressure hose from the faucet first to remove the dirty cleaning solution, then rinse with the distilled water from the sprayer. I would think that would do a good job of eliminating the concerns about using tap water to rinse off the cleaning solution.

It ads another step to the process, but retains the benefits of the steaming/brushing and the pressurized rinse, and should eliminate the potential downside to just finishing with tap water, at a very economical price!" :yes:
 
Windwalker said:
Boy you must have a lot of pressure on that sprayer-seems that one of the selling points of the Merrill is the high-pressure nozzle.
I've looked and can't seem to source this locally anywhere(lowes\HD\HF)

Anyone run across the tip, locally or know where to get one?
Click to expand...

Any decent hardware store should sell an adapter that will conect a standard garden hose coupling to the standard faucet thread, and after that your nozzle choices are only limited by your imagination. Sacrice an old/leaky garden hose with the female coupler end on it (Or get a new coupler at the hardware store while you are there) cut it to lenght, and buy or make the noozle of your choice. Would be pretty easy to make, put a shut-off inline, and you are ready to rock!
 
Another thought, how about a hand-held "Shower Massage" sprayer? Should screw right onto the faucet threads, again put an in-line shut off for the water, set it to "Blast my skin off" setting, and stand back! Not only will your grooves be clean, but your music will sound much more "Relaxed" from the massage! :D

Would be more flexible than a garden hose as well!
 
birddog said:
Any decent hardware store should sell an adapter that will conect a standard garden hose coupling to the standard faucet thread,
Click to expand...
That part's not the problem

birddog said:
and after that your nozzle choices are only limited by your imagination. Sacrice an old/leaky garden hose with the female coupler end on it (Or get a new coupler at the hardware store while you are there) cut it to lenght, and buy or make the noozle of your choice. Would be pretty easy to make, put a shut-off inline, and you are ready to rock!
Click to expand...

Look closely at the original, tip looks like it came from a power washer-though I guess your right any noozle(sic) could\should work
 
I have a pretty large sprayer (I don't like to brag about my sprayer...:lmao:), but I'm sure the cleaning process would be improved with more pressure. You would be surprised on how well it does with just a standard sprayer. If your tap water is pretty descent, then I wouldn't worry about distilled water. For the price of this project you could purchase a water filter, and still come out on top. I'm going to Home Depot to pick up more elbows and other materials. The rubber gasket for the clamp is an easy solution. There are replacement washers for the common sink strainer that work perfect. I adhered the washers with Gorilla Glue. Gorilla Glue is fast setting and waterproof, but you don't need much. I'll post pics from todays adventure with a detailed parts list. :thmbsp:
 
88gibson said:
I'll post pics from todays adventure with a detailed parts list. :thmbsp:
Click to expand...

looking forward to it. it looks like a simple project that most people will be able to actually do without much problem and supplies that can be picked up at any homedepot or hardwares store.
 
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