DIY Vinyl Cleaning Machine with Rotary Brush.

[feds27]

And the Titebond II test.

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showpost.php?p=2993462&postcount=508

 

[mksharan]

Thanks everyone !

Hi Mike, I got the gears few years ago from a precision parts company, called BERG.
http://www.wmberg.com/

Hi could u please tell the size of gears, both for the main rotor and the brush.

Thanks
Manoj

 

[Mr Lemonoue]

Is it possible to re-upload the pics?

 

[Chipmunk]

One night when I played my beloved Eric Clapton vinyl, I found I cannot stand anymore the popcorn noise and unlimited dust….
Under the influence by few cans of beer, I pop up the idea of DIY cleaning machine……
I had no confidence to start the plan until I found DC's DIY thread in Audiokrama.com
You guys were wonderful sharing all ideas and photos. Thanks DC and all.

I have very limited tools. A Bosch 9.6v drill, a 15years old Dremel ….etc.
Both top panel and platter were 2cm thick Acrylic. Cut by the shop. Printed black color on the bottom.
Most of the parts were from my rest-in-peace RC helicopter, It helped a lot on those Hinge, bearing and shaft area.

Here is the youtube link to show how it works: -

http://youtu.be/9-b3NmYM710

It was killing me to open such big square hole by dremel and a file. Thanks for the protection paper which helped for marking.

This Nidec DC motor with gear box costed me usd 80. It has plenty of torque to drive the heavy acrylic platter.
Very steady and compact. With the gear box, it turns about 40rpm at 12v.
Here is the motor and gear box info web page for your reference.

http://catalog.nidec-servo.com/digital/english/general/b_dme/

 

[Chipmunk]

The wooden body is simple. I ordered it from a door making workshop. Ply wood frame covered by nice swiss pine wood.

Work in progress…..
The acrylic top panel was painted black on bottom and mounted with 1mm thick Aluminum angle around 4 edges.
The platter speed controller and the motor were being mounted on the spot.

The 1mm thick aluminum angle. Very easy to handle.

The speed controller (kit #67) from DIY Electronics, about usd 20 bucks each.
I just extended and mounted the vr to the top panel.

http://www.kitsrus.com/index.html

The main control panel. 2 VRs for the rotary brush and platter speed control. The bottom switches are on-off and direction.

This "Audioquest" carbon fiber brush really has a grounding contact under the cover !!
(The shop owner says if I am willing to pay, the factory can print my name on it…..)
It was mounted on a rotary arm and grounded to AC receptacle for static discharge. The arm has a spring loaded vertical shaft. I made a small notch and use a ball bearing to lock the arm into its working position.

 

[Chipmunk]

The geared 12v dc little motor drives the rotary brush.

I decided to add this rotary brush at the last minute. The most difficult part was not the bevel gear but the brush itself!!
It was hard to find a soft yet strong brush hair at this size. Walking through the hardware shop and I found this 3M windows weather seal with hairs and back sticker. I got a 10mm diameter PVC bar. The window seal was then fixed at one end by screw and keep rolling on the surface. I also made a shorter hair one and a ScotchBrite one. The short hair one (at middle) works the best.
The brush turns about 50prm.

The bevel gear is a 1:1 ratio pair.

A small pin was used to fix the rotary brush working position.
Oh yes, I love carbon fibers……..

An ugly way to spring load the main shaft.

 

[Chipmunk]

The platter shaft holds by two 8mm diameter bearings. To ensure the platter is perfectly horizontal,
I used 3 small ball bearing spread 120 deg by a thin slide of PVC pipe. It was placed between the platter and top panel.
I got this idea from "Elcoholic". He showed this nice idea in his "VPI Clone" thread, thanks man !!

The round stickers and foam rim will help avoid the dirty uncleaned side transfer the dirts to the cleaned side.
Thanks "teknokem" in youtube.

The VPI vacuum tube mounted on the swinging arm. The bearing blocks were from my rc helicopter gear box.
A little piece of square magnet mounted at back to hold the swing arm at "up" position.
The little oil damper helps to slow down the vacuum tube before it touches the vinyl surface.

The fluid collection tank. The vacuum fitting has a silicon elbow bent upward.
The fitting connected to the 1000w vacuum which is 15ft away by a plastic tube.

In case I need to replace the vacuum tube from the PVC clamp…...

A funny look across the side of thick acrylic. I only painted on the bottom because I like the acrylic gloss surface.

I was happy in the test run, 6-8 rpm will do the job.

My good friend in this project.

 

[Chipmunk]

Some say I am crazy spending 300 bucks for this project. I think it is worth for the 2 months labor.
The static discharge brush really works. I cannot say 100% removing all static but at least 98% more quiet than before.
Now I feel comfortable to buy more used vinyl. Guitar sound is much different than before.

Thanks again for audiokrama.com, DC and all who shared the DIY projects,

Have a good day!
till next time….

Frank.

 

[Chipmunk]

Thanks for all who sent me mail about the Photobucket links expired. All photos are now moved to flickr which is more friendly. It took me a while to understand the new Audiokarma layout and function, its still very well organized, thanks again. Wish everyone found these photos and numbers helpful, happy DIY !!

 

[elcoholic]

Yours is still the king of DIY RCMs.

 

[Tom Di Capua]

Good Evening Frank,

After researching for months the different DIY solutions for record cleaning on the web, your version just outstands every single machine I have ever encountered. Amazing seeing your work. Absolutely brilliant!

After watching Chris Dillon's design of your machine (video) which brought me to your detailed guide in this forum, you and your machine pretty much generated that spark in me to try and follow your steps as well.

Would it be possible to speak via Email by any chance for different questions I might have along the process, measurements, inventory list, building tips, and general inputs?

If yes, please feel free emailing at tom.dicapua@gmail.com as I understand that publishing your email here might affect your personal privacy.

Thank you very much and I look forward to learning from you!

Best,

Tom Di Capua