DIY Record Cleaning Machine

[guystp]

well done! Very clean design. I built my own as well, but used an old tt for the drive system, set to 45rpm. Same vacuum set up as you have. It works great. I'm sure you're going to love it.

 

[rshep]

I used a BBQ rotisserie motor and rigged it to a Wilton cake decorating turntable. I tried to make a homemade wand but wasn't 100% happy with that. For about $70 on the 'bay you can buy a genuine VPI wand assembly. With the VPI wand the records don't know the difference that the rest is cobbled together out of thrift store parts.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4

 

[nascar03]

lostrings... very well executed.
graham

 

[gregj]

Yep, a blow by blow, step by step would be great, including a parts list. Maybe even make it a sticky if it gets people in the end with a good RCM.

+ 1. Would appreciate you sharing your plans and the problems you solved along the way. Very nice results. How well does it work???

 

[goat67]

Hello

Question for anyone who has built a RCM that uses an ice cream maker machine motor
what RPM does yours turn at? The one I have looks to be spinning at around 45 RPM.

Is this to fast?

Also for anyone that used the VPI wand what is the dimension from the center
of the mounting to the end of the wand. Or how far away from the platter is the base?

What I am after is I want to try and make my own wand but if it does not work
to my satisfaction I would like to be able to convert it to the VPI wand
so I need to be in the ball park of where I mount it.

 

[DC]

Hello

Question for anyone who has built a RCM that uses an ice cream maker machine motor what RPM does yours turn at? The one I have looks to be spinning at around 45 RPM.

Is this too fast?

Also for anyone that used the VPI wand what is the dimension from the center of the mounting to the end of the wand. Or how far away from the platter is the base?

What I am after is I want to try and make my own wand but if it does not work to my satisfaction I would like to be able to convert it to the VPI wand
so I need to be in the ball park of where I mount it.

My first DIY RCM used an ice cream maker motor. It spun at about 38RPM - too fast for my liking. (I just ran it for 60 seconds and counted the revolutions.) As it was an AC gear-reduction motor, reducing the voltage to slow it down didn't really work. I ended up getting a small DC gear-reduction motor on eBay for around $10. I think it was rated for something like 18RPM at 12vdc. (VPI's motor spins at 18RPM.) I use it at 5-6V for around 8-9 RPM and I like the results much better.

I can take a photo of mine to indicate mounting distance.

 

[LoStrings]

Hello

Question for anyone who has built a RCM that uses an ice cream maker machine motor
what RPM does yours turn at? The one I have looks to be spinning at around 45 RPM.

I use a ice cream maker motor on mine and it turns about 25 rpm. As long as it does'nt fling the cleaner off as its spinning, I don't believe that speed would hurt anything.

 

[goat67]

Hello

Question for anyone who has built a RCM that uses an ice cream maker machine motor
what RPM does yours turn at? The one I have looks to be spinning at around 45 RPM.

I use a ice cream maker motor on mine and it turns about 25 rpm. As long as it does'nt fling the cleaner off as its spinning, I don't believe that speed would hurt anything.

I really liked your build. I used a lot of your ideas. Just my luck it is spinning
almost twice as fast and way to fast for my taste.

I used a small base unit from Ikea 15 X 15 X 23
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20134051/
Also grabbed the lazy suzan and a black place mat for the mat.

Rockler provide a 12'' lazy susan base and the knob for the hold down.
A 1 gallon Stanley Wet Dry Vac.
Ice Cream Maker from Goodwill.

Now I am determining what to do about the wand.

 

[goat67]

My first DIY RCM used an ice cream maker motor. It spun at about 38RPM - too fast for my liking. (I just ran it for 60 seconds and counted the revolutions.) As it was an AC gear-reduction motor, reducing the voltage to slow it down didn't really work. I ended up getting a small DC gear-reduction motor on eBay for around $10. I think it was rated for something like 18RPM at 12vdc. (VPI's motor spins at 18RPM.) I use it at 5-6V for around 8-9 RPM and I like the results much better.

I can take a photo of mine to indicate mounting distance.

Thanks that would be very helpful

 

[DougMac]

Hello

Question for anyone who has built a RCM that uses an ice cream maker machine motor
what RPM does yours turn at? The one I have looks to be spinning at around 45 RPM.

Is this to fast?

Also for anyone that used the VPI wand what is the dimension from the center
of the mounting to the end of the wand. Or how far away from the platter is the base?

What I am after is I want to try and make my own wand but if it does not work
to my satisfaction I would like to be able to convert it to the VPI wand
so I need to be in the ball park of where I mount it.

Platter rotation seems to be between 33 and 45rpm, but I haven't timed it. It doesn't seem to be a problem.

I suggest you buy the VPI arm and measure it before installing. I made my own tubes (50 cents vs $18) for 7,10 and 12 inch records. I cut them slightly longer than the standard tube. I would measure, but I don't think it would help you. I have a "dirty" and a "clean" tube for each size record. Here's my cleaning routine:

For 12" records, I have a wand that will dispense both cleaning fluid and distilled rinse water. I dispense cleaning fluid on the spinning record, then use a cotton makeup square to spread it and pick up the dirt. If the thrift record is especially dirty, it may take 2 or 3 pads before one comes back "clean". I apply a little rinse, then vacuum with the "dirty" wand. I replace it with the "clean" wand, apply more rinse and vacuum.

 

[DC]

Thanks that would be very helpful

OOPS - totally forgot.

On mine, I measure 150mm from the center of the record spindle to the leading edge of the VPI flange mount, 175mm to the center of the vacuum hole, and 200mm to the far edge of the flange mount.

My wand assembly is awfully close, though. I was restricted by the dimensions of the old Victrola TT mounting plate. As I recall, the clear plastic wand is shoved in the black vertical receptacle as far in as it would go in order for the slot to line up on the LP just right. A better reference might be the dimension on an actual 16.5 or 17 machine.

Anyway, hope it helps! (And having messed around with several DIY wands without success, I'd recommend just getting the VPI assembly. :thmbsp

 

[goat67]

Thanks this helped alot. If you recall what is the size of the hole
you needed to drill for the wand holder. Or what is the diameter of the vpi wand
holder?

I have the stuff to try and make a wand but I want to make sure I can go to the VPI if necessary.

 

[meggy]

Nicely done.

 

[parman]

I like the stand alone cabinet idea instead of setting it on a table